شبكة المعلومات العربية التربوية

With a globalised economy that depends on technical innovations and the competitive use of knowledge by highly skilled individuals, higher education is increasingly seen as vital for a country’s economic growth and standard of living. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed in 2015 acknowledge this necessity with the inclusion of a target of ensuring equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university. However, those seeking to pursue further higher education, or highly skilled work in a different country from that in which they obtained their higher-education qualifications, often experience challenges in having their foreign credentials or studies recognized in the host country. Similarly, individuals returning to their home countries having studied abroad can find that their foreign qualifications are not appropriately recognized. The Member States of UNESCO’s Arab Region recently agreed to revise the Convention for the Arab Region in preparation for an eventual Global Recognition Convention. Both are now advancing towards adoption. These Conventions incorporate significant new principles such as the granting of recognition unless “substantial differences” are identified, placing the burden of proof on the recognition authority;, fairly assessing qualifications from non-traditional modes of education; placing an emphasis that Parties to the Conventions are responsible for providing information about their higher education and quality assurance systems (particularly through the establishment of a national information center or similar body), and providing special provisions for recognizing the qualifications of refugees. The revision of the Arab Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, Diplomas and Certificates in relation to Quality-Assurance Systems in the region is discussed. (Author’s abstract)