At the seminar “Automatic Recognition from Policy to Practice”: strengthening recognition through practical tools
On 16 April 2026, SKVC participated in a remote seminar titled “Automatic Recognition from Policy to Practice: Progress Mapping and a Forward-Looking Study”. The seminar aimed to foster discussions on automatic recognition of academic qualifications by reviewing the situations and achievements of EU Member States and countries that have ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Different practical tools and policy measures at national and international levels were also discussed. The event attracted significant interest, bringing together more than 330 participants and 18 speakers from 40 countries.
It was emphasised that learners have high expectations that automatic recognition will reduce bureaucracy and costs related to qualification recognition, and enable smoother mobility for study and work purposes. However, it was noted that automatic recognition of qualifications does not mean automatic admission to higher education institutions. Applicants must meet specific institutional requirements, and selection is carried out based on various criteria, including academic achievements and research skills.
Speakers from nine European countries highlighted that ENIC-NARIC centres and higher education institutions still face a lack of reliable and up-to-date information on specific qualifications and education systems, including recent changes. Insufficient assurance of study and learning quality reduces trust in education systems, hindering the development of automatic recognition. In addition, diploma fraud remains a relevant issue.
During the seminar, Aurelija Valeikienė, Deputy Director of SKVC, delivered a presentation on the AR-GO portal, a practical tool for the automatic recognition of higher education qualifications in the Baltic and Benelux countries. Through the AR-GO portal, individuals can generate, download or print a qualification comparison document containing general information about specific qualifications that are automatically recognised at system level. When submitted together with a diploma and its supplement, this document can contribute to faster admission to studies or employment in another country.
Below we provide useful information on automatic recognition:
- AR-GO portal: https://ar-go.online/
- European Higher Education Area (HEA) comparable qualifications table
- Website of automatic recognition networks covering southern European countries
The event was organized under the European Higher Education Area project TPG-LRC Plus, coordinated by CIMEA (ENIC-NARIC Italy). The project, co-funded by the EU under the Erasmus+ programme, supports the institutional work of thematic group B of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.