1. Strengthening of Internationalization in B&H Higher Education Banja Luka, 08.-09.03.2016. 1 Recognition of Qualifications within European Higher Education Area – a New Trend in a Globalized World Jelena Starčević, LLM, Secretary of the Commission for Information and Recognition

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3.  The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention LRC, 1997.)  Recommendation on Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications and Explanatory Memorandum (2001, revised in 2010)  Joint ENIC/NARIC Charter of Activities and Services (2004)  Recommendation on the Use of Qualifications Frameworks in the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications (2013) 3

4.  Reinforcing education as a human right  Promoting academic mobility  Respecting institutional autonomy  Fair assessment of foreign qualifications  No discrimination  Recognition of qualifications and periods of study in a flexible way (only substantial differences should lead to partial recognition)  Existence of a national information center  Possibility to appeal 4

5. What’s in the heart of Recognition according to LRC?  Recognition Good Practice: - Transparency - Dissemination of good recognition practice in line with the LRC - Publication of assessment criteria and procedures - Communication at every recognition step with the applicant  Recognition versus equivalency: - Comparison with the national educational system - Use of different set of criteria - Take into account the purpose of recognition  Quality and quantity criteria - Higher education institution status - Rights attached to the diploma in the system of origin - Length of study/credits earned (NOT ONLY AS A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE!!!) 5

6. Two main bodies: I. the LRC Committee (and Bureau) II. the ENIC Network (and the Bureau) www.enic-naric.net 53 countries signed and/or ratified (all EHEA countries, plus Australia, Canada (no ratification), Israel, Kyrgyzstan, New Zealand, Tajikistan, USA 6

7.  Two networks for the same objective  FAIR RECOGNITION!  NARIC network – 1984 : National Academic Recognition Information Centres in the European Union created by the European Commission  ENIC network – 1997 : European Network of National Information Centres on academic recognition and mobility created by the Council of Europe and UNESCO to implement the LRC and to develop policy and practice for the recognition of qualifications  Networks supported by  Three Secretariats  European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO  ENIC Bureau and NARIC Advisory Board  to reinforce the role of the Networks 7

8. „Jaчање интернационализације високог образовања у БиХ „ Бања Лука 08.-09.03.2016. 8

9.  The two networks works together to enhance mobility and improve academic recognition of diplomas by : Sharing information on the educational systems of the member countries Sharing information on foreign educational systems, diplomas and degrees issued in countries of other regions Sharing and disseminating good recognition practice in line with the principles of the Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) NOTICE: the scope of work of the centers may be different from one country to another (info-center, mandatory-decision body etc.) 9

10.  By everyday communication and sharing information  On aannual networks meetings  On annual regional meetings  By cooperation/participation in common projects  On mutual trust as basis for evaluation and decision! 10 „

11.  LRC as only binding text of the Bologna Process  Strategic objectives of LRC: to make full mobility a reality to achieve internationalization in EHEA to overcome ddiversification of HE systems, institutions and programmes o Thus, recognition is main outcome of the structural reforms and main instrument for an ‘open’ EHEA o Thus, we need to re-think recognition at systemic level, not individual level (no more equivalence, nostrification, etc.) 11

12. Different interpretation on the main principles of LRC Diversity in recognition approaches/practices Some needlessly ‘protectionist’ attitudes Recognition seen as technical issue, not policy-related  In 2015, through the Yerevan Communiqué, the European ministers committed themselves to recognition  Thus, (maybe even automatic?) recognition should remain a main objective of the Bologna Process 12

13. TRUST! + responsibility + efficiency + transparency 13

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