Legal Instruments in Recognition of Diplomas

1. Legal Instruments in Recognition of Diplomas Lithuanian Researchers’ Mobility Centre 23.10.2007 Vilnius Dr. Carita Blomqvist

2. Outline • Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) • Subsidiary texts • LRC Committee, ENIC Network • Fair recognition • Recognition criteria • Directive 2005/36 on the recognition of professional qualifications • Specific issues

3. Recognition • Assessment of the place and value of a qualification from one higher education system in the framework of another higher education system • Make it possible to move between education systems without losing value of qualifications

4. Academic recognition • the recognition of a qualification for the purpose of further study (admission) • credit transfer • main task is to assess whether the applicant is capable of continuing studies in the chosen field of study and at the chosen level • higher education institutions make decisions

5. Professional recognition • the recognition of a qualification for the purpose of employment in general or in a certain profession • main task is to find out whether the knowledge and professional skills of the applicant meet requirements • de jure - regulated professions • de facto - non-regulated professions Competent bodies make decisions

6. Lisbon Recognition Convention Council of Europe/UNESCO 1997 • Applicants entitled to fair assessment within reasonable time limit • Uniform/transparent procedures and criteria used in the assessments • Recognize unless substantial difference (partial recognition) • Possibility to appeal • Burden of proof upon the host country

7. Lisbon Recognition Convention • Recognition decisions are to be made on the basis of appropriate information on the qualifications for which recognition is sought • The body making the assessment is responsible for demonstrating that an application does not fulfill the relevant requirements • A substantial difference must be demonstrated in the case of a refusal

8. Lisbon Recognition Convention: Information • Recognition decisions shall be made on the basis of appropriate information on the qualifications • The institutions having issued the qualification have a duty to provide relevant information to the applicant/institution/competent authority • National information centre shall facilitate access to information on the higher education system and qualifications

9. Subsidiary texts /Recommendations • International Access Qualifications 1999 • Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications 2001 • Code of Good Practice in the Provision of Transnational Education 2001 • Recognition of Joint Degrees 2004 • Joint ENIC/NARIC Charter of Activities and Services 2004 • Explanatory Notes on Completing Diploma Supplements (2007)

10. Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee • Composed of one representative of each Party to the LRC (45 countries) • Oversees the implementation of the Convention • Right to adoptrecommendations to guide the implementation of the LRC • Information, promotion • Link to the Bologna Process

11. ENIC Network • European Network of Information Centres on Academic Recognition and Mobility • Established in 1994 by the Council of Europe and UNESCO to develop joint policy and practice for the recognition of qualifications • Cooperation with the NARIC network (National Academic Recognition Information Centres), coordinated by the European Union

12. Main functions of the national ENIC according to the LRC • Facilitate access to authoritative and accurate information on the national higher education system and qualifications • Facilitate access to information on foreign higher education systems and qualifications • Give advice or information on recognition matters and assessment of qualifications • Promotion of the use of the Diploma Supplement

13. Working parties • Recognition issues in the Bologna Process • Joint activities with quality assurance network • Europe - USA: Mutual recognition of qualifications • Europe - Russian Federation: Mutual recognition of qualifications • ELCORE - Electronic information • Information strategies • Substantial difference

14. Information needed for recognition • Entry requirements • Formal duration and workload (credits) • Structure and contents (e.g. thesis included?) • Formal rights (academic/professional) • Function of the program • Placing the program in the education system • LEARNING OUTCOMES

15. Fair recognition • Full or partial recognition • Judge only value of qualification, not external factors • Less attention to formal structures • More emphasis on learning outcomes: what a person knows and is able to do • No detailed comparison of curricula

16. Fair recognition • Basic assumption: the existence of a substantial difference is an exception rather than a rule • Is the difference substantial in relation to function and purpose of the qualification? • A difference in formal terms only not sufficient

17. Recognition criteria - access qualifications (secondary school leaving certificates) • status and rights in the country of origin: does the qualification give access to higher education? • curricula: general, specialised, vocational • nominal duration • subjects, content and amount (workload) • result(s) of studies, examinations, grades; centralized examination(s)? • learning outcomes

18. Recognition criteria – access qualifications Assessment of institution • a competent authority of home country has approved the institution and curricula • international qualification: is it awarded by an official international organisation

19. Recognition criteria – higher education qualifications Assessment of institution • type of institution: HEI or (post)-secondary; vocational/professional HEI; private or public, etc • quality assurance/accreditation • status and recognition of institution in home country

20. Recognition criteria – higher education qualifications • field of study - specialisation • content (subjects), practice (training, apprenticeship), research, graduation requirements • nominal duration, number of credits • access to further studies • professional status/rights in labour market • access requirements (previous education) • learning outcomes

21. Specific issues • Recognition of qualifications earned through lifelong learning (different learning paths) • Accreditation of prior learning • Recognition of joint degrees • Recognition of transnational education

22. Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications • More automatic recognition of qualifications • Transposition period ends on Oct 20, 2007 • Access in the host Member State to the same profession as that for which the migrant is qualified in the home Member State

23. Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications • Professional qualifications are grouped under five levels: recognize if the qualification attests a level of professional qualification at least equivalent to the level immediately prior to that which is required in the host Member State • Compensation measures: - adaptation period and aptitude test

24. Further information • www.enic-naric.net • www.conventions.coe.int • http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications