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ENIC NETWORK (COUNCIL OF EUROPE/UNESCO) NARIC NETWORK (EUROPEAN COMMISSION)
9th Joint Meeting of the ENIC and NARIC Networks Valletta (Malta), 6-8 June 2002 Final report
DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 26 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/9Strasbourg/Bucharest/Brussels, 1 July 2002 Orig. Fr.
FINAL REPORT
Directorate General IV: Higher Education and Research Division of the Council of Europe, UNESCO European Centre for Higher Education (UNESCO-CEPES), Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission
Distribution: meeting http://culture.coe.int/restricted/ccher/fr/fcesu.ses.html http://www.cepes.ro/hed/recogn/default.htm
This report is concerned with the working sessions of the Joint Meeting. At a special session, chaired by Mrs Joyce Pullicino, the Maltese authorities presented their country's education system. The programme of this session appears in Appendix 3 of this report.
ITEM 1: OPENING OF THE MEETING
The 9th Joint Meeting of the ENIC and NARIC Networks opened on 6 June 2002 at the Foundation for International Studies of the University of Malta in Valletta. It was jointly chaired by the President of the ENIC Network, Mr Jindra Divis, and the Chair of the NARIC Network, Ms. Anne Serizier.
The members of the ENIC and NARIC Networks were welcomed by Mr Paul Attard, Permanent Secretary of the Maltese Ministry of Education. The joint secretaries of the ENIC Network, MM Sjur Bergan and Lazăr Vlăsceanu, and the Chair of the NARIC Network, Ms. Anne Serizier, welcomed the participants and the local organisers on behalf of the organisations they represented: the Council of Europe, UNESCO and the European Commission.
ITEM 2: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The Joint Secretary of the ENIC Network, Sjur Bergan, provided technical explanations concerning the procedure for the election of the Network's Bureau, which appears as item 12 of the agenda. The President of the Network, Mr Jindra Divis, who had just completed his term of office, was eligible for a second term. One Vice-President, Chantal Kaufmann, had completed her second term and was no longer eligible but the other Vice-President, Gunnar Vaht, had completed one term and could stand again.
The Secretariat invited the members of the ENIC Network to nominate candidates for the above mentioned posts when item 12 was discussed.
The agenda was adopted without amendments.
ITEM 3: REPORTS BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND UNESCO
The secretariats of the Council of Europe, UNESCO and the European Commission presented short reports on activities of interest to the ENIC and NARIC Networks.
The members took note of the information supplied by the secretariats.
ITEM 4: RECOGNITION ISSUES IN THE BOLOGNA PROCESS
Discussion on this item focused on the following:
- the follow up to the recommendations of the Seminar on Recognition Issues in the Bologna Process, organised by the Council of Europe and the Portuguese authorities and held in Lisbon on 11-12 April 2002;
The networks identified the following priorities for their future activities: better information on the recognition of qualifications, particularly standardised advice for students, and the establishment of an international working group to draw up a European code of good practice on information on recognition; closer co-operation with national and European quality assurance bodies to ensure that their procedures took account of recognition issues; an examination of problems arising from recognition of learning outcomes/competencies and the continuation of work in the field of transnational education.
- the activities of the Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research (CD-ESR) aimed at extending participation in the Bologna Process, thereby strengthening the movement to reform higher education in Europe;
The Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research (CD-ESR) was continuing its efforts to encourage countries outside of the Bologna Process to take part in it. It also encouraged member countries to review their legislation to bring it into line with international instruments concerned with the recognition of qualifications. There would be an enlarged debate on this subject at the Committee's plenary session on 2 and 3 October 2002.
- recognition of qualifications and quality assurance in the context of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);
The Chair of the Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research (CD-ESR), Dr Per Nyborg, described the Committee's work in the context of the Bologna Process and the state of progress of discussions on the Lisbon Convention and its possible link with GATS in higher education. The networks were agreed in principle that for GATS to be acceptable in the field of higher education, it had to respect the need for standards for education quality and the recognition of qualifications, particularly the Lisbon Convention.
The members of the networks had had a critical role to play as information centres, and in reminding their authorities, particularly in less-developed countries, that higher education was a public good and was and would remain a public responsibility.
In the GATS negotiations, the member countries should also demand the application of existing international instruments on the recognition of qualifications (a natural consequence of ratification of the Lisbon Convention) and of machinery to ensure the quality of education services.
