Lisbon Recognition Convention

On the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region

The Lisbon Convention, officially Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, is an international treaty of the Council of Europe and UNESCO on the recognition of higher-education qualifications from all countries of the scope from the year 1997. 48 states have been the convention ratified.

Content

The Lisbon Convention includes among others the following new features:

  • For the recognition of services rendered in a Contracting services, higher education entrance qualifications or university degrees, the burden of proof applies. This means that the accepting authority must prove to the applicant that is to be recognized performance / qualification / degree has significant differences from the performance / qualification / degree of their own study programs and does not require the applicant to prove the equivalence. The applicant is required to provide sufficient information to assess available ( obligations). This information must be issued from his home educational institution the applicant again. ( Lisbon Convention section III and VIII)
  • An authorization granted by a Contracting State university entrance qualification is recognized in all Contracting States. ( Lisbon Convention Section IV)
  • Add a Contracting academic achievements are recognized in all Contracting States. Study performance denotes a rated part of a study, a significant acquisition of skills and knowledge with them and for which a certificate was issued. This formulation also encompasses partial services that do not constitute separate course of study. ( Lisbon Convention Section V )
  • In a State Party assigned degrees are recognized in all Contracting States ( Lisbon Convention Section VI )
  • With refusal appeal may be lodged. This instrument is one of the main innovations. It is therefore worth considering the current limitations, some of which are mentioned below, to check exactly whether an application for recognition of studies / higher education / university entrance entitlement was handled correctly. Since the Lisbon Convention was partially ratified until very late ( in the FRG in 2007 ) is in some administrative units still uncertainty about the correct implementation.
  • Limitations: Almost any recognition rule is subject to certain restrictions. In particular, in the event that additional services (eg entrance examinations or other compulsory intermediate consumption) must be provided for inclusion in a high school program, these are also required of foreign applicants from States Parties. It is also important to point out that the accepting authority may, if necessary, subject to evaluate the services provided in another Contracting service itself and then just have the own rating recognize. Furthermore it can be required that the applicant can demonstrate the necessary language skills.

National Implementation

Germany

Higher education is the responsibility of the federal states in Germany. However, since Germany, the State Party, the Lisbon Convention had to be ratified by the Bundestag. The coordination of the various schemes is done via the Standing Conference.

  • The Federal Republic of Germany has ratified the Lisbon Convention on 1 October 2007
  • The Standing Conference followed the ratification by the Federal Republic with its decision of 15 October 2009

States:

  • Baden- Württemberg: uptake and thus reinforce the Lisbon Convention in the State Higher Education Act ( § 36a). However, paragraph 36 a refers only to studies and examinations and degrees.
Reverse onus Integrated Authority File
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