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❒ Korea Academic Recognition Information Center (KARIC), under the Korean Council for University Education, participated in the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, held from Tuesday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at UNESCO Headquarters (Room XI) in Paris, France.
❒ The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education is the first international convention in the field of higher education. It was adopted at the UNESCO General Conference in 2019 and entered into force in March 2023. As of June 2025, 38 countries, including the Republic of Korea, have ratified the Convention. The Convention aims to enhance the mobility of students and professionals by providing a global framework for the recognition of higher education qualifications. Intergovernmental conferences are regularly held among the States Parties to monitor the implementation of the Convention and discuss concrete measures for its execution.
The conference was attended by approximately 200 participants, including government representatives from States Parties, heads of national information centers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Representing Korea were Ms. Sang Eun JUNG (Counsellor, the Permanent delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO), Ms. Minah PARK (Director, KARIC), and Ms. Minkyung SHIN (Researcher, KARIC).
During the conference, various topics were discussed, including the adoption of the Interim Work Programme 2025–2027, a draft of the Operational Guidelines, the relationship between the Global Convention and regional conventions, recognition of qualifications related to transnational education (TNE), and qualifications of refugees.
❒ Although Korea participated as an observer in this session, as its ratification of the Convention becomes effective on July 14, 2025, it was given priority speaking rights as a newly ratifying country and actively engaged in the discussions.
❒ Through this conference, KARIC gained insight into the detailed implementation strategies of the Global Convention and international trends, contributing to the foundation for future domestic system improvements and Convention implementation. In particular, discussions on the recognition of qualifications for refugees and emerging forms of credentials such as micro-credentials provided practical direction for the realization of inclusive higher education. These insights are expected to serve as valuable references for developing Korea's higher education internationalization strategies.
❒ As a country that has ratified both the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention (Tokyo Convention) and the Global Convention, Korea is expected to play an important role in the future. KARIC will continue to actively participate in relevant international meetings and expand its global networks and cooperation systems to enhance the credibility and international standing of Korean higher education.
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