77/1990 Coll.
The COMMUNICATION FROM the
the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs declares that on December 21,
1979 was adopted in Paris on 20. meeting of the General Conference
The United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization Convention on the
recognition of studies and diplomas relating to the higher education in the States
the European region.
The instrument of accession the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic to this Convention
has been deposited with the Director-General of the United Nations
Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization, the depositary of the Convention, the date of April 26, 1988.
Convention entered into force, pursuant to article 18 on the date of February 19
1982. For the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Convention
force on June 6, 1988.
Czech translation of the Convention shall be published at the same time.
CONVENTION
on the recognition of studies and diplomas relating to the higher education in the States
the European region
The preamble to the
States belonging to the European region that are parties to this Convention,
Recalling that, as already stated several times the General Conference
UNESCO in its resolutions relating to European cooperation, "development
cooperation among Nations in the field of education, science, culture and information in
accordance with the conclusions of the Statute of UNESCO plays a primary role in peace work and
in the international understanding "
conscious of the close relations between their cultures, despite the diversity of languages and
different economic and social establishment, and desiring to strengthen its
cooperation in the field of education and training in the interests of the well-being and lasting
the prosperity of their peoples,
Recalling that the States which met in Helsinki, expressed in
The final act of the Conference on security and cooperation in Europe of the
1 August 1975 his intention "to improve on mutually acceptable terms and conditions
access of students, teachers and scientists of the States parties to the school
device, to the cultural and scientific institutions, primarily through
mutual recognition of university degrees and diplomas, and values in the case of
buying agreements between Governments or direct arrangements between
universities and other higher education institutions and research institutions "and
"by facilitating a more accurate evaluation of problems relating to benchmarking and
the equivalence of university degrees and diplomas ",
Recalling that the majority of the States parties have already concluded for the purpose of
support the implementation of these objectives among themselves bilateral agreement or
subregional, concerning in particular the equivalence or recognition of diplomas;
However, desiring continuing intensification of their efforts on and
bilateral and subregional level to distinguish their cooperation in this
the area of the entire European region,
convinced that the great diversity of higher education systems existing in the
the European region is a rare cultural treasures, which need to be
protect, and desiring to enable all its population to fully exploit the
This cultural wealth by facilitating the residents of each
access to the resources of a Contracting State in the other Contracting States education
and that, above all, to enable them to resume their education at universities
These schools of others States
being of the opinion that to allow access to other stages of the study is appropriate
use the concept of recognition of studies in the perspective of mobility as
social and international, will allow to evaluate the achieved level of education
with regard to knowledge as authorized by their diplomas, as well as to
all other relevant qualities of each, if will be accepted
the competent authorities for acceptable
being of the opinion that the recognition of studies and diplomas issued carried out all
the Contracting States, whether diplomas were issued in any of them,
the goal of intensifying the international movement of persons and the exchange of ideas, knowledge and
Scientific and technical experience and that it is desirable to receive foreign
students at the high school, it being understood that the recognition of their studies
or diplomas they cannot provide greater rights than those students
States,
Noting that this recognition is one of the conditions necessary to
to:
1. to enable the best use of the resources of education to
within their territories,
2. to ensure greater mobility of teachers, students, scientists, and
experts,
3. in addressing the problems encountered on their return to the country of
the origin of the persons who have received education or training abroad,
Desiring to ensure the widest possible recognition of studies and diplomas with
taking into account the principles relating to the development of permanent education,
the democratization of education, adoption and application of an education policy
customized structural changes, changes in the economic and technical,
social change and cultural context of each country,
decided to pay and organize their future collaboration in these
areas along the way to the Convention, which will form the starting point for concerted
dynamic activities carried out mainly by the national, bilateral,
subregional, and multilateral mechanisms already existing or
It is necessary to create
Recalling that the ultimate goal, that's the General Conference of the UNITED NATIONS
for education, science and culture, lies in "the development of the international
Convention on the recognition and the validity of the titles, degrees and diplomas awarded ranks
universities and research establishments in all countries ",
have agreed upon the following:
(I).
The DEFINITION of the
Article 1
1. for the purpose of this Convention the "recognition" of higher school certificate,
Diploma, rank obtained abroad means their adoption
the competent authorities of a Contracting State as valid and
the granting of the rights-holders to persons demonstrating the national
Diploma, certificate, or rank, which can be compared
documents obtained abroad.
