The initiative to develop a new model for a Diploma Supplement/Administrative Annex to qualifications followed The European Union Council of Ministers decision of 6^th May 1996. In 1994 the European Commission initiated a debate on the possible synergies between academic and professional recognition and a report was prepared which was discussed at the Council of Ministers meeting on the 6^th May 1996. One of the conclusions from this meeting was that ‘the European Commission is invited to examine in co-operation with the Member States: possibilities for the introduction on a voluntary basis, of a European administrative annex to the diploma, the aim being to facilitate transparency and recognition in States other than those in which they were dispensed; it would take into account the experience of other organisations such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe in this area’.

Simultaneously, UNESCO and the Council of Europe had come to the conclusion that the Diploma Supplement developed by these two organisations needed revision and up-dating. The importance of the Diploma Supplement was furthermore underlined in the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region, elaborated jointly by these two organisations and adopted in Lisbon in April 1997.

Establishing the working party

A Diploma Supplement working party was established in December 1996 as a joint initiative by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES. The group was composed of recognition specialists, representatives from higher education institutions and the three sponsoring organisations. In February 1997 a representative from the Confederation of EU-Rectors’ Conferences joined the working party. The full list of the working party membership can be found in Appendix 2.

The mandate of the working party was to develop a new model for a Diploma Supplement/Administrative Annex to ease the problems of recognition and promote transparency and the mutual recognition of qualifications drawing on the experiences of the UNESCO and Council of Europe model as well as national experiences. Full details of the terms of reference of the working party can be found in Appendix 1. The project was divided into two parts. In the first part a group of experts produced a new Diploma Supplement model. The second part involved the practical pilot testing and subsequent refinement of the model. Following these activities this final report was produced making recommendations concerning the model, its future development, its implementation and promotion.

Terms of reference of the pilot project.

The initiative to develop a new model for a Diploma Supplement/Administrative Annex to qualifications followed The              European Union Council of Ministers decision of 6^th May 1996. In 1994 the European Commission initiated a debate on the possible synergies between academic and professional recognition and a report was prepared which was discussed at the Council of Ministers meeting on the 6^th May 1996. One of the conclusions from this meeting was that

‘the European Commission is invited to examine in co-operation with the Member States: possibilities for the introduction on a voluntary basis, of a European administrative annex to the diploma, the aim being to facilitate transparency and recognition in States other than those in which they were dispensed; it would take into account the experience of other organisations such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe in this area’.

Simultaneously, UNESCO and the Council of Europe had come to the conclusion that the Diploma Supplement developed by these two organisations needed revision and up-dating. The importance of the Diploma Supplement was furthermore underlined in the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region, elaborated jointly by these two organisations and adopted in Lisbon on 11^th April 1997.

Against this background, the European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO established a joint working party composed of recognition experts and representatives of higher education institutions, including some with experience of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Their aim is to propose a Diploma Supplement which could be sponsored by all three organisations.

Composition of the working party.

Jette Kirstein (Danish ENIC/NARIC), Chair.

Stephen Adam (University of Westminster), Rapporteur.

Maria Rosa Citarda (University of Torino).

Vladimir Fissenko (D.M. Sechenov Medical Academy, Moskva) (first meeting only).

Stefanka Hristoskova (Bulgarian ENIC) (first meeting only)

Michel Jouve (Director, French Socrates Bureau)

Rüdiger Jütte (German Rector’s Conference).

Inge Knudsen (Director, Confederation of European Rectors’ Conferences).

Erwin Malfroy (Assistant Director, Belgium-Flemish NARIC/ENIC).

Éva Palmer (Hungarian Equivalence and Information Centre).

William J Paver (American Association of Collegiate Registrars) (first meeting only)

Andrejs Rauhvargers (Director, Latvian ENIC).

Secretariat:

Ms Ginette Nabavi (European Commission - DG22), Chair of the NARIC network.

Mr Sjur Bergan (Council of Europe), Co-Secretary of the ENIC network.