The fourth meeting of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) project coordination group took place in Sèvres, Paris, on 7 November 2019.
Hosted by France Éducation International (formerly known as ‘CIEP’, the Centre international d’études pédagogiques) and attended by representatives from the Council of Europe, UNHCR and qualification recognition centres in Armenia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom, the meeting was an opportunity for delegates to discuss the latest developments regarding the EQPR service.
Henry Huggett, Global Partnerships Officer, represented UK NARIC at the event.
Now well into its second phase, the EQPR is seeing an upward trend in application numbers, and the number of interviews being carried out has increased accordingly.
Following on from the successful interview sessions of 2019, future sessions are due to be held in Italy, The Netherlands, Germany and France.
The growing interest in the EQPR has seen efforts to digitise elements of its delivery gain pace, and the development of a central IT platform is now underway.
Envisaged to expedite the application process, provide greater security to applicants, and facilitate the sharing of completed assessments, the IT platform is set to be rolled out in 2021, following an extensive testing phase.
Efforts in this regard will be supported by widespread awareness-raising activities amongst stakeholders to further boost application numbers and expand the EQPR’s positive impact.
The EQPR is a document showing an assessment of an individual’s 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 intended uniquely for refugees; even those who cannot fully document their qualifications.
Further information can be found here.
