Event
Second session of the Intergovernmental Conference of States Parties to the Global Convention on Higher Education
The mandate of the Intergovernmental Conference is to promote the application of the Convention and oversee its implementation by adopting recommendations, declarations, models of good practices, or any relevant subsidiary text at the global or interregional level (cf. Art. XV para 7). It also adopts an interim work programme concerning activities between sessions (cf. Art. XV para 5).
The objectives of the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference include adopting the interim work programme for 2025-2027 and the draft Operational Guidelines, which is the first subsidiary text developed for the Global Convention. The Operational Guidelines aim to provide a common understanding of the Convention and assist in its implementation, as a tool for practitioners.
During the Conference, we will also kick off important discussions on key issues, including:
- the relationship of the Global Convention to the regional recognition conventions
- quality assurance including that of transnational education
- recognition of refugees’ qualifications and the development of complementary pathways.
The Global Convention on Higher Education
Adopted at the 40th Session of the General Conference on 25 November 2019, the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education (hereinafter the Global Convention) entered into force on 5 March 2023, following the deposit of the 20th instrument of ratification on 5 December 2022.
Today, more than half of the world’s 6.4 million international students are studying outside their region. As the first worldwide UN treaty in higher education, the Global Convention ensures fair, transparent and non-discriminatory recognition of higher education qualifications across regions. It establishes an inclusive framework for mutual recognition of higher education qualifications and qualifications giving access to higher education, offering avenues for further study and employment. With provisions on non-traditional learning modes, the Global Convention also facilitates the recognition of qualifications, prior learning and partial studies.
As of March 2025, 36 States have ratified and numerous other countries report to be at an advanced stage in the ratification process.
More information will be available soon.