In this regard, the recognition the following meaning:
and) recognition diploma or rank in order to initiate or
the continuation of studies at the high school will make the document of the competent
the lead has been taken into account with a view to its adoption at the high school and
research facilities of each State party, as if he were the owner of the
equivalent diploma, or degrees obtained in the relevant
State. Such recognition does not exempt the holder of the objective of the foreign diploma,
certificate or the rank of the need to comply with the terms (other than
conditions relating to the držitelství of a diploma) which may be required
for admission to the College or to the research facilities
of the receiving State.
(b) foreign) recognition diploma or rank for performance
employment represents the recognition of the professional training required for
performance of the work involved, without being to the detriment of the applicable laws
the rules and regulations of the professional and the relevant contracting procedures
States. Such recognition does not exempt the holder of the objective of foreign
diploma or rank from having to comply with the additional conditions,
that may be prescribed by their respective Governments or professional authorities to
the exercise of a professional activity.
c) However, the recognition of a diploma or rank should not in the second
a Contracting State to provide holders of more extensive rights than are those which would
He benefited in the country where it was issued the diploma, certificate or rank.
2. For the purposes of this Convention, "partial studies" means periods of study or
education, which, without this would constitute completion of a course may refer to
an important contribution in the matter of the acquisition of knowledge or skills.
II.
The OBJECTIVES of the
Article 2
1. the Contracting States intend to contribute to their common activities to
promoting the active cooperation of all the peoples of the European region for the
the purpose of the work of the international peace and understanding, as well as to
cooperation was more effective with the other Member States of UNESCO with regard
for a better use of their educational, technological and scientific
potential.
2. the Contracting States solemnly reaffirm their firm decision closely
cooperate in the framework of its laws and regulations and their constitutional
structures, as well as in the framework of intergovernmental agreements, with a view to:
and in the interest of all) to allow Contracting States as well and in full width
use in accordance with the general education policy and administrative procedures
its resources, which are available in the field of education and research, and
with a view to:
even the widest access of students) and scientists coming from any
Contracting State on its high school;
(ii) the recognition of studies and diplomas) of such persons;
(iii) to examine the possibility of drawing up) and adopt a similar terminology
the evaluation criteria which would facilitate the application system capable of
to ensure the comparability of credit units, study subjects and
diplomas;
IV) accept dynamic concept to its introduction into the
subsequent stages of the study, which would take to knowledge as authorized by the
received a diploma, as well as any other appropriate individual
the competence, if the competent authorities will be recognized at an affordable;
in) accept in order to assess the part-study of flexible criteria
based on the level of educational attainment and on the content of the studied programs
taking into account the interdisciplinary character of knowledge at the higher education
level;
vi) improve the system of exchange of information regarding the recognition of studies
and diplomas;
(b)), to perform in the Contracting States a permanent improvement of teaching relations
as well as the methods of planning and promoting higher education, taking into account
to the requirements of the economic, social and cultural development, to the policy
each country and also to the objectives set out in the recommendations
formulated by the competent authorities of the UNITED NATIONS for education, science and culture,
with regard to the continuous improvement of the quality of teaching, development and permanent teaching and
the democratization of education, as well as a aims the development of the human personality and
understanding, tolerance and friendship among Nations and not all goals
on human rights, which are in the field of education established
The Universal Declaration of human rights, the International Covenants relating to
of human rights adopted by the United Nations and the Convention of the UNITED NATIONS for education, science and culture
relating to the fight against discrimination in the field of education;
(c)) to promote regional and global cooperation to address "issues
comparison and equivalence between higher education titles and diplomas "and
with a view to the recognition of studies and qualifications in higher education.
3. the Contracting States agree to take all measures at the level of
national, bilateral, multiraterální and above all through the
bilateral, sub-regional, regional or other agreements, as well as
the way of arrangements between universities and other high devices
travel arrangements with the relevant national and international organizations and
authorities to the competent authorities to gradually achieve the objectives set out in the
This article.
III.