The members of the networks thought that a publication was needed on the Lisbon Convention and its associated machinery to bring these matters to the attention of a wider audience.
- joint degrees, their significance, criteria for awarding them and restrictions in various countries;
Those present were informed of the conclusions and recommendations of the seminar on joint degrees held in Sweden on 30 and 31 May 2002. Joint degrees were an integral part of the application of the Bologna Declaration and Prague Communiqué and were seen as instruments for promoting student and academic mobility, employability and the quality, attractiveness and competitiveness of European higher education. However, their development had to be preceded by the establishment of quality assurance and accreditation systems compatible with international standards and the setting up of joint study programmes under the supervision of national authorities.
Since the establishment and development of joint degrees were not referred to explicitly in the Lisbon Convention, the networks or a small working group might consider drafting a special chapter on such degrees and the criteria and procedures for their recognition, to be added as an appendix to the Code. There could be another study on joint degrees for regulated professions.
ITEM 5: RECOGNITION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN?
The networks were informed of discussions on closer co-operation between recognition and quality assurance networks involving the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and representatives of ENQA (European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education).
Such co-operation would continue in the future through the establishment of a joint task force, which would constitute a sort of core of the network of networks and through which information could be channelled in both directions on the needs of the ENIC and NARIC networks, the most important quality criteria, the different quality assurance systems, and quality assurance with regard to joint programmes. The two networks should adopt dynamic work strategies and draw up codes of good practice, to reflect the needs and problems identified.
It was agreed that the joint task force would initially look at questions and procedures relating to quality assurance systems and that the European ministers would be informed of the results of this inter-network co-operation at their conference in Berlin in 2003.
ITEM 6: DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT
The networks were informed that the European Commission had taken fresh steps to promote the Diploma Supplement. Following a trial period, the implementation stage had started and was under way in several European Union member and applicant countries. The ultimate aim was to secure the award of diploma supplements by higher education establishments.
ITEM 7: INFORMATION ON RECOGNITION
Item 7.A Information on recognition
Ms. Chantal Kaufmann, Vice-President of the ENIC Network, summarised the possibilities for improving information on recognition. The centres had been invited to reply to eight questions on the major problems encountered concerning information on recognition and on higher education systems in general, and on ways of alleviating them. She concluded by emphasising the need to strengthen the ENIC and NARIC Networks as significant information channels, by giving them the necessary resources to carry out their tasks.
It was noted in discussion that information on recognition must be both coherent and transparent and that the networks should do more to create à la carte information modules better adapted to the needs of groups concerned with issues of recognition and mobility.
Item 7.B Electronic Information and Communication
Mr Eric Schvartz (Canada), Chair of the ELCORE Working Group on Electronic Information in Recognition, presented an interim progress report on the construction of a networks web site (www.enic-naric.net). The Web site had been officially launched in December 2001 and had been developed by the Canadian, Lithuanian and Norwegian ENICs, with financial support from the European Commission and the Council of Europe. Its main functions were to offer professionals in the field ready access to a range of fundamental resources for their day-to-day work, and to raise networks' profiles by giving their activities greater prominence. He also described the financial and organisational challenges that the working group faced.
The ENIC and NARIC Networks warmly thanked the Canadian, Lithuanian and Norwegian ENICs for their work.
ITEM 8: THE GLOBALISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS
Ms Zeynep Varoğlu, the UNESCO representative, informed participants of the work so far carried out by the working group set up following the meeting of experts on the impact of globalisation on higher education. The group had decided to organise a global forum on international quality assurance, accreditation and recognition of degrees, to be held in Paris on 17 and 18 October[1]. Debates at the Forum would focus on three issues: higher education, globalisation and the trade in education services; the feasibility of a code of good practice or ethical practices in quality assurance, accreditation and recognition of degrees; and the sharing of information.
The networks were invited to contribute to the success of the forum.
ITEM 9: DATABASE ON TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION
Mr. Lazăr Vlăsceanu, (UNESCO-CEPES), Joint Secretary of the ENIC network, presented a progress report on what had so far been achieved by the pilot project to establish a UNESCO-CEPES database on transnational education. The structure of the database had been created at UNESCO-CEPES and they were currently processing information on transnational education institutions in Europe.
Several difficulties had had to be overcome in setting up the system and collecting information and others had appeared, such as the updating and reliability of information and how to monitor the dynamic and constantly changing situation regarding transnational education in Europe.
