RCC and ERI SEE Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications

The Leaders of the Western Balkans Six have recognised that better integration of high-skilled professionals and academics into professional and research networks, the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), will yield significant benefits for the migratory region of Western Balkans. To this end the Multiannual Action Plan on the Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) endorsed by the Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans Six under the Mobility component commits the economies to removing obstacles to mobility of highly qualified workforce, in particular through joint standards and procedures for automatic recognition of quality assured academic qualifications; and removing obstacles to mobility of students, researchers and academics through joint policies, measures and instruments aimed at increasing academic and research mobility and cooperation.

To ensure the implementation, monitoring and transparent reporting on the progress on the actions aimed at removing obstacles to the recognition of academic qualifications, the ERI SEE and RCC formed a joint Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ).

The Joint Working Group for the Recognition of Academic Qualifications (JWG RAQ) was established in December 2017, with the aim of implementation of activities under the MAP REA. JWG RAQ is composed of the representatives of ministries of education from the region, ENIC/NARIC offices and Quality Assurance agencies.

JWG RAQ is formed with the mandate to agree upon and roll out a two year work programme for coordinated regional actions to operationalise the MAP actions on the removal of obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications, specifically:

a.      Drafting a proposal on procedure for fast track recognition of higher education qualifications specifying criteria for fast track recognition in the region

b.      Establishing an operational sub-regional network of ENIC/NARIC centres

c.      Developing a joint online system to share information, including on higher education institutions, qualifications and decisions taken, available to ENIC/NARIC centres and Ministries in the region

d.      Strengthening cooperation and exchange of information between Quality Assurance Agencies in the region

The WG RAQ is obligated to monitor regularly, in line with the agreed monitoring and reporting mechanism, on the progress, achievements and results in relation to the MAP actions on the removal of obstacles to recognition of academic qualifications specified above.

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