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The Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Global Convention on Higher Education brings together representatives from all countries that have ratified the Convention. This Conference serves as the main decision-making body and meets regularly to review the implementation and advancement of the Convention’s objectives.

Each State Party has one vote, regardless of the size of its education system or level of contribution. The Conference provides a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and collective decision-making to support fair recognition practices and foster trust in higher education systems globally.

Its main functions include:

• Reviewing the progress in implementing the Convention;
• Discussing challenges and good practices in cross-border recognition;
• Adopting recommendations to support effective application;
• Promoting capacity-building and cooperation among States Parties.

The Bureau of the Global Convention is elected by the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. It is composed of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, and a Rapporteur, with due regard to equitable geographical distribution.

Its main responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic guidance for the implementation of the Convention between sessions of the Intergovernmental Conference;
• Facilitating coordination among States Parties to ensure consistency and cooperation;
• Assisting in the preparation and organization of meetings of the Intergovernmental Conference;
• Working with UNESCO’s Secretariat to monitor progress, support follow-up actions, and address implementation challenges.

For the 2023–2025 period, the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Conference was composed as follows:

• Chairperson: Mr. Stig Arne Skjerven (Norway)
• Rapporteur: Ms. Melanie Rosenbaum (Holy See)
• Vice-Chairpersons:
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Estonia
  • Japan
  • Nicaragua
  • Tunisia
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

UNESCO's Secretariat of the Global Convention plays a central role in supporting the implementation of the Convention. Its mission is to:

• Encourage countries to ratify the Global Convention and strengthen systems for fair and transparent recognition of higher education qualifications;
• Assist States Parties in developing national frameworks to facilitate the recognition of qualifications, learning periods, and prior learning;
• Support the establishment of information systems and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress in implementing the Convention;
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building for national authorities and recognition bodies;
• Facilitate peer learning and cooperation among States Parties to share good practices and overcome challenges in cross-border recognition;
• Promote awareness and advocacy around the principles and benefits of the Global Convention at regional and global levels.

The 1993 Recommendation and the Global Convention: A unified framework

The was adopted by UNESCO to promote the mobility of students, teachers, and professionals through the mutual recognition of academic qualifications. This Recommendation provides guiding principles for member states to align their national recognition practices with a common framework that supports transparency, fairness, and the comparability of qualifications.

Higher education has evolved significantly since the adoption of the 1993 Recommendation on the Recognition of Studies and Qualifications in Higher Education. While the 1993 Recommendation laid the foundation for academic mobility and fair recognition practices, it remained a non-binding instrument. The Global Convention, adopted in 2019, builds on these principles and transforms them into a legally binding treaty, ensuring global cooperation in qualification recognition.

Key differences & advancements

• From voluntary to binding – The 1993 Recommendation encouraged fair recognition, but the Global Convention legally requires signatory countries to implement these principles.
• Global reach – While the 1993 Recommendation set guidelines, the Global Convention creates a universal framework that aligns regional and national recognition policies.
• Stronger enforcement mechanisms – The Global Convention establishes governing structures to oversee implementation, ensuring greater accountability among States Parties.

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