COMMITMENTS AND IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF
Article 3
1. the Contracting States in addition to the obligations devolving upon the Governments have agreed to
taking all measures in order to encourage interested
authorities, in accordance with the definition of recognition as referred to in article 1, paragraph 1,
recognise diplomas on their secondary studies and other documents
qualifying to study at universities in other
Contracting States in order to enable holders of these diplomas and documents
implement of study at higher education institutions located in the territory of the
of the Contracting States.
2. However, admission to study at College, without prejudice
the provisions of article 1, paragraph 1 (a), may be subject to plenty of
capacities for the adoption, as well as the terms and conditions respecting the required
language skills to successfully during the selected studies.
Article 4
1. the Contracting States in addition to the obligations pertaining to the Governments agree
take all measures to support relevant stakeholders
authorities with a view to:
and to recognise, by definition) on the recognition in article 1, paragraph 1,
school certificates, diplomas and degrees so that the holders of these titles could
continue to study, get an education or to carry out research on their
high schools;
(b)) to establish, if possible, the ways by which it might be, for
the purpose of the study of recognised sub study carried out on the
universities in other Contracting States.
2. the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 3 are used in cases laid down by the
This article.
Article 5
The Contracting States, in addition to their obligations to the Government, have agreed that the
shall take all measures to support the competent authorities in order to
streamline recognition of higher education diplomas, school certificates or
rank, which give the authorities of other Contracting States for the purpose of exercising
employment within the meaning of article 1, paragraph 1 (b).
Article 6
Where to study at high school, located on the territory of the
one Contracting State does not fall within the competence of that State, shall transmit to the
the text of the Convention, appropriate devices and will do everything in its power to
This device has accepted the principles set out in parts II and III of the Convention.
Article 7
1. Considering that recognition refers to the studies completed and diplomas,
certificate or the rank obtained in institutions approved
the competent authorities of the country in which he was granted a diploma, certificate or
rank, the benefits of article 3, 4 and 5 use anyone who closes this
the study of or received the diplomas, certificates or degrees, whether they are
her nationality, political or legal status whatsoever.
2. any national of a Contracting State who has obtained in the territory of a non-Contracting
the State of one or more diplomas, certificates or degrees, similar to those
that are defined in articles 3, 4 and 5, may rely on those from the
those provisions which are applicable, on condition that the diplomas,
the report card or have been recognized in the country of origin or in the country
that Member wishes to continue his studies.
IV.
DELIVERY MECHANISMS
Article 8
The Contracting States undertake to act in order to implement the objective of
set out in article 2 and shall seek to ensure the best possible implementation of the
the commitments envisaged in the preceding articles 3, 4 and 5
by:
and national authorities);
(b) the regional committees) in accordance with article 10;
(c) bilateral or sub-regional authorities).
Article 9
1. the Contracting States recognize that the objectives and commitments defined in this
The Convention at national level requires close cooperation and coordination of efforts
a wide variety of national, governmental and non-governmental authorities, particularly
universities, atestačních authorities and other educational institutions. Undertake to
therefore to entrust the study of issues relating to the implementation of the Convention
the competent national authorities, to which will be associated with all
the relevant sectors, and which will be able to design appropriate solutions.
The Contracting States undertake, in addition to take all measures to
effectively speed up the activities of such national bodies.
2. the Contracting States shall cooperate with the competent authorities of the other
Contracting State especially by enabling them to collect all
information useful for their activities relating to studies,
higher education degrees and ranks.
3. each national authority will have the necessary resources
allow either collect, analyse and collate all the information useful
to its activities relating to studies and higher education degrees, or
get in the shortest time from a separate national documentation
Information Centre, which will need in this area.
Article 10
1. the Regional Committee is hereby established consisting of representatives of the Governments of the
States. Its secretariat is entrusted to the Director-General of the Organization
the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization.
2. the Contracting States of the Europe, which were invited to participate in the
Diplomatic Conference in charge may apply this Convention, will be able to
participate in meetings of the Regional Committee.
3. the Regional Committee has the task of monitoring the implementation of this Convention. Getting
and examine the periodic reports which it shall transmit to the States, relating to the
of the progress achieved and the obstacles they encounter in meeting the
The Convention, as well as a study commissioned by the Secretariat of the Convention. The Contracting
States undertake to submit to the Committee a report at least once every two years.
