The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials CICIC

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• The Canadian Information Centre for International
  Credentials (CICIC)
• at the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
  (CMEC)

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Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) 1997
Implications of Canadas Ratification for
Canadian Universities (an international treaty)
Yves E. Beaudin

CICIC National Coordinator

2009.01.26
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Other RecognitionConventions

• Other UNESCO Conventions on the recognition of
  degrees
• African States, Arab States, Asia and the
  Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean,
  Mediterranean Region

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Historical Overview

• 1979 - Convention on the Recognition of Studies,
  Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education
  in the States belonging to the Europe Region
• Ratification 1990.03.06

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Historical Overview

• Declaration at the time of 1990
  ratificationCanadas Constitution provides
  for a federal system in which legislative powers
  are allocated between the federal parliament and
  the provincial legislatures.

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Historical Overview

• Declaration at the time of 1990 ratification
  In accordance with its exclusive legislative
  powers in education under the Canadian
  Constitution, each province will assure the
  application of the Convention within its
  territory. Pursuant to Part IV of the Convention,
  federal and provincial authorities will jointly
  establish a commission to act as a national body.

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Historical Overview

• Declaration at the time of 1990 ratification
  Each post-secondary institution in Canada has
  responsibility for determining what
  qualifications it will accept for admission to
  various levels of study.

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Historical Overview

• Declaration at the time of 1990 ratification
  Most professions are self-governing and have
  authority conferred on them by legislation to
  determine the recognition to be given to
  qualifications, whether obtained in Canada or in
  other countries, for the purpose of registration
  or permission to practice a profession in Canada.
  This declaration is not a reservation." (see
  letter LA/Depositary/1990/04 of 18 May 1990).

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Lisbon RecognitionConvention (LRC)

• 1997.04.11 Joint UNESCO European Region /
  Council of Europe (COE) Convention
• UNESCO European Region includes all European
  countries plus Canada and the United States  
• Canada a signatory on 1997.11.04
• Total number of signatures not followed by
  ratifications on January 26, 2009 4 (BE, CA, IT
  and USA)
• Total number of ratifications/accessions 48/52

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Lisbon RecognitionConvention (LRC)

• The Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee See
  Article X.2,5
• The Committee shall promote the application of
  this Convention and shall oversee its
  implementation.

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Lisbon RecognitionConvention (LRC)

• The European Network of Information Centres
  (ENIC)
• Role of ENIC Centres
• The ENIC Network shall, in its composition
  restricted to national information centres of the
  Parties to this Convention, uphold and assist the
  practical implementation of the Convention by the
  competent national authorities. (Article X.3,2)

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Provinces and Territories have asked Foreign
  Affairs to proceed with ratification
• Following the signature by Canada in 1997 Foreign
  Affairs asked us on several occasions when the
  jurisdictions would ask for ratification
• Notification of agreement by the provinces and
  territories was made to DFAIT on 2008.03.17

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Declaration (Article II.1) upon the deposit of
  the instrument of ratification of the 1997 Lisbon
  Recognition Convention
• Canadas constitution provides for a federal
  system in which legislative powers are allocated
  between the federal Parliament and the provincial
  legislatures.

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• In compliance with the exclusive legislative
  powers in the field of education granted to the
  provinces by the Canadian Constitution and with
  the similar responsibilities given to the
  territories by delegation from the federal
  government, the implementation of the Convention
  in Canada will be ensured by the provinces and
  territories. In accordance with article IX.2,
  provincial and territorial governments have
  jointly determined that the Canadian Information
  Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) will
  serve as the national information centre.

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Each postsecondary institution in Canada
  determines what qualifications it will accept for
  admission to various levels of study. Legislation
  also confers some autonomy on professional
  governing bodies in setting the content of
  regulations under which credentials and training
  are recognized. Professions therefore enjoy broad
  autonomy in recognizing credentials, whether
  obtained in Canada or abroad, for the purposes of
  registration or permission to practise a
  profession in Canada.
• This declaration is not a reservation

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Why is it important now?
• UNESCO/OECD Guidelines for Quality Provision in
  Cross-Border Higher Education, Paris, 2005
• The UNESCO regional conventions on recognition of
  qualifications are important instruments
  facilitating the fair recognition of higher
  education qualifications, including the
  assessment of foreign qualifications resulting
  from cross-border mobility of students, skilled
  professionals and cross-border provision of
  higher education. 
• Important structural changes in North America,
  Europe, Asia, Africa and other regions of the
  world

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Why is it important now?
• Section III - Basic principles related to the
  assessment of qualifications
• Transparent, coherent, reliable, fair, credible,
  consistent, portable and quality assessments
• The Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of
  Canada

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Why is it important now?
• Section IV - Recognition of qualifications giving
  access to higher education
• Substantial differences
• Diploma Supplements
• Responsibility for assessment decision lies with
  the body undertaking the assessment

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Why is it important now?
• Section V Recognition of periods of study
• Section VI - Recognition of higher education
  qualifications
• In many countries includes recognition of
  professionals
• Access to the labour market Bridging programs

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Why is it important now?
• Section VII - Recognition of qualifications held
  by refugees, displaced persons and persons in a
  refugee-like situation

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Ratification of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

• Why is it important now?
• Information
• Section VIII - Information on the assessment of
  higher education institutions and programmes
• See CICIC Web site (Studying in Canada)
• AUCC Quality Assurance Web page
• Section IX - Information on recognition matters
  academic and professional
• See CICIC Web site home page

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Links (1)

• Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC)
  http//www.cmec.ca/
• The Canadian Information Centre for International
  Credentials (CICIC) http//www.cicic.ca/
• Lisbon Convention http//www.cicic.ca/fr/page.asp
  x?sortcode2.15.15.15
• Lisbon Convention Explanatory Reporthttp//www.ci
  cic.ca/docs/Lisboa/Explanatory.en.pdf

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Links (2)

• Diploma Supplementhttp//ec.europa.eu/education/p
  olicies/rec_qual/recognition/ds_en.pdf
• Irish Diploma Supplement examplehttp//europass.c
  edefop.europa.eu/img/dynamic/c1388/type.FileConten
  t.file/DSupplementExamples_en_IE.pdf
• Other examples of Diploma Supplementshttp//europ
  ass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Downloa
  ds/DSupplement/DSupplementExamples.csp?locen_GB

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Links (3)

• The Alliance of Credential evaluation Services of
  Canada (provincially-mandated)http//www.canallia
  nce.org
• CICIC Quality Assurance Web Page
  http//www.cicic.ca/420/quality-assurance-in-cana
  da.canada
• CICIC Education Systems in Canadahttp//www.cic
  ic.ca/444/provinces-and-territories.canada

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Links (4)

• CICIC - Directory of Universities, Colleges and
  Schools in the Provinces and Territories of
  Canadahttp//www.cicic.ca/664/directory-of-univer
  sities-colleges-and-schools-in-canada.canada
• CICIC - Lisbon Convention Pagehttp//www.cicic.ca
  /661/lisbon-convention.canada
• ENIC (European Network of National Information
  Centres)http//www.enic-naric.net

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Links (5)

• CICIC Fact Sheet - The Council of Europe/UNESCO
  Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications
  Concerning Higher Education in the European
  Region What it means for Canadahttp//www.cicic.
  ca/623/factsheet-no3.canada
• OECD Guidelines for Quality Provision in
  Cross-border Higher educationhttp//www.cicic.ca/
  docs/UNESCO-OECD_Crossborder_Guidelines20OECD_en.
  pdf

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• Conclusion
• Questions / Discussion