1. Recognition of Qualifications as a stepping stone for further integration
Brussels, 26 June 2018

2. Why is this topic important?
Learning mobility fosters learners’ confidence, independence, transition to employment and the feeling of "Europeanness".
2018 Flash Eurobarometer: 91% of young Europeans agree that the automatic recognition of diplomas and learning periods abroad would be useful.

3. Cornerstone of the Bologna Process
Paris Ministerial conference
May 2018

4. Recognition and the Bologna Process
‘In order to further develop mobility and recognition across the EHEA, we will work to ensure that comparable higher education qualifications obtained in one EHEA country are automatically recognised on the same basis in the others, for the purpose of accessing further studies and the labour market.’
Paris Communiqué, May 2018

5. Situation in the Western Balkans

6. Main principles of Lisbon Recogntion Convention implemented in national legislation
The 1997 Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications: developed by Council of Europe and UNESCO, it is the only legal text. It covers both higher education qualifications and those giving
access to higher education.
The five principles of the LRC are:
applicants have the right to fair assessment;
there is recognition if no substantial difference can be proven;
legislation of guidelines encourage comparing of learning outcomes rather than programme contents;
in cases of negative decisions, the competent recognition authority demonstrates the existence of substantial difference; and
applicant’s right to appeal the recognition decision.
Looking at this map, we see that the situation is mixed in the Western Balkans. While Albania has specified four of the five principles in national legislation, Northern Macedonia has not implemented any of them, and the others have implemented only one to three.
In addition, some countries do not recognise degrees that do not exist in their country (e.g. Serbia), short cycle degrees (Serbia) or online degrees (Albania). There can also be roblematic recognition of pre-Bologna diplomas

7. System level "automatic" recognition
This map indicates the extent of system-level automatic recognition, based on the Bologna pathfinder group recommendations of Dark green indicates a situation where all HE qualifications issued in other EHEA countries are recognised on an equal level with qualifications in the home country without any additional procedures, and the five steps set out by the Pathfinder group have been followed. Light green and yellow indicate lesser compliance but that some form of system level recognition exists.
The five steps are:
national legislation has been reviewed and modified where necessary to ensure that the principles of the LRC are respected;
HEIs or recognition bodies receive clear guidance on properly implementing the principles of the LRC;
recognition decisions are taken within a four-month limit;
appeals procedures are in place and decided within a reasonable time limit; and
recognition practice is monitored by external quality assurance in line with ESG 2015.
Here, we see that the Western Balkans are shaded orange or red. Orange shows that there is no automatic recognition, but that some of the recommendations from the pathfinder group are applied. Red indicates that fewer than two conditions apply.

8. Stage of development of quality assurance system
QA is the basis of trust for cooperation between HEIs, and of particular importance for recognition.
The Standards and Guidelines for QA in the EHEA (ESG) set out how QA systems should work. If this is done well, recognition should be easier.
As we see here, in the Western Balkans there are still countries where national QA systems are not fully aligned with the ESG. This is a point for action for them.
How to prove in a trustworthy way that QA systems are in line with ESG? =˃ EQAR registration. The next slide shows that most of the Western-Balkan countries don't have registered agencies in EQAR. This is a further action point to consider!

9. Countries with EQAR registered agencies

10. Key elements for improvement
Political will and political commitment
Supporting national authorities and relevant stakeholders in working together
Supporting countries of the European Higher Education Area in working together
Identifying "Bologna/EHEA experts" who support implementation and reach out better to institutions

11. Improving implementation
Call for participation sent to BFUG members on 22 June
Countries to declare interest by 9 August
Within Bologna Follow-Up Group:
Peer groups
on qualification frameworks, quality assurance and recognition
Erasmus+ grants for capacity building
Erasmus+ programme countries, with other EHEA countries co-beneficiaries!
European Commission support

12. Recognition and the EU
Proposal for a Council Recommendation published on 22 May 2018 :
A qualification in one Member State is automatically recognised, for the purpose of granting access to higher education, in the others.
The outcomes from a learning period abroad are automatically and fully recognised.
Education and training institutions will remain free to make independent decisions on admission to their programmes.
Political commitment to automatic recognition by 2025, to be accompanied by a technical process to get there and to support NARICs.
This is focused on improved transparency and trust: in higher education, on quality assurance, qualifications frameworks, Bologna structure.
At schools level, a cooperation process to build the necessary level of trust between Member States’ different education systems.
Main Commission actions:
1) mutual learning and exchange
2) possible extension of role of NARICs
3) digital tools
4) user-friendly online information on upper secondary qualifications that give access to higher education

13. Thank you! Questions?