Since the networks were important partners in this project and were uniquely well placed to supply information and check its accuracy, it was proposed that UNESCO-CEPES ask members of the networks to check and supplement information on transnational education suppliers. This would mean giving them free access to the database, which was currently still restricted.
The United States ENIC wanted to make a closer contribution to the UNESCO-CEPES project.
ITEM 10: COOPERATION WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL CONVENTION
Mr Paul Heywood (Malta), Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee of the International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States bordering on the Mediterranean, informed participants of decisions and recommendations approved at the committee's last meeting. It had been decided to establish a Mediterranean network of information centres, in which the ENIC centres would be the contact points for the northern Mediterranean countries. Joint activities between the two networks had been proposed. The new network could also develop joint activities with the Commission of the European Union, in the context of the forthcoming TEMPUS-MEDA project.
The members of the ENIC and NARIC Networks supported joint activities in areas of mutual interest, such as the drafting of codes of good practice or the establishment of contacts in order to collect reliable information on the education systems of member countries of the Mediterranean regional Convention.
ITEM 11: STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE ENIC AND NARIC NETWORKS: STATUS AND FOLLOW-UP
Following discussion, participants identified the following priorities:
- continuing efforts to improve information on recognition of qualifications; - continuing the work of the ELCORE group on electronic information; - continuing the examination of key issues relating to the Bologna Process (recognition, labour market, transnational education, GATS, learning outcomes/competencies); - preparing project proposals for the European Commission's new Socrates programme; - preparing a document "Recognition of Qualifications in the Bologna Process: II"; - preparing a document on the recognition of joint degrees or joint degrees and professional studies; - examining issues relating to the recognition of non-regulated professions and the labour market.
ITEM 12: ELECTION OF THE ENIC BUREAU
The ENIC Network elected its President and two Vice-Presidents for the period June 2002 to June 2003. Following the presentation of candidates, the network elected the following Bureau by acclamation:
President: Jindra Divis (Netherlands ENIC) re-elected, Vice-President: Gunnar Vaht (Estonia ENIC) re-elected, Vice-President: Polonca Miklavc Valenčič (Slovenia ENIC) newly elected.
The NARIC Consultative Council would be elected at the Network's autumn meeting.
ITEM 13: THE 2003 ENIC/NARIC MEETING
The Liechtenstein ENIC/NARIC provided brief information on the 2003 meeting, to be held in Vaduz at the invitation of the Liechtenstein authorities.
ITEM 14: CLOSURE OF THE MEETING
The Maltese Minister of Education, Mr Louis Galea, addressed the ENIC and NARIC Networks (the text appears in Appendix 4 of this report).
Members of the networks expressed their warm thanks to the Government of Malta for hosting the 9th Annual Meeting, and to the Foundation for International Studies for their excellent organisation.
APPENDIX 1
Agenda of the meeting
The 9th Joint Meeting of the ENIC and NARIC Networks will be held on 6 – 8 June 2002, at the Foundation for International Studies of the University of Malta, Valletta. The meeting will be co-chaired by the President of the ENIC Network, Mr Jindra Divis and the Chair of the NARIC Network, Ms. Anne Serizier. The meeting will begin at 09.30 hours.
ITEM 1: OPENING OF THE MEETING
ITEM 2: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Document: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) OJ 5 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/1 [the present document]
Action: Adoption
ITEM 3: REPORTS BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND UNESCO
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 17 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/2 [Secretariat reports/fact sheets] The Secretariats will provide brief reports on activities of relevance to the ENIC and NARIC Networks.
Action: taking note
ITEM 4: RECOGNITION ISSUES IN THE BOLOGNA PROCESS
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 18 [Secretariat discussion document] DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 9 [Report of the seminar held in Lisboa on 11 - 12 April 2002] DGIV/EDU/HE (2001) 1 rev. [Report on Recognition Issues in the Bologna Process]
Under this item, the Secretariats will provide an update on developments, including the Bologna Seminar held in Lisboa on 11 – 12 April 2002, and the Networks will be invited to consider priorities for further action.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariats
ITEM 5: RECOGNITION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN?
