Recognising the qualifications and prior learning of refugees and displaced persons is crucial to support their integration into the host country's education and labour systems. It emphasises the need for flexible and inclusive recognition procedures. This is highlighted in the 2017 Council of Europe's Recommendation on the Recognition of Qualifications held by Refugees and Displaced Persons, Section III, General Principles. The recommendations call on Member States to ensure that refugees have access to information, guidance and support in having their qualifications recognised.
Member States are required to ensure equal treatment between beneficiaries of international protection and nationals regarding access to suitable schemes for assessing, validating and recognising their prior learning and experience (Article 30(3) Qualification Regulation (QR)).
Member States need to consider special measures to effectively address the practical difficulties encountered by beneficiaries of international protection in having their foreign diplomas, certificates or other formal qualifications recognised. These difficulties often stem from missing documents or the inability to cover recognition-related costs (recital 71 QR).
While primarily focusing on the recognition of qualifications acquired in other EU countries, the professional qualifications directive 2013/55/EU also includes provisions that can be relevant for beneficiaries of international protection. It emphasises the importance of considering relevant professional experience alongside formal qualifications when assessing an individual's qualifications. This provision can be applied to recognise the prior learning and experience of beneficiaries of international protection (Article 13).
Information provision messages
Inform beneficiaries of international protection about the following.
- What the validation and recognition of prior learning outcomes means: officially checking and confirming the skills and knowledge gained through work, training or life experience, so they are recognised as formal qualifications.
- The importance of having prior learning outcomes and experiences validated:
- essential for the integration of beneficiaries of international protection
- important to access the labour market and to improve employment prospects
- mandatory for the continuation of education.
- The necessary steps for having the prior learning outcomes and experience validated and recognised:
- file registration (e.g. required documents and fees)
- additional courses, practical assessments, interviews and competency tests (if needed)
- information on the responsible institutions and their contact details, required documents and how to obtain recognition
- timeline for this process and how to follow up on their application.
- The eligibility criteria and costs for such processes.
- Common challenges (e.g. lack of documents, complex procedures, costs of translations) and best practices and strategies to mitigate potential challenges (e.g. alternative evidence, language support).
- Support services available (e.g. counselling, financial support for fees and translation, file preparation, file submission, appeal in case of a rejected file) and their contact details.
- Dedicated services, resources and programmes designed for beneficiaries with special needs and in vulnerable situations. Provide guidance on how to access them.
Practical tips
- Organise interactive Q&A sessions and one-to-one information and counselling sessions to provide personalised guidance.
- Provide details on resources for information on recognition of prior learning outcomes and experience, such as websites, brochures and leaflets.
- Provide a checklist or a diagram with the main steps for navigating these processes.
- Complement the information on challenges in the recognition process and validation of learning outcomes and experiences with examples of good practices.
- Consider inviting former refugees to give testimonials and talk about their experience in having their prior learning outcomes and experience recognised.