I recently met a great candidate. He had fantastic experience having successfully worked in supply chain roles for 15 years. He remarked that he hadn’t applied for a couple of roles because he hadn’t the required third level qualification. He could probably have given a course in planning/ scheduling but without the paper qualification he felt limited.
What a missed opportunity. Most of us who have a third level education realise the learning really begins when we enter the workplace.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a fantastic initiative run by a number of third level institutions throughout Ireland. Through RPL your learning, irrespective of where it was achieved – whether in the workplace or elsewhere – is identified, assessed and given a value. This then allows you to access and progress in higher education even if you don’t meet the standard entry criteria. The application process in itself can be quite motivating as it gives you time to reflect on your experience and skills built up throughout your career. For anyone looking to compliment their work experience with a formal qualification this is an excellent way to go about it. There is more info on www.priorlearning.ie