Uzbekistan signs law ratifying global convention on foreign diploma recognition

Legal expert Umid Sobirov told Kun.uz that the ratification marks a significant step for Uzbekistan’s integration into the global higher education community. The 2019 Paris Convention provides a framework for fair and transparent recognition of higher education qualifications obtained abroad, enabling students and specialists to have their diplomas recognized in other countries.

According to UNESCO, 38 countries have ratified the Convention, including the United Kingdom (with 90 universities in the global top 1,000), Japan (47 universities), France (35), Finland (9), and Sweden (8).

Key principles of the Convention

The Convention aims to promote international cooperation in higher education, enhance mobility for students and researchers, and harmonize educational standards. It relies on several key principles:

• Each qualification or degree must be assessed and recognized based on clear criteria.
• If a diploma cannot be fully recognized, partial recognition of individual courses or credits is required.
• Member states must provide transparent information about their higher education systems and institutions.
• Countries should collaborate to improve conditions for student and academic mobility.

Implications for Uzbekistan

Ratification is expected to simplify the process for recognizing foreign diplomas, allowing Uzbek students and specialists who studied abroad to have their qualifications recognized more quickly and fairly. It will also facilitate increased student and researcher mobility, enabling the continuation of education and scientific research globally.

Uzbek universities are likely to strengthen international cooperation through joint diploma programs, research projects, and participation in international conferences. This, in turn, is expected to improve the compatibility of Uzbekistan’s higher education system with international standards and enhance its competitiveness.

Overall, the Convention’s ratification not only expands global educational and research opportunities for Uzbek youth and professionals but also positions Uzbekistan as a reliable partner in the international education community. With applications for foreign qualification recognition steadily increasing, the new law is anticipated to streamline the recognition process and support free international movement for students, teachers, and researchers.