1, avenue Léon-Journault92318 Sèvres - France

Centre international

d’études pédagogiques

ENIC-NARIC FranceQualification Recognition Department

Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment

of Foreign Qualifications in France

29 February 2012

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Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications in France

I. The French ENIC-NARIC

II. Funding texts in recognition

III. Recognition procedures in France

IV. Recognition criteria

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© CIEP

The French ENIC-NARIC*

ENIC-NARIC France: Belongs to CIEP’s education division

Main activities:

– Recognition of foreign qualifications by issuing a statement of comparability– Information on French qualifications and education system to stakeholders abroad– Information on the exercice of regulated professions in France

* European Network of Information Centres – National Academic Recognition Information Centres

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Funding texts in recognition practices LRC, subsidiary texts, ENIC NARIC Charter

The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) and its subsidiary texts:

– The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC), 1997

– Recommendation on Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications, adopted by the LRC Committee at its second meeting, 2001. Revised in Sèvres in 2010

– ENIC-NARIC Charter of activities and services (2004)

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The LRC and its subsidiary texts Transparency

– Facilitate communication– Publish procedures and criteria of assessment– Promote the LRC locally and abroad

Recognition

– Comparison with the national system– Use of different criteria – Take into account international agreements– Purpose of recognition

Crossing assessment criteria (quantitative & qualitative)

– Status of the institution– Access to the labour market and/or pursuit of studies– Any international or bilateral convention or MoU– Contents and profile of qualification– Length of study as one criteria but not the only one– A transparent procedure and methodology, announced to the applicant

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Joint ENIC NARIC Charter of activities and services

Adopted in 2004

Review of the missions and activities of the ENIC-NARIC centres: academic recognition access to the labour market for non-regulated professions A reliable and accessible information centre with necessary equipment and resources Provide information on recognition practice at the national level Act as an Information contact point on the national higher education system Cooperate within the network

Reinforce the added value of an international network

How does the French ENIC-NARIC operate?

Objective:

Help promote international mobility by improving the transparency of foreign credentials through the provision of comparability statements

Organisation:– 3 units

– Geographical specialisation of program coordinators

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ENIC-NARIC France - Key figures (2011)

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13 320applications from individuals 11 046 comparability statements issued 67 172 calls received (5600 per month) 15 858 e-mails answered

Geographical distribution:

1. Algeria2. Morocco3. Tunisia4. Belgium5. Russia

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Recognition procedures

Academic recognition Autonomy of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

HEIs may ask students to obtain a comparability statement from the ENIC-NARIC to help with their appreciation of the diploma in question

Professional recognition Regulated professions: individuals are referred to the competent authority

Non-regulated professions: decision is up to employersA comparability statement from the ENIC-NARIC can help potential employers with their appreciation of the diploma in question

Recognition procedures - Document issued by the French ENIC-NARIC

The comparability statement (attestation de comparabilité)

Application from individuals Cost: 70 euros (free for refugees and asylum seekers) Delay is at least one month, typically 4 months Fast track service: 48 hours (200€)

An expert opinion (not legally binding) Positions a diploma within the French Qualifications Framework of

1969, and possibly within the European Qualifications Framework Facilitates study progression and professional insertion

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© CIEP

Recognition criteria - Evaluation Grid used by the French ENIC-NARIC

Eligibility Criteria

Recognition of the qualification within the education system of the awarding country

Status of the institution in the awarding country

Assessment Components

Formal Indicators

Bilateral or multilateral agreement

Position of the qualification in a national and/or international framework

Official length of study

ECTS/credits

Admission requirements

Programme requirements (knowledge, competencies, learning outcomes)

Professional and academic rights

Quality Assurance

Existence of an independant and external assessment of the programme and the institution

Comparability statement - example

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1, avenue Léon-Journault92318 Sèvres - France

Thank you for your attention!

Claudia Gelleni

Assistant Head of Department

ENIC-NARIC France

For more information:

http://www.ciep.fr/en/enic-naricfr/index.php

Contact us:

enic-naric@ciep.fr