4. the Regional Committee shall be sent, if necessary, States which are parties to the
The Convention, the recommendations of a general or individual character for
the implementation of this Convention.
Article 11
1. the Regional Committee shall elect, for each of its meetings the Chairman and
adopts the rules of procedure. Meet at a regular meeting at least once every two
for years. The Committee shall meet for the first time three months after the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification
instrument or instrument of accession.
2. the Secretariat of the Regional Committee prepares the meetings of the Committee's rules of procedure
in accordance with his instructions, and in accordance with the provisions of the internal regulations. Helps
the national organizations to obtain information, which are necessary for their
activity.
In the.
DOCUMENTATION
Article 12
1. the Contracting States shall proceed with each other to exchange information and documentation about the
University studies and diplomas.
2. they shall endeavour to promote the development of methods and mechanisms to
gather, analyze, organize and disseminate useful information relating to the
recognition of higher education studies, degrees and ranks and information
collected by national, subregional, regional and international
authorities, in particular the United Nations Educational, scientific and
culture.
Vi.
COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Article 13
The Regional Committee shall take all appropriate measures in order to connect to your
efforts to ensure the best possible implementation of the Convention to the competent international
governmental and non-governmental organizations. This applies particularly to the intergovernmental
institutions and organizations that have the responsibility in the implementation of
subregional conventions or agreements concerning the recognition of diplomas in
States belonging to the Europe region.
VII.
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FALLING WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE CONTRACTING STATE
SITUATED OUTSIDE ITS TERRITORY, HOWEVER,
Article 14
The provisions of this Convention apply to studies, diplomas or
titles, achieved at the high school of any direction within the
the competence of the Contracting State, even if this device were outside
its territory, provided that the competent authorities of the Contracting State on the
where is located the device, not the opposition.
VIII.
RATIFICATION, ENTRY INTO FORCE
Article 15
This Convention is open for signature and ratification of the States belonging to the
the Europe region which have been invited to participate in the diplomatic Conference
authorized to accept this Convention as well as the Vatican.
Article 16
1. Other States members of the United Nations, of one of his
specialized agencies or the International Atomic Agency
the energy of the States parties or the Statute of the International Court of Justice
may be authorized to accede to this Convention.
2. any request to this effect shall be addressed to the
the Director of the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization, which
shall forward it to the Contracting States at least three months before the meeting of the ad hoc Committee
in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article.
3. the Contracting States will gather at the meeting of the ad hoc Committee, which consists of
one representative of each Contracting State, which is especially for this
the purpose of its Government, authorized to make this application could comment.
The decision in a similar case, it takes a two-thirds majority
of the Contracting States.
4. this procedure can be used only if the Convention is ratified
at least twenty of the States referred to in article 15.
Article 17
The ratification of this Convention or the access to it is done saving
instrument of ratification or instrument of accession with the Director-General
The United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization.
Article 18
This Convention shall enter into force one month after the deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification
of the Charter, but solely with respect to the States which have deposited their
ratification of the Charter. For every other State, the Convention shall enter into force on
a month after the deposit of its instrument of ratification or instrument of accession.
Article 19
1. the Contracting States may denounce this Convention.
2. Written notice of dismissal shall be deposited with the Director-General of the Organization
the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization.
3. the denunciation shall take effect twelve months after the receipt of the notice of
the testimony. But people who have enjoyed the benefits of the provisions of this Convention, and
that study on the territory of a Contracting State which is denounced by
This Convention will be able to complete the cycle of studies started.
Article 20
The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, scientific and
culture will inform the Contracting States and the other States referred to in
articles 15 and 16, as well as the United Nations, of the deposit of all
instruments of ratification or instruments of access referred to in article 17 as well as on
All denunciations in accordance with article 19 of this Convention.
Article 21
In accordance with article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, this Convention shall
registered in the Secretariat of the United Nations at the request of
the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, scientific and
culture.
In witness whereof, the undersigned duly authorised representatives have signed this Convention.
Done at Paris on December 21, 1979 in English, Spanish,
the French and Russian languages, all four texts being equally
authentic, in a single copy, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Organization
the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization and the one certified
a copy will be forwarded to all States referred to in article 15 and 16, as well as the Organization of the
of the United Nations.