On 30th October 2013, Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education organised a Round Table entitled “Recognition of Foreign Higher Education Qualifications in the Spirit of the Lisbon Convention” in Hotel Ero in Mostar. In addition to the Centre’s representatives, the Round Table was also attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic of Srpska, cantonal ministries of education, and public and private higher education institutions.
.JPG)
The goal of the Round Table was to inform the attendees of the current situation in the field of recognition of foreign higher education qualifications, both for the purpose of employment and for the purpose of further education, to exchange experience and good practice, and to promote the principles of the Lisbon Convention. The Round Table is also the continuation of the Centre’s lasting activities towards raising awareness on the importance of academic and professional recognition of foreign higher education qualifications in Bosnia and Herzegovina and improving and furtherance of the recognition procedures in force.
This Round Table was yet another opportunity to present the European Area of Recognition Manual, which sums up fifteen years of work on implementation of the Lisbon Recognition Convention, that is, examples of good practice in the European Area of Recognition. In addition to the presentations by the Centre staff, representative of the Commission for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska and the representative of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Tuzla Canton through their presentations also informed the participants of the qualification recognition procedures and the current situation in that particular field. Representative of the University of Tuzla also presented the procedure for academic recognition in Tuzla Canton.
Following an in-depth discussion on the current problems and challenges, the Round Table ended with the adoption of the following Conclusions:
1.Improve cooperation among the entity and cantonal ministries of education, Department of Education of the Brčko District of BiH, higher education institutions and the Centre.
2.Organise sessions of this and similar kind, both by the Centre and by all competent institutions and agencies.
3.In order to facilitate the recognition process, workshops for training the staff working on recognition of foreign higher education qualifications is recommended.
4.Bodies in charge of recognition of foreign qualifications should harmonise their regulations with the Lisbon Convention and its subsidiary documents.
5.The Centre staff will send the presentations, conclusions and the list of participants to all participants of the Round Table.
