Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications Meetings - UNESCO HQ Paris
First Meeting
5-7 December, 2018
As a global stakeholder in the education sphere, Education Above All (EAA) was invited to observe the United Nation’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications meetings. As an internationally focused foundation, it is part of EAA’s mission to ensure inclusive and equitable education access for vulnerable and marginalised people across the globe, especially those in the developing world. Through previous high-level panel discussions, such as the panel with Ministers of Education at the Global Education Meeting in Brussels and the panel co-hosted with UNHCR and UNESCO, EAA has consistently exhibited support for education access for refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) populations. During the meetings, EAA helped advocate for an inclusive and equitable convention text, particularly around refugee and internally IDP populations.
Through a combined effort with the Qatari delegation, EAA’s main priorities were to maintain the language of the Lisbon Recognition Convention, a Convention adopted by all European countries, and to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable approach to higher education access with a focus on the most vulnerable and marginalised populations. As an observer, EAA was unable to vote in the meeting, however, we played a critical role in keeping the delegations in alignment with the needs of beneficiaries we represent. At the first meeting, EAA successfully argued against the incorporation of the word “documented” before “prior learning” in the text. This terminology, EAA argued, excludes refugees and IDPs from accessing higher education, since many of these individuals lack formal documentation or do not have access to their official documents. After EAA’s thoughtful remarks on the matter, a majority of the representatives voted in favour of excluding the word “documented.” Throughout the first meeting of the Convention, EAA provided valuable insight to the delegations present on keeping the Convention’s language conscientious of refugee and IDP needs and priorities.