Since the 1970’s, UNESCO facilitated the development 6 regional conventions on the recognition of higher education qualifications with a view to promoting right to education, academic mobility, and international understanding. The first Asia-Pacific Convention was adopted in 1983 in Bangkok, Thailand as the 「Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific」, which has 21 State Parties to date. The revised Asia-Pacific Convention was adopted in 2011 in Tokyo, Japan as the 「Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education」.
「Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education」 entered into force on 1st February 2018 following the expiration of the period of one month after five UNESCO Member States of the Asia-Pacific region - Australia (July 2014), China (July 2014), New Zealand (Aug 2017), Japan (Dec 2017), Republic of Korea (Dec 2017) - have expressed their consent to be bound by this Convention.
| States | Date of deposit of instrument | Type of instrument | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 17 Jul 2014 | Ratification |
| 2 | China | 17 Jul 2014 | Approval |
| 3 | New Zealand | 1 Aug 2017 | Accession |
| 4 | Japan | 6 Dec 2017 | Accession |
| 5 | Republic of Korea | 19 Dec 2017 | Ratification |
| 6 | Holy See | 18 Jul 2018 | Ratification |
| 7 | Mongolia | 19 Mar 2019 | Approval |
| 8 | Turkey | 3 Apr 2019 | Accession |
| 9 | Fiji | 27 Aug 2020 | Accession |
| 10 | Russian Federation | 27 Nov 2020 | Accession |
| 11 | Afghanistan | 7 Dec 2020 | Accession |
(Source: UNESCO Conventions, UNESCO Bangkok)
As the number of students choosing to study in a country outside of their region has continued to grow, 「Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education」 was adopted in November 2019 by the 40th session of UNESCO the General Conference. This convention will become a global normative instrument on recognition that can complement the regional conventions.
「Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education」 will enter into force three months after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession, but only with regard to those States Parties which have deposited their respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession on or before that date.
| States | Date of deposit of instrument | Type of instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | 8 Jun 2020 | Approval |
| Nicaragua | 1 Oct 2020 | Ratification |
(Source: UNESCO 40 C/31)