Diplomas from Uzbekistan expected to be recognized in 38 countries

Diplomas issued by higher education institutions in Uzbekistan are expected to be recognized in 38 countries worldwide. This follows Uzbekistan’s ratification of the “Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education” (Paris, 25 November 2019).

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the law ratifying the Global Convention on 11 November this year.

The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, developed under the auspices of UNESCO, is considered the first international treaty of global significance in this field. Article 4 of the Convention stipulates that each member state must recognize qualifications obtained and authenticated in other member states.

Recognition is carried out according to the national legislation of each country. Member states are required to recognize higher education qualifications (diplomas) obtained abroad unless significant differences exist between the compared education systems or standards.

At present, 38 countries are parties to the Global Convention, while nearly 10 others are in the process of joining.

The list of countries participating in the Global Convention includes:

In Europe (20 states): France, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Hungary, Andorra, Armenia, Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Holy See, San Marino, Luxembourg.

In the Americas (4 states): Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Uruguay.

In Africa (7 states): South Africa, Tunisia, Cabo Verde, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal.

In Asia (5 states): Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Yemen, Palestine.

In Australia and Oceania (2 states): Australia, New Zealand.

According to Article 18 of the Convention, membership takes effect three months after a country submits its instrument of accession to the UNESCO Secretariat. Thus, Uzbekistan will become a full member three months after it submits the ratification instrument confirming the adoption of the Convention.

It should be noted that Uzbekistan will become the first country in Central Asia to join the Global Convention.

The Agency for Assessing Knowledge and Skills stated that the mechanisms for mutual recognition of higher education qualifications apply only among countries that are parties to the Global Convention.

In Uzbekistan, the recognition of foreign diplomas is regulated by the Law “On Education” and the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 620 of 24 July 2019, which approved the “Regulation on the Procedure for Recognizing Educational Documents Obtained Abroad.” This regulation identifies categories of foreign educational documents that may be recognized directly within Uzbekistan. In particular, paragraph 10 of clause 7 stipulates that educational documents may be recognized directly (without special examinations) if such recognition is provided for in Uzbekistan’s international treaties.

Earlier, reports circulated that the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan had approved an agreement on the mutual recognition of higher education documents. The Agency for Assessing Knowledge and Skills denied these reports, stating that no international agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas currently exists among Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan or Kazakhstan.