Project based on the Council of Europe Lisbon Recognition Convention

Partners include the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, the Conference of University Rectors of Italy, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, the Government of Flanders - Belgium and qualification recognition centres in Armenia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. 

The UNHCR Representation in Greece and the UNHCR Representation in Strasbourg also support the project.

What is the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees?

The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is a document providing an assessment of the higher education qualifications based on available documentation and a structured interview. It also presents information on the applicant’s work experience and language proficiency. The document provides reliable information for integration and progression towards employment and admission to further studies.

It is a specially developed assessment scheme for refugees, even for those who cannot fully document their qualifications.

  

The Process:       

                                                                                          

How long will this process take?

The questionnaire is normally sent to candidates three weeks before the evaluation, with two weeks to fill it in, allowing the evaluators one week to review them. The interviews themselves take between 45 minutes to one hour, after which a decision on whether or not to issue the document is made. If the decision is positive, the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is issued and valid for five years from the date of issue.

When does this process start?

The project was launched in 2017 as a pilot initiative. During the pilot phase, three assessment sessions were held in Greece: 92 refugees were interviewed by credentials evaluators and 73 EQPRs were issued.

Starting from January 2018, a new phase of the project that will last three years (2018-2020) is being implemented. In 2018, five assessment sessions will be held in Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.