UNESCO-IESALC

Main Menu

  • The Institute
  • Priorities
    • Internationalization and Academic Mobility
      • Recognition of Academic Degrees
      • New Regional Convention
      • Practical information for recognition by country
    • Quality and relevance
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Innovation
    • CRES 2018
  • Programs
    • Research
      • Academic Mobility
      • Digital Transformations
      • Futures of Higher Education
      • Response to COVID-19
      • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
      • The Right to Higher Education
      • Transforming Education
    • Capacity building
      • Campus IESALC
      • Change Management Program and Agile Methodologies
      • EDS Bootcamp 2023
      • Leadership, Management and Training Program for Sustainable Higher Education 
      • Quality Management Programme
      • Strengthening Programme for Improvement Plan Projects
      • Sustainable University Leadership and Governance. Towards the 2030 Agenda
      • Teacher Competency Development Programme (TCDP)
      • Technical Competency Development Programme
    • Technical cooperation
      • Educational continuity in Peru (PMESUT)
    • Concerted advocacy
  • Publications
    • IESALC Publications
    • ESS Open Journal System
    • CRES 2018 Collection
  • Events
  • Español

logo

  • The Institute
  • Priorities
    • Internationalization and Academic Mobility
      • Recognition of Academic Degrees
      • New Regional Convention
      • Practical information for recognition by country
    • Quality and relevance
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Innovation
    • CRES 2018
  • Programs
    • Research
      • Academic Mobility
        • Virtual Student Mobility
      • Digital Transformations
      • Futures of Higher Education
      • Response to COVID-19
        • Reopening maps
      • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
      • The Right to Higher Education
      • Transforming Education
        • Young People on Transforming Education Project (YPTEP)
    • Capacity building
      • Campus IESALC
      • Change Management Program and Agile Methodologies
      • EDS Bootcamp 2023
      • Leadership, Management and Training Program for Sustainable Higher Education 
      • Quality Management Programme
      • Strengthening Programme for Improvement Plan Projects
      • Sustainable University Leadership and Governance. Towards the 2030 Agenda
      • Teacher Competency Development Programme (TCDP)
      • Technical Competency Development Programme
    • Technical cooperation
      • Educational continuity in Peru (PMESUT)
    • Concerted advocacy
  • Publications
    • IESALC Publications
    • ESS Open Journal System
    • CRES 2018 Collection
  • Events
  • Español

UN treaty on qualifications recognition enters into force

The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education came into force on Sunday 5 March, becoming the first legally binding United Nations instrument on higher education, fostering international mobility and opening up increased opportunities for students
© Stefania Giannini Assistant Director-General for Education UNESCO
16 March, 2023

Por Brendan O’Malley

The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education came into force on Sunday 5 March, becoming the first legally binding United Nations instrument on higher education, fostering international mobility and opening up increased opportunities for students and qualification holders worldwide. It marks a decisive turning point on the road to more inclusive and equitable higher education and a world where students can easily move around and across borders to pursue their studies.

Adopted at the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference in November 2019, the Global Convention complements the five UNESCO regional conventions on the recognition of higher education qualifications and is designed to strengthen international cooperation in higher education and foster trust and confidence in the quality and reliability of qualifications through the promotion of integrity and ethical practices.

The minimum required number of states ratifying the convention for it to come into force was met when the 19th and 20th states, Iceland and Andorra, deposited their instruments of ratification on 5 December 2022. Some big destination countries for students are among those that have signed up so far, including France, Japan, the United Kingdom and most recently Australia.

Passing the required number of ratifications is also a landmark achievement under UNESCO’s efforts to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Education 2030 Agenda encapsulated in UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, led by Stefania Giannini, the most senior UN official in education. The former Italian minister for education, universities and research has been UNESCO’s assistant director-general for education for the past five years.

A specified objective of the convention is to “promote, through the recognition of qualifications, inclusive and equitable access to quality higher education and support lifelong learning opportunities for all, including refugees and displaced persons”.

University World News spoke to Giannini about the impact the Global Convention will have in providing a framework for achieving fair, transparent recognition of higher education qualifications across borders and the difference that will make to higher education worldwide.

(…)

Read full interview in University World News. The Global Window on Higher Education


SHARE

RELATED ITEMS

Other recent press releases

  • Equity and InclusionNews

    The launch of a survey for Latin American universities marks the commemoration of the International Day Against Violence Against Women

    23 November, 2022
    By Claudia Delgado Barrios
  • News

    IESALC presents international trends on university gratuity at the CIN forum

    10 September, 2019
    By Yara Bastidas
  • BlogNewsTransforming Education

    The future of higher education: skills for the world of tomorrow

    11 August, 2023
    By Yara Bastidas
  • NewsPublicationsWebinar

    Webinar Financial support for higher education students in Latin America and the Caribbean during the pandemic: challenges and responses

    8 July, 2021
    By Yamel Rincon
  • CRESNews

    Mexico hosts the second preparatory meeting for the Regional Conference on Higher Education Brazil 2024

    5 September, 2023
    By Sara Maneiro
  • Equity and InclusionNews

    UN condemns ban on Afghan women’s access to higher education and calls for repeal of measure

    22 December, 2022
    By Sara Maneiro

  • Covid19News

    The Impact of COVID-19: How are Universities Three Years After the Pandemic? | Observatory IFE | #InThePress

  • Recognition

    Recognition Process Haiti

  • News

    Call to participate in the GEM Report Fellowship Programme

UNESCO IESALC applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment

OUR NEWSLETTER

  Subscribe to our newsletter   

FOLLOW US

  •   Facebook
  •   Twitter
  •   Linkedin
  •   Instagram
  •   Youtube
  • © UNESCO IESALC 2023
  • Disclaimer of use
  • Website Privacy Notice
  • Opportunities
  • Contact us