07 June, 2024

The 5th Validation of Prior Learning (VPL) Biennale took place in Kilkenny from the 6th to the 8th of May, 2024. The conference titled ‘People, validation and power: democracy in action?’ saw 370 delegates from 31 countries across 5 continents come together to discuss and share all aspects of RPL policy and practice in different contexts.

This included higher and further education, third sector, training and the workplace. The conference was organised through an Irish, United States and Canadian consortium committee alongside a co-organising committee which included UNESCO, European Commission and Cedefop.

Munster Technological University were represented on the committee by Dr Deirdre Goggin. To realise the conference programme, the committee met weekly since March 2023. The keynote of the conference was delivered by Dr. Ted Fleming, Professor Emeritus, Maynooth University.

MTU staff, Dr Deirdre Goggin and Dr Phil O'Leary delivered three sessions as part of the conference programme and Professor Irene Sheridan delivered the closing session of the conference alongside Professor Alan Mandell, SUNY Empire State University and Gina Ebner, EAEA.

The feedback on the conference as evident through emails, communications and social media engagement reaffirms the success of the event as being exceptional.