Smoother processes in recognition of diplomas of other countries has always been also a concern for EURAXESS Estonia. Now we can celebrate together with the local ENIC/NARIC centre and its partners, when the Baltic States and Benelux countries have signed a six-party agreement on the mutual automatic recognition of higher education qualifications. Such an agreement between regions concerning higher education is unique in Europe and therefore serves as an example for others.
Minister of Education and Research Liina Kersna noted that recognition of higher education degrees will become easier and faster.
Automatic recognition simplifies accessibility to Master’s and doctoral studies for students from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania to move to Benelux countries or vice versa.
Before preparing the agreement, the higher education reforms of all six countries were analysed, including the quality assurance and transparency of evaluating and recognising qualifications. The analyses assured that the higher education systems of the Baltic States and Benelux countries are in concordance with the principles and model of Europe’s higher education area, the systems are comparable and there are no considerable differences among them. Becoming a contracting party shows the quality of the country’s higher education and reliability.
Other countries of the European higher education area can enter into the agreement in the future if they have ratified the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, they have a reliable system of quality assurance and their degrees and diplomas are related to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning.
Euraxess Estonia has over the years had very good collaboration with local ENIC/NARIC centre and we hope to continue this path.
News source: Ministry of Education and Research
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