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UNESCO's Conventions on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education

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UNESCO's Conventions on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education

    Timeline of the Conventions on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education

    Recent Accessions/Approvals/Ratifications

    16 February 2026 Egypt ratified the Arab States Revised Convention.
    12 February 2026 Zambia ratified the Global Convention. (Effective from 12 May 2026)
    3 December 2025 Uzbekistan ratified the Global Convention. (Effective from 3 March 2026)
    14 April 2025 Republic of Korea ratified the Global Convention. (Effective from 14 July 2025)
    18 March 2025 Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the Global Convention. (Effective from 18 June 2025)

    Regional Conventions

    With the increasing global mobility in higher education since the 1970s, UNESCO has adopted and effectuated the six regional conventions taking the regional nature of higher education into consideration. The six conventions, concerning the importance of recognizing learning experience equally and fairly in another State, aim to promote recognition of higher education qualification (including qualifications for admission, diplomas, degrees and certificates). The revision process of these conventions has taken place since the late 1990s. 129 States have ratified one or more of these regional conventions as of February 16, 2026, with more than half of the States ratifying multiple conventions.

    Note: Convention titles in Japanese are listed only for those translated and published by the MEXT. (As of February 16, 2026)
    Region Convention Title City of Adoption Date of Adoption Date of Entry into Force (Stipulating Article) Number of State Parties
    Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean 1974 Mexico City 19 July 1974 14 June 1975
    (Article 17)    		 19
    Latin America and the Caribbean
    (revised convention)    		 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019 Buenos Aires 13 July 2019 23 October 2022
    (Article V.2)    		 6
    States Bordering on the Mediterranean International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States bordering on the Mediterranean Nice 17 December 1976 6 March 1978
    (Article 18)    		 12
    Arab States Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States Paris 22 December 1978 7 August 1981
    (Article 18)    		 14
    Arab States (revised convention) Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States Paris 2 February 2022 Not yet
    (Article VII.2)    		 4
    European Region Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the Europe Region Paris 21 December 1979 19 February 1982
    (Article 18)    		 46
    European Region
    (revised convention)    		 Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region Lisbon 11 April 1997 1 February 1999
    (Article XI.2)    		 57
    African States Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates Diplomas, Degrees and other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in the African States Arusha 5 December 1981 1 January 1983
    (Article 18)    		 23
    African States
    (revised convention)    		 Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States Addis Ababa 12 December 2014 15 December 2019
    (Article V.2)    		 14
    Asia and the Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas, and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific
    アジア太平洋地域における高等教育の学業、卒業証書及び学位の認定に関する地域条約（仮訳）    		 Bangkok 16 December 1983 23 December 1985
    (Article 18)    		 21
    Asia and the Pacific
    (revised convention)    		 Revised Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education
    高等教育の資格の承認に関するアジア太平洋地域規約（和文テキスト[訳文]）    		 Tokyo 26 November 2011 1 February 2018
    (Article X.2)    		 12

    Links to Related Websites

    1. ユネスコにおける高等教育の資格の承認に関する規約について [Japanese only] (MEXT website)
    2. Higher education regional conventions (UNESCO website)

    Global Convention

    In response to further acceleration of globalization, the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education was adopted at the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference on November 25, 2019. The Global Convention provides an inclusive global framework for the recognition of qualifications in higher education, and it aims to facilitate global mobility in higher education as well as to promote and strengthen international cooperation. While the regional conventions and the Global Convention are mutually complementary and have many similarities, new provisions such as recognition of 'prior learning' and 'partial recognition' are included in the Global Convention. It requires ratification by 20 State Parties for the Global Convention to enter into force, and it became effective on March 5, 2023.

    Note: Convention titles in Japanese are listed only for those translated and published by the MEXT. (As of February 16, 2026)
    Region Convention Title City of Adoption Date of Adoption Date of Entry into Force (Stipulating Article) Number of State Parties
    Global Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education
    高等教育の資格の承認に関する世界規約（訳文：PDF）    		 Paris 25 November 2019 5 March 2023
    (Article XVIII)    		 40

    Background and Progress of the Global Convention

    2023.7.4-5 The first session of the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Convention was held in Paris, France.
    2023.3.5 The Convention came into force after having been ratified by the required twenty Member States.
    2020.9.13 Japan ratified the Convention.
    2019.11.25 Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education was adopted at the fortieth session of the General Conference of the UNESCO meeting in Paris, France.

    Links to Related Websites and Leaflets

    1. Higher Education (UNESCO website)
    2. Global Convention (APNNIC website)
    3. What is the Global Convention on Higher Education? (UNESCO website)
    4. Global Convention on Higher Education (UNESCO website)
    5. Global Convention leaflet (Downloadable from UNESCO website)
    6. A practical guide to recognition: implementing the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education (Downloadable from UNESCO website)