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Republic of Korea Korea completed its domestic ratification process for the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education on March 4, 2025, and officially deposited the instrument of ratification with UNESCO on April 17.
As the first United Nations-level treaty in higher education encompassing regional conventions, the Global Convention is a declarative agreement aimed at expanding the international recognition of higher education qualifications, ensuring the right to education across borders, and facilitating academic and professional mobility. Its fundamental principle is not the unconditional recognition of qualifications, but the provision of fair opportunities for recognition within the national education systems of the State Parties.
The Global Convention encourages recognition of higher education qualifications awarded by other State Parties, provided there are no substantial differences between the qualifications in question. It also emphasizes the right to be assessed of individual qualifications—such as refugees with insufficient documentation.
The Global Convention was adopted at the 40th UNESCO General Conference in November 2019 and entered into force in March 2023, following its ratification by the 20th country (Andorra) in December 2022, in accordance with Article 18.1 of the Convention. With its ratification in April 2025, Republic of Korea has become the 38th State Party to the Convention.
*According to Article 18.1 of the Global Convention, it enters into force three months after the deposit of the 20th instrument of ratification.
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Total number of States Parties (as of April 2025): 38
(In order of ratification) Norway, Nicaragua, Estonia, France, Romania, Tunisia, Croatia, Holy See, Lithuania, Armenia, United Kingdom, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Palestine, Sweden, Slovakia, Japan, Cabo Verde, Iceland, Andorra, Australia, Uruguay, Finland, Yemen, Guinea, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Senegal, Georgia, Luxembourg, Ecuador, New Zealand, South Africa, Mongolia, San Marino, Djibouti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Korea
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Through the ratification of the Global Convention, Korea has taken an important step in advancing the internationalization of its higher education sector and establishing a stronger foundation for attracting talented students from abroad.
As the officially designated National Information Centre (NIC) by the Ministry of Education, Korea Academic Recognition Information Center (KARIC) will actively support the effective implementation and integration of the Global Convention into domestic higher education practices.
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