How UNESCO is Standardizing Higher Education Recognition

In this episode of Higher Ed Chats, we're joined by Stig Arne Skjerven, elected Chair of the Bureau of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education at UNESCO. Stig Arne recently served as Norway's Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCO, focusing on education, foreign policy, governance, sciences, and ocean issues during his diplomatic tenure in Paris.

Having spent his entire professional career working with international higher education—from advising student organizations and quality assurance bodies to directing academic affairs and leading Norway's national academic recognition office—Stig Arne brings unparalleled expertise to the complex landscape of qualification recognition and international student mobility.

Our conversation addresses fundamental questions about fair access to global education: What exactly is the Global Recognition Convention and why does it matter? How do recognition principles ensure fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory admissions? What practical guidance do the newly adopted operational guidelines offer universities? How can emerging destination countries align their systems with international best practices? And critically, what challenges persist in translating international agreements into institutional practice?

Stig Arne walks us through the convention's decades-long development—from late 1940s conceptualization through regional conventions to the 2019 adoption of the first global UN framework for higher education.

We explore the substantial differences principle, which shifts the focus from input-based assessment (credit hours, duration) to output-based evaluation (learning outcomes, student success potential), and the importance of transparent complaint procedures. We also examine how the adoption of conventions will expand student destination choices, modernize admission practices in emerging hubs, and fundamentally reshape the geography of international education over the coming decade.

Who’s in the episode?

Stig Arne Skjerven is the first elected Chair (2023-2027) of the UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. For over a decade prior to that, Skjerven was instrumental in establishing and implementing this first UN normative instrument in higher education. His international experience includes multilateral and UN diplomacy, strategy, leadership, public speaking, quality assurance in higher education, recognition of qualifications, transnational education, micro-credentials, communication, policy formulation, global partnership and capacity building in higher education.

Scott Miller is the host of Keystone Higher Ed Chats and the Executive Director of Keystone's international division, bringing over 11 years of EdTech experience to conversations about global education.

After graduating from DePauw University, living and working in different cultures showed him that stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't just broaden your horizons; it reshapes them entirely. That belief in the transformative power of international experiences brought Scott to Keystone in 2010, where he's spent over a decade (and counting) helping higher education institutions reach students worldwide.

On Keystone Higher Ed Chats, Scott speaks with thought-leaders in the industry about what he's most passionate about: how education changes lives, how cultural experiences broaden perspectives at any age, and how Keystone's mission—connecting students with their ideal higher education institution—makes those life-changing moments possible.

Timestamps & Takeaways

Timestamps

Takeaways

First global UN agreement on higher education. The Global Recognition Convention represents the UN system's inaugural international agreement specifically addressing higher education frameworks. Initial conceptualization occurred in the late 1940s, but implementation required decades of groundwork. Regional conventions emerged first—Lisbon for Europe (30 years ago), Tokyo for Asia-Pacific, ADDIS for Africa—establishing continent-specific recognition principles before globalization necessitated worldwide coordination.

Student mobility growth demanded global frameworks. Approximately fifteen years ago, recognition authorities observed dramatic increases in students studying outside their home regions and continents. Existing regional conventions couldn't address cross-continental mobility patterns, creating regulatory gaps for students pursuing education in distant geographic markets.

Transparency and non-discrimination as foundational requirements. All admission regulatory frameworks must be openly published and comprehensible to international applicants. Processing timelines must fall within defined limits to prevent competitive disadvantages. Complaints procedures must exist and be accessible.

State ratification doesn't guarantee institutional compliance. Nearly forty countries have now ratified the convention, with Uzbekistan among the recent additions. However, government ratification doesn't automatically translate into university-level implementation. Many institutions in ratifying countries remain unaware of the convention’s principles or haven't updated their admissions procedures accordingly.

Quality improvement through internationalization. Countries and institutions should pursue international student recruitment not purely for revenue generation but to enhance institutional quality through global engagement. Convention principles support this quality-focused internationalization by emphasizing fair, transparent processes serving educational missions rather than purely commercial objectives.

Higher Ed Chats

October 25, 2025

17 minutes

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How UNESCO is Standardizing Higher Education Recognition

Who’s in the episode?

Stig Arne Skjerven

Scott Miller

Timestamps & Takeaways

Timestamps

Takeaways

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