Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in the European Region

This article explains education policy, see also Lisbon Treaty (disambiguation) .

Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in the European Region
Short title:	Lisbon Convention (not official)
Title (engl.):	Convention on the recognition of qualifications concerning higher education in the European region
Date:	April 11, 1997
Come into effect:	February 1, 1999
Reference:	ETS No .: 165, EU
Reference (German):	BGBl. 2007 II pp. 712, 713 (in three languages)
Contract type:	Multinational
Legal matter:	Higher education
Signing:
Ratification :	54 (as of April 29, 2020)
European Union:	Ratification (September 1, 1982)
Germany:	Ratification (August 23, 2007)
Liechtenstein:	Ratification (February 1, 2000)
Austria:	Ratification (February 3, 1999)
Switzerland:	Ratification (March 24, 1998)
Please note the note on the applicable contract version .

The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in the European Region is an international treaty between the Council of Europe and UNESCO on the recognition of higher education qualifications from all countries within the scope from 1997. 54 states have so far ratified the convention (status: 29 / 04/2020).

content

The Convention includes the following innovations, among others:

• The reversal of the burden of proof applies to the recognition of achievements, university entrance qualifications or university degrees achieved in a contracting state . This means that the recognizing authority must prove to the applicant that the performance / qualification / degree to be recognized has significant differences to the performance / qualification / degree of one's own study programs and that the applicant does not have to prove equivalence. The applicant is obliged to provide sufficient information for the assessment ( information obligation ). This information, in turn, must be issued to the applicant by their home educational institution. (Section III and VIII of the Convention)
• A higher education entrance qualification issued in a contracting state is recognized in all contracting states, unless there is a significant difference between the general admission requirements in the contracting party in which the qualification was obtained and those in the contracting party in which the recognition is sought (Article IV.1 of the Convention).
• In a Contracting State rendered academic achievements are recognized in all Contracting States. Academic achievement refers to an assessed part of a degree that involves a considerable acquisition of skills and knowledge and for which evidence has been issued. This formulation also includes partial performances that do not constitute a separate course of study. (Section V of the Convention)
• University degrees awarded in a contracting state are recognized in all contracting states (Section VI of the Convention)
• In the event of refusal, legal remedies can be filed. This instrument is one of the main innovations. It is therefore worthwhile to check carefully, taking into account the respective restrictions, some of which are mentioned below, whether an application for recognition of study achievements / university degrees / university entrance qualifications has been handled correctly. As the Convention was ratified very late in some cases (by Germany in 2007), there is still uncertainty in some administrative units about the correct implementation.
• Limitations : Almost every recognition rule has certain limitations. In particular, in the event that additional services (e.g. entrance exams or other compulsory preliminary work) have to be provided for admission to a university program, these may also be required by foreign applicants from contracting states. It is also important to point out that the recognizing authority may reserve the right to assess the work performed in another contracting state itself and then only have to recognize its own assessment . Furthermore, it may be required that the applicant can demonstrate the necessary language skills .

National implementation

Germany

In Germany, higher education is the responsibility of the federal states. However, since Germany is the contracting state, the convention had to be ratified by the Bundestag. The coordination of the individual regulations takes place via the Standing Conference .

• The Federal Republic of Germany ratified the convention on October 1, 2007
• The Conference of Ministers of Education followed ratification by the Federal Republic of Germany with its resolution of October 15, 2009

Federal states:

• Baden-Württemberg: Inclusion and thus strengthening of the Convention in the State University Act (Section 36a). Paragraph 36 a, however, only relates to study and examination performances and degrees.

Switzerland

The convention was signed in Switzerland on March 24, 1998. The Convention entered into force on February 1, 1999.

Austria

The Convention was signed on July 7, 1997, ratified in February 1999 and entered into force on April 1, 1999.

United Kingdom

The Convention was signed on November 7, 1997, ratified on May 23, 2003, and entered into force on July 1, 2003. The United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum will have no impact on the recognition of school periods abroad and the recognition of school diplomas, as there is no EU-wide coordination in this area.

Web links

• lissabon-konvention.de: Information and references to state laws on the subject of recognition

Individual evidence

1. ^ Council of Europe, status of ratifications
2. ↑ fzs - Recognition of academic achievements - Background to the Lisbon Convention ( Memento of the original from May 31, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
3. ^ Resolution of the 327th Standing Conference on October 15, 2009
4. ↑ Draft hearing law on the introduction of an established student body and the strengthening of academic further education - VerfStudG ( Memento of December 8, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 331 kB)
5. ↑ Admin.ch Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in the European Region
6. ↑ Foreign students: Entitlement to access to a Swiss university
7. ^ Council of Europe: entire list of participating countries
8. ^ Council of Europe: entire list of participating countries
9. ^ Research for CULT Committee - Recognition of qualifications for educational and professional purposes: the impact of Brexit. In: europarl.europa.eu ; PDF: page 4, paragraph 1.2.1. April 29, 2020, accessed on April 29, 2020 .