1. The first steps towards a global convention on recognition
Lene Oftedal, UNESCO
Groningen Declaration Network, Cape Town 18 May 2016

2. Outline of the Presentation
The rationale behind the work on a global convention on recognition
The Global Dimension
Sharing good practice
Actions for capacity building
Structures and working modalities
The link to Groningen Declaration Network

3. Global Convention – rationale
Massification of Higher Education
Higher education institutions are redefining their missions and values in more global terms
increased international cooperation in higher education;
Increased student and professional mobility
Diversity of higher education providing and providers
Refugees and displaced persons

4. Recognition – a global issue
Global student population (UNESCO-UIS)
Regional student growth
1970: 28.6 million
2000: 99.5 million
2005: 139 million
2012: 196 million
Asia: 155 %
Latin America: 117 %
Africa: 92 %
Europe: 27 %
Article 5 “1.The States Parties to this Convention agree that: (a) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; it shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace; (b) It is essential to respect the liberty of parents and, where applicable, of legal guardians, firstly to choose for their children institutions other than those maintained by the public authorities but conforming to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the competent authorities and, secondly, to ensure in a manner consistent with the procedures followed in the State for the application of its legislation, the religious and moral education of the children in conformity with their own convictions; and no person or group of persons should be compelled to receive religious instruction inconsistent with his or their convictions; (c) It is essential to recognize the right of members of national minorities to carry on their own educational activities, including the maintenance of schools and, depending on the educational policy of each State, the use or the teaching of their own language, provided however: (i) That this right is not exercised in a manner which prevents the members of these minorities from understanding the culture and language of the community as a whole and from participating in its activities, or which prejudices national sovereignty; (ii) That the standard of education is not lower than the general standard laid down or approved by the competent authorities; and (iii) That attendance at such schools is optional. 2.The States Parties to this Convention undertake to take all necessary measures to ensure the application of the principles enunciated in paragraph 1 of this Article.”

5. Recognition – a global issue
Global population of mobile students :
2000: million - 1,8 million were mobile
2012: 196 million - 3,5 million were mobile
2020: million? million ?
Regional growth in student mobility
Asia 147 %
Latin-America 81 %
Africa 75 %
Europe 48 %

6. Global Convention – aims
develop agreed principles for recognition of higher education qualifications
strengthen inter-regional academic mobility
promote increased international cooperation in higher education;
promote democratization of higher education and lifelong learning opportunities for all;
provide a framework of quality assurance for the fast-growing diversity of higher education providers

7. Global convention - aims
Raise awareness on recognition at policy level;
Facilitate inter-regional cooperation and mobility;
Raise awareness on the world moving towards a global higher education community;
Promote intra- and inter-regional cooperation in recognition;
Support capacity building;
Provide an arena for sharing good practices in recognition

8. Regional Conventions First Generation Second Generation Date Region
Status
1974
Latin America and the Caribbean
Convention revision agreed upon in Brasilia in October 2015
1976
Mediterranean (inter-regional)
1978
The Arab States
Info session for the Arab States Group in UNESCO
1979
Europe
Revised in 1997
1981
Africa
Revised in 2014
1983
Asia and the Pacific
Revised in 2011
between 1974 and 1983 (,,,, and).

9. Regional Conventions
Fair recognition of the qualifications: reasonable time limit, transparent, coherent and reliable procedures
Recognition should be granted unless substantial differences are observed (mutual understanding of acknowledged differences between national education systems
Importance of information sharing and networking at the expert level, in particular through national information centres
Development of codes of good practice or recommendations and guidelines.
The only legal instrument on recognition
Capacity building
Article 5 “1.The States Parties to this Convention agree that: (a) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; it shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace; (b) It is essential to respect the liberty of parents and, where applicable, of legal guardians, firstly to choose for their children institutions other than those maintained by the public authorities but conforming to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the competent authorities and, secondly, to ensure in a manner consistent with the procedures followed in the State for the application of its legislation, the religious and moral education of the children in conformity with their own convictions; and no person or group of persons should be compelled to receive religious instruction inconsistent with his or their convictions; (c) It is essential to recognize the right of members of national minorities to carry on their own educational activities, including the maintenance of schools and, depending on the educational policy of each State, the use or the teaching of their own language, provided however: (i) That this right is not exercised in a manner which prevents the members of these minorities from understanding the culture and language of the community as a whole and from participating in its activities, or which prejudices national sovereignty; (ii) That the standard of education is not lower than the general standard laid down or approved by the competent authorities; and (iii) That attendance at such schools is optional. 2.The States Parties to this Convention undertake to take all necessary measures to ensure the application of the principles enunciated in paragraph 1 of this Article.”

10. First steps towards a global convention.
The revision and implementation of regional conventions can be completed while developing the global convention
The global convention should build on the regional conventions
All regional conventions should be revised in order to respond to the current and future challenges.
Expert committee established to draft a global convention-to be discussed UNESCO general Conference 2017

11. Sharing good practice Recognition is a craft and a tool
The link between recognition, quality assurance and qualification frameworks
Needs good information – online
Groningen Declaration Network

12. Thank you for your attention !