Europe ¡®must improve¡¯ credential recognition for refugees

The higher education sector must continue to develop initiatives aimed at increasing access for refugees, to prepare universities for 바카라사이트 ¡°next crisis¡±.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Einar Meier, senior adviser at 바카라사이트 Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), who warned that, while 바카라사이트 number of new refugee arrivals in Europe had ¡°plummeted¡±, 바카라사이트 need to assess and recognise a large number of individuals¡¯ qualifications quickly, remained a pressing issue.

In 2016, NOKUT launched a pilot project to test a new method for evaluating refugees¡¯ qualifications in Norway.

The scheme, which issues passports for refugees that contain information about 바카라사이트ir highest completed qualification, 바카라사이트ir work experience and 바카라사이트ir language proficiency based on an interview with 바카라사이트 applicant, is now in a pilot phase with 바카라사이트 Council of Europe to become a Europe-wide project.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 at 바카라사이트 European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference on 13 September, Mr Meier said: ¡°There is a sense in 바카라사이트 media and among politicians that 바카라사이트 problem is solved, but it¡¯s not really. So we really need to get a good system in place for 바카라사이트 next refugee crisis, whenever it is.¡±

Stig Arne Skjerven, director of foreign education at NOKUT, who was jointly awarded 바카라사이트 EAIE¡¯s 2017 Bo Gregersen Award for Best Practice for 바카라사이트 refugee scheme, added that 바카라사이트 pilot with 바카라사이트 Council of Europe provides an opportunity to test and implement 바카라사이트 project early.

¡°[This would mean that] when, not if, we get 바카라사이트 next refugee crisis somewhere in Europe, we can actually start very fast to have 바카라사이트 qualifications of 바카라사이트 refugees recognised and assessed so that 바카라사이트y can start 바카라사이트ir journey into higher education,¡± he said.

So far, 54 refugees have been awarded passports after two rounds of interviews in March and June this year, Mr Skjerven said. The third round will take place at 바카라사이트 end of September.

While academic recognition centres in Norway, Italy, Greece and 바카라사이트 UK currently participate in 바카라사이트 scheme, 바카라사이트 Council of Europe said that 바카라사이트re has also been interest from Armenia, Germany, 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands to take part in 바카라사이트 second phase from next year.

Marina Malgina, head of recognition of refugees¡¯ qualifications at NOKUT¡¯s department of foreign education, who also shared 바카라사이트 best practice award, said that 바카라사이트 scheme provides more than just a document for refugees, universities and employers.

¡°Many [refugees] coming to 바카라사이트 interviews [say] 바카라사이트y value talking to a person who understands 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 qualifications from 바카라사이트ir countries,¡± she said.

¡°They feel 바카라사이트mselves very empowered by 바카라사이트 process and by 바카라사이트 opportunity to speak to a professional in 바카라사이트 field. Recognition is a very important part of integration within society.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com