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 19 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/3
In the communiqué from the Praha Higher Education Summit in May 2001, the Ministers of Education of the Bologna Process called for closer cooperation between recognition and quality assurance networks. The ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and representatives of ENQA have held two meetings to discuss possibilities for cooperation. The Networks are invited to take stock of these discussions and to provide guidance for further action.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariats
ITEM 6: DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 20 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/4 [Diploma Supplement and Explanatory Memorandum] EAC.A.2/ASE/ase D(2002) [European Commission document on the state of implementation of the DS in the EU/EEA and candiate countries]
The European Commission has launched a renewed action for the promotion of the Diploma Supplement. Under this item, the Networks will be informed of this renewed action and invited to give guidance on further measures for implementation
Action: advice to the NARIC Advisory Board, the ENIC Bureau and the Secretariats
ITEM 7: INFORMATION ON RECOGNITION
Item 7.A Information on recognition
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 21 [presentation by Professor Stephen Adam to the Council of Europe seminar on Recognition Issues in the Bologna Process]
DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 22 [presentation by Ms. Chantal Kaufmann to the Council of Europe seminar on Recognition Issues in the Bologna Process]
Information on recognition is at the core of the activities of the ENIC and NARIC Networks, yet little explicit consideration has been given to this issue over the past few years. On the background of two of the presentations to the Council of Europe Seminar on Recognition Issues in the Bologna Process the Networks are invited to consider their role and activities.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariats
Item 7.B Electronic Information and Communication
Document: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 16 [report by the Working Party on electronic communication]
The Working Party on electronic communication has now submitted its final report and established an ENIC-NARIC Web site, and it will be recalled that a preliminary report has previously been submitted to the Networks. On the basis of the final report, the Networks are invited to give guidance on the further work on the web site and, if appropriate, other aspects of electronic information and communication.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariats
ITEM 8: THE GLOBALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS
Documents: ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/5
On 10 – 11 September 2001, UNESCO organized a meeting of representatives of all UNESCO Regions as well as invited experts to launch a discussion of the recognition of qualifications in the light of globalization. The ENIC Network was invited to provide a part of the European input to the meeting. A Task Force was established, and it met in Lisboa on 13 April. The ENIC and NARIC Networks are invited to consider possible input to the further work of the Task Force, including in the preparation of the second Global Forum, to be held in Paris on 21 – 22 October.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau and the Secretariat
ITEM 9: DATABASE ON TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION
Document: ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/6
At the 2001 meeting of the ENIC and NARIC Networks held in Riga, UNESCO-CEPES proposed a pilot project on “Information gathering and processing on Transnational Education”. A structure of a database has been created at UNESCO-CEPES, being currently in the phase of processing the information on TNE institutions in Europe. The UNESCO-CEPES representative will present a progress report on the results achieved so far.
Action: taking note; advice to the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariat, if appropriate
ITEM 10: COOPERATION WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL CONVENTION
Document: ED-2002/HED/AMQ/Conv.06/10 [Final Report of the Sixth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States bordering on the Mediterranean]
On 14-15 January 2002, UNESCO organized the 6th session of the Mediterranean Convention on the Recognition of Studies. A Mediterranean network of information centres will be developed in which the ENIC centres would represent the contact points for the Northern Mediterranean countries. Joint activities between the two networks were proposed. This network could also develop joint activities with the EU Commission in the implementation of the prospective TEMPUS-MEDA project. The Recommendations from the meeting are put forward for comment and suggestions to the Bureau and Advisory Board.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau and the Secretariats
ITEM 11: STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE ENIC AND NARIC NETWORKS: STATUS AND FOLLOW-UP
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 23 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/7 [discussion document for the ENIC network] [discussion document for the NARIC network]
The Networks are invited to consider strategies for their further work.
Action: advice to the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariats
ITEM 12: ELECTION OF THE ENIC BUREAU
Documents: DGIV/EDU/HE (2002) 24 ED-2002/UNESCO-CEPES/ENIC.9/8 [Secretariat background document]
The ENIC Network is invited to elect its President and two Vice-Presidents for the period June 2002 - June 2003. The Secretariat background document outlines the rules and procedures for the election. It is recalled that the NARIC Advisory Board is elected at the autumn meeting of the NARIC Network.
Action: election
ITEM 13: THE 2003 ENIC/NARIC MEETING
Documents: none
The 2003 Network meeting will be held in Vaduz at the invitation of the Liechtenstein authorities, and the Liechtenstein ENIC/NARIC will be invited to provide brief information on the meeting.
Action: taking note, if appropriate, advice to the local organizers, the ENIC Bureau, the NARIC Advisory Board and the Secretariats
ITEM 14: ANY OTHER BUSINESS
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