From Counting to Cultivating Successful Participation: A Review of Access, Transfer, and Progression in Irish Education and Training

Abstract

Commissioned by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and Ireland’s national Access, Transfer, and Progression (ATP) policy, this 2023 review offers a comprehensive look at two decades of practice supporting learner mobility and lifelong learning. The report examines how ATP frameworks have enabled recognition of prior learning, flexible entry and transfer routes, and inclusive pathways across further and higher education. Situated within the context of major national strategies such as Funding the Future and Future FET, the review identifies emerging opportunities and challenges for creating a unified tertiary education system.  

In particular, the report emphasizes that coordinated policies, credit-accumulation systems, and cross-sector collaboration are essential for helping refugees apply their existing skills, reskill when needed, and participate fully in education and training. At the same time, it acknowledges ongoing barriers like limited documentation, uneven recognition practices, financial and linguistic challenges, inconsistent institutional supports, and broader social or structural obstacles. 

Citation

Quality and Qualifications Ireland. (2023). From counting to cultivating successful participation: A review of the landscape of practice supporting access, transfer and progression in Irish education and training. https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2023-11/qqi-insights_from-counting-to-cultivating-successful-participation-a-review-of-the-landscape-of-practice-supporting-access-transfer-and-progression-in-irish-education-and-training-2023.pdf