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Comparability statement

How is a comparability statement established for a foreign qualification?

General principles

There is nothing automatic about the responses and the certificates issued: ENIC-NARIC France experts conduct specific research for each file submitted. While doing so, they may consult specialised sources, competent foreign authorities or possibly the administrative authorities of the country of origin and other ENIC-NARIC centres.

Evaluation of foreign qualifications complies with European guidelines (the Bologna process in particular) and current regulations pertaining to recognition of qualifications:

• The "Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region" (11 April 1997, ratified by France October 4, 1999), sets out the general framework for the recognition of qualifications. "Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region"
• The "Recommendation on procedures and criteria for assessing qualifications and periods of foreign studies" (adopted June 6, 2001), calls on signatories to "evaluate the quality of applicants" foreign qualifications. "Recommendation on Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications"
  This assessment "should identify, within the system of the country in which recognition is being sought, the qualification closest to the foreign original."
• "Decision n°1720/2006/CE of the european parliament and the council of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning",
• The "Lifelong learning programme 2007-13".

Procedure

In assessing foreign qualifications, ENIC-NARIC France uses an analytical framework that applies the principles embodied in international texts guiding the recognition of qualifications in Europe.
The grid is an internal working document. It was developed by ENIC-NARIC France and a working group comprising representatives from:

• Direction générale pour l'enseignement supérieur et l'insertion professionnelle (DGESIP),
• Direction des relations européennes et internationales et de la coopération (DREIC),
• Conférence des présidents d'université (CPU),
• Commission nationale de la certification professionnelle (CNCP),
• Agence d'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (AERES).

The grid, composed of ten components, is designed to support the expert’s comparative analysis.
It contains two levels:

• Two exclusive "eligibility criteria" (in yes/no format), concerning the accrediting authority;
• Eight "assessment components" listing the formal equivalence and quality criteria.