'We are greater than we believe, we are capable of more than we think.'

Donegal’s Evelyn Mc Glynn, a local powerhouse in networking and marketing, last week celebrated her graduation with a Level 8 Honours Degree in Business, Social Enterprise, Leadership and Management from TUS Athlone.

Her years of experience brought her to this proud moment, and at 60 years of age, she realised that everything she has learned at every stage of her life has had value.

The Ballybofey woman runs her own marketing company, Evelyn Mc Marketing, and is an ambassador for the Donegal Women in Business Network, where for years she has inspired women to realise their potential.

Evelyn was a stay-at-home mother-of-three for over 20 years who had worked in hospitality and voluntary not-for-profits over the years.

She always loved people and so she had gained lots of experience through networking, setting up parent and toddler groups, helping grow women in business networks, launching her own marketing business, becoming an author and training as a life coach. But she had never had her ‘piece of paper’.

“I still dreamed of having a degree…throughout the years, everyone in my family had achieved a third level academic award,” she said.

With the help of RPL, Ballybofey’s Evelyn McGlynn was able to gain entry to a higher education programme, based on her work and life experience. Photo: Julien Behal

In 2022, Evelyn found the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) project through working with EQUAL Ireland where she took a leap forward to achieve that goal.

RPL allows individuals to use their work experience and life skills to gain access to higher education from a level 6 certificate, right through to level 10 doctoral degrees.

“The validation of my work experience, community involvement, self-study, and other life experiences is empowering and that is why I have chosen my research topic to analyse awareness of RPL with a target group of women in business in my region,” she said.

“I felt RPL granted me an award, a recognition for all the projects and life skills and learning over almost six decades. Together they all add up to me. At almost 60 years of age I realise every part of the road to here has had value.

“I can only explain that I feel more accomplished for following my dream, and my graduation was one of my greatest lifelong achievements. We are greater than we believe, we are capable of more than we think.”

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) project has launched its inaugural National RPL Month in November to highlight how lifelong learners can forge a more flexible pathway into higher education. It kicked off Monday, November 4.

Anne Griffin, RPL Project Lead at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) said workplace learning must be recognised and valued by third-level institutions.

“RPL is a useful tool to address skills shortages in the workforce. There are some good examples of how this has been done for cohorts of learners, but a lot more can be done in the RPL space to benefit employees who want to upskill.”

RPL is a 5-year National Project funded by the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative.

By the end of the project, RPL will have brought around 15,000 learners in Ireland through its process as it continues to be strengthened and streamlined in higher education institutions nationwide. For more information, visit www.priorlearning.ie.