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ENIC-NARIC France Qualification Recognition Department Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications in France 29 February 2012 © CIEP

Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications in France I. The French ENIC-NARIC II. Funding texts in recognition III. Recognition procedures in France IV. Recognition criteria © CIEP

The French ENIC-NARIC*  ENIC-NARIC France:  Belongs to CIEP’s education division  Main activities: –Recognition of foreign qualifications by issuing a statement of comparability –Information on French qualifications and education system to stakeholders abroad –Information on the exercice of regulated professions in France * European Network of Information Centres – National Academic Recognition Information Centres

© CIEP Funding texts in recognition practices  LRC, subsidiary texts, ENIC NARIC Charter  The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) and its subsidiary texts: – The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC), 1997 – Recommendation on Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications, adopted by the LRC Committee at its second meeting, Revised in Sèvres in 2010 – ENIC-NARIC Charter of activities and services (2004)

© CIEP The LRC and its subsidiary texts  Transparency –Facilitate communication –Publish procedures and criteria of assessment –Promote the LRC locally and abroad  Recognition – Comparison with the national system – Use of different criteria – Take into account international agreements – Purpose of recognition  Crossing assessment criteria (quantitative & qualitative) – Status of the institution – Access to the labour market and/or pursuit of studies – Any international or bilateral convention or MoU – Contents and profile of qualification – Length of study as one criteria but not the only one – A transparent procedure and methodology, announced to the applicant

© CIEP Joint ENIC NARIC Charter of activities and services  Adopted in 2004  Review of the missions and activities of the ENIC-NARIC centres:  academic recognition  access to the labour market for non-regulated professions  A reliable and accessible information centre with necessary equipment and resources  Provide information on recognition practice at the national level  Act as an Information contact point on the national higher education system  Cooperate within the network  Reinforce the added value of an international networkinternational network

How does the French ENIC-NARIC operate?  Objective: Help promote international mobility by improving the transparency of foreign credentials through the provision of comparability statements  Organisation: –3 units –Geographical specialisation of program coordinators © CIEP Management unit Administrative management Information management Processing unit Evaluation of foreign credentials (individual applications and requests from French governmental bodies) Project management unit Projects within the ENIC-NARIC network and Bologna process Other projects Expertise in the drafting of recognition agreements

ENIC-NARIC France - Key figures (2011) © CIEP  applications from individuals  comparability statements issued  calls received (5600 per month)  s answered Geographical distribution: 1.Algeria 2.Morocco 3.Tunisia 4.Belgium 5.Russia

© CIEP Recognition procedures  Academic recognition  Autonomy of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)  HEIs may ask students to obtain a comparability statement from the ENIC-NARIC to help with their appreciation of the diploma in question  Professional recognition  Regulated professions: individuals are referred to the competent authority  Non-regulated professions: decision is up to employers A comparability statement from the ENIC-NARIC can help potential employers with their appreciation of the diploma in question

Recognition procedures - Document issued by the French ENIC-NARIC The comparability statement (attestation de comparabilité)  Application from individuals  Cost: 70 euros (free for refugees and asylum seekers)  Delay is at least one month, typically 4 months  Fast track service: 48 hours (200€)  An expert opinion (not legally binding)  Positions a diploma within the French Qualifications Framework of 1969, and possibly within the European Qualifications Framework  Facilitates study progression and professional insertion © CIEP

Recognition criteria - Evaluation Grid used by the French ENIC-NARIC Eligibility Criteria Recognition of the qualification within the education system of the awarding country Status of the institution in the awarding country Assessment Components Formal Indicators Bilateral or multilateral agreement Position of the qualification in a national and/or international framework Official length of study ECTS/credits Admission requirements Programme requirements (knowledge, competencies, learning outcomes) Professional and academic rights Quality Assurance Existence of an independant and external assessment of the programme and the institution

Comparability statement - example © CIEP

1, avenue Léon-Journault Sèvres - France Thank you for your attention! Claudia Gelleni Assistant Head of Department ENIC-NARIC France For more information: Contact us: