How well does automatic mutual reco­gni­ti­on of higher education qua­li­fi­ca­ti­ons work in the EU?

This study analyses the mecha­nisms of automatic mutual reco­gni­ti­on of higher education qua­li­fi­ca­ti­ons within the EU and explores the pos­si­bi­li­ties of a European reco­gni­ti­on system.

image by Christian Lue on Unsplash

Improving pro­ce­du­res for the automatic mutual reco­gni­ti­on of qua­li­fi­ca­ti­ons in EU Member States is a cor­ner­s­tone on the way to a European education area. Learner mobility promotes the deve­lo­p­ment of key com­pe­ten­ces and expe­ri­en­ces that are crucial for active par­ti­ci­pa­ti­on in society and the labour market. In the context of a glo­ba­li­sed education and employment envi­ron­ment it is crucial that students are able to make the best use of all learning oppor­tu­ni­ties across the EU.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) has com­mis­sio­ned ICF (BE), CHEPS (NL) and 3s to study the progress of the imple­men­ta­ti­on of the Council Recommendation on the promotion of automatic mutual reco­gni­ti­on of qua­li­fi­ca­ti­ons acquired abroad and the outcomes of learning periods abroad in the EU27 Member States. In a first step, the study deals with an analysis of the imple­men­ta­ti­on of the Council Recommendation and ela­bo­ra­tes recom­men­da­ti­ons for future deve­lo­p­ment. In a further step, it will be explored whether and how the creation of a European reco­gni­ti­on as well as quality assurance system is possible. 3s is involved in various roles: Sigrid Mannsberger-Nindl is leading one of the two work packages, Julia Fellinger is the country coor­di­na­tor and is also inve­sti­ga­ting the situation in Austria and Germany, Karin Luomi-Messerer com­ple­ments the team as a policy analyst.

Download of the Executive Summary

Download of the Evaluation Report

The Commission’s report to the Council based on this study


Project: Study on the imple­men­ta­ti­on of the Council Recommendation on promoting automatic mutual reco­gni­ti­on of higher education and upper secondary education and training qua­li­fi­ca­ti­ons and the outcomes of learning periods abroad and on the fea­si­bi­li­ty of a European Recognition and Quality Assurance System

Contact: Sigrid Mannsberger-Nindl

Mail to sigrid.mannsberger-nindl@3s.co.at

Client: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC)

Duration: 12/2020 – 4/2023

Tools & Applications

Self-Assessment Tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence

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Using film as a medium to promote democracy and media literacy in VET schools

This project promotes democracy and media com­pe­tence as well as pro­fes­sio­nal identity deve­lo­p­ment of app­ren­ti­ces by the use of the medium film in voca­tio­nal schools.

Services & Events

EQAVET Peer Review Initiative

3s supports the European Quality Assurance for Vocational Education and Training Network (EQAVET) in carrying out peer reviews in the field of quality assurance of national VET systems.

Studies & Analyses

Ex-post eva­lua­ti­on of the European Social Fund

3s supports the ex-post eva­lua­ti­on of the 2014–2020 European Social Fund and Youth Employment Initiative under the multiple framework contracts related to the imple­men­ta­ti­on of Better Regulation guidelines.

Tools & Applications

Self-Assessment Tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence

3s supports the ETF in the promotion of out­stan­ding practice in voca­tio­nal education and training by designing a self-assess­ment tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence.

Tools & Applications

Using film as a medium to promote democracy and media literacy in VET schools

This project promotes democracy and media com­pe­tence as well as pro­fes­sio­nal identity deve­lo­p­ment of app­ren­ti­ces by the use of the medium film in voca­tio­nal schools.

Services & Events

EQAVET Peer Review Initiative

3s supports the European Quality Assurance for Vocational Education and Training Network (EQAVET) in carrying out peer reviews in the field of quality assurance of national VET systems.

Tools & Applications

Self-Assessment Tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence

3s supports the ETF in the promotion of out­stan­ding practice in voca­tio­nal education and training by designing a self-assess­ment tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence.

Tools & Applications

Using film as a medium to promote democracy and media literacy in VET schools

This project promotes democracy and media com­pe­tence as well as pro­fes­sio­nal identity deve­lo­p­ment of app­ren­ti­ces by the use of the medium film in voca­tio­nal schools.

Tools & Applications

Self-Assessment Tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence

3s supports the ETF in the promotion of out­stan­ding practice in voca­tio­nal education and training by designing a self-assess­ment tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence.

Tools & Applications

Using film as a medium to promote democracy and media literacy in VET schools

This project promotes democracy and media com­pe­tence as well as pro­fes­sio­nal identity deve­lo­p­ment of app­ren­ti­ces by the use of the medium film in voca­tio­nal schools.