An overview of the Global Convention

The UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education 2019 (Global Convention) was adopted during the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference in November 2019. This convention is now open for ratification by interested UNESCO Member States, but it will only enter into force three months after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification, presumably in spring 2023.

The Global Convention was inspired by pre-existing regional conventions, such as the 1997 Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) in the UNESCO Europe and North America region. Like its regional precursors, the Global Convention aims to support:

• the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), especially as it concerns the enhancement of the quality of higher education;
• growth in student mobility;
• the recognition of academic credentials as a global right;
• international consistency in recognition procedures; and
• increased international cooperation.

In Canada, federal, provincial, and territorial governments acknowledged that:

• UNESCO has already addressed many of the questions and challenges raised by governments in Canada, and suggested changes were accepted and included in the adopted version of the Global Convention;
• an instrument such as the Global Convention will:
• improve academic and professional mobility across the five UNESCO regions and enhance international cooperation in higher education. It will also demonstrate to the world the importance of fair recognition practices being applied by assessment services and competent recognition bodies in Canada;
• support economic growth by facilitating inbound and outbound migration flows in Canada. This includes attracting international students to our educational institutions and a skilled workforce to our labour markets; and
• demonstrate the excellence of Canada's education systems by ensuring that academic credentials issued by our educational institutions are recognized worldwide.
• given Canada's ratification of UNESCO's 1979 and 1997 recognition-related conventions, Canada already benefits from existing implementation structures established over the past four decades. The Global Convention would extend similar provisions to all the countries that ratify it.

CMEC continues to collaborate with all interested parties to finalize preparatory steps for a possible ratification of the Global Convention.

Get more information on the UNESCO website, learn about the consultation process with UNESCO and within Canada, and consult the FAQ.