A hugely useful resource which has been of great help to us here in INQS as part of the Assess Plus – but indeed, many of our projects – has been the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education is the national body responsible for leading and advising on the enhancement of teaching and learning in Irish higher education. The forum works with those who teach, learn and shape policy and practice to ensure a valued and informed teaching and learning culture in Irish higher education.

For the Assess Plus project, what has been of particular interest is the work the National Forum has done – at a national level – in the area of Recognition of Prior Learning and skills auditing.

Such resources include:

• The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) ePortfolio Roadshow project resulted in the launch of the My Experience RPL Assessment Toolkit. The toolkit includes an information website and an online RPL application tool for candidates looking for access or advanced entry to a higher education programme. In addition, an online course has been developed for higher education staff seeking professional development in RPL assessment skills and in supporting RPL applicants effectively.
• A Current Overview of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Irish Higher Education which is a report which details an exploration of the current practice relating to the recognition of prior learning in Irish higher education. The research includes a review of the published policies of higher education institutions, their public-facing information as well as an analysis of the details of the mission-based performance compacts outlining goals and objectives for higher education institutions from 2014 to 2016.
• The RPL Experience which is an online course developed for higher education staff seeking professional development in RPL assessment skills and in supporting RPL applicants effectively in GMIT, LyIT, and IT Sligo. It provides a comprehensive overview of how RPL works and student journeys and success stories illustrate the process.

What is also of huge benefit and interest to the Asess Plus project is an online course in RPL, which is available on the National Forum’s Open Course Series

The RPL course provides a fantastic overview of the area and a wide range of hugely useful resources for same. We are also delighted to announce that included in this course is a link to the Assess Plus project and its outputs as a resources within this national course!

For more information and resources, please check out http://www.assess-plus.eu