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

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

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

Recognition – a global issue Global student population (UNESCO-UIS) Regional student growth 2000-2012 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.”

Recognition – a global issue Global population of mobile students : 2000: 99.5 million - 1,8 million were mobile 2012: 196 million - 3,5 million were mobile 2020: 215 million? 7 million ? Regional growth in student mobility 2000-2012 Asia 147 % Latin-America 81 % Africa 75 % Europe 48 %

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

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

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).

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.”

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

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

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