Recognition of academic qualifications and artificial intelligence: a new chapter for European cooperation

The Lisbon Convention Committee session defined the new 2025-2028 plan on qualification recognition, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and European cooperation for more transparent and inclusive systems.

The tenth session of the Lisbon Convention Committee on the Recognition of Academic Qualifications took place on 22 October at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The meeting represented a moment of discussion on how to make the processes of recognition of qualifications in the European region fairer and more transparent.

Representatives of the signatory countries, together with the co-secretariats of the Council of Europe and UNESCO, approved the new 2025-2028 work plan, which includes a commitment to deepen the impact of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in recognition systems.

The Convention, in force since 1999, remains an international reference for academic mobility and the building of mutual trust between education systems. Today, with more than 7 million international students involved, the principles of cooperation and transparency are more relevant than ever.

Modernizing recognition: two key revisions

Two important revisions were presented during the session. The first concerns the updated Charter of the ENIC-NARIC network, the community that brings together national information centres on academic recognition. The new version includes specific references to micro-credentials, transnational training, distance learning and the application of artificial intelligence.

The second revision concerns the Code of Good Practice in the Delivery of Transnational Education, updated to consider emerging issues such as fraud prevention, quality assurance across national borders and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both initiatives respond to the need to update the Convention’s instruments so that they remain relevant in a rapidly evolving training environment.

Artificial intelligence as an opportunity for balance

During the session, delegates discussed how artificial intelligence can support digital recognition processes of qualifications. According to the 2022 Lisbon Convention monitoring report, most national information centres have introduced digital tools in their assessment services.

The goal now is to share common experiences and guidelines, to prevent digitization from creating disparities or different interpretations between countries. The Council of Europe and UNESCO intend to develop joint guidelines on the use of AI, in line with the UNESCO Recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence (2021) and the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights.

This approach aims to foster a use of technology that supports transparency, accountability, and trust, not replacing human evaluation of qualifications and learning experiences.

The “substantial differences” and automatic recognition

The concept of “substantial differences” — which defines when a foreign qualification may not be recognized — was one of the main topics of the debate. The Committee decided to launch a collection of national data and good practices to make interpretations more consistent across countries.

The aim is to reduce the complexity of processes and encourage the construction of a more predictable recognition system, capable of promoting academic and professional mobility. This initiative will contribute to the creation of a European context in which students and workers can move more safely between institutions and countries.

The human dimension of recognition

In addition to the regulatory aspects, the Convention continues to pay attention to people in vulnerable situations. The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees and the UNESCO Qualifications Passport remain key tools for those who cannot provide full documentation of their skills.

Thanks to the collaboration with national centres and regional bodies, these passports offer a standardised assessment that allows access to study paths or professional opportunities. In the current context, characterized by mobility and social change, this approach represents a concrete response to those who seek to rebuild their lives through education.

The scenario in Malta: quality, digitalisation and future prospects

The issue of recognition of qualifications and educational quality has also taken on increasing importance in Malta, where the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) has developed an accreditation system based on the combination of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) and External Quality Assurance (EQA), in line with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG).

The Further and Higher Education Act (Cap. 607) clearly defined the Authority’s responsibilities, providing that each provider is subject to licensing, periodic auditing and accreditation of programs. This approach strengthens transparency and institutional accountability.

In recent years, the MFHEA has launched initiatives to digitize its accreditation and data collection processes, with the aim of making the management of information relating to providers, students and programs more efficient. These interventions represent the first steps towards more integrated forms of recognition, which may in the future include automatic verification tools and interoperability between European systems.

In a regional context where international cooperation is increasingly central, Malta positions itself as an active partner in promoting quality and transparency, maintaining a dimension proportionate to its resources and educational reality.

An evolving path

The Paris meeting marked the start of a phase of work that looks at interregional collaboration and responsible innovation. The digitization of recognition processes is not a goal, but a means of making procedures more accessible, reliable and inclusive.

Malta, together with the other Member States, will be able to contribute to this transition with an approach based on quality, participation and attention to people. The recognition of qualifications, today, is not just an administrative act: it is a sign of mutual trust that unites European education systems and strengthens the right to lifelong learning.