Automatic recognition has received much attention in European higher education policy circles in recent years, due to its promise of greatly facilitating recognition procedures and thus mobility.

Yet understandings and approaches to the concept vary greatly across the European Higher Education Area.

This briefing aims to unpack the concept of the automatic recognition of higher education qualifications for the purpose of continuing studies abroad, its various facets and history, while pointing out common misinterpretations. It also aims to outline various fora and actors that have driven the development of automatic recognition, such as the European Higher Education Area, the European Commission and, more recently, the Council of Europe, as well as the policy interests behind their efforts.

The briefing is primarily targeted at university leadership and management, as well as staff dealing with the practical implementation of recognition. However, it may also provide insights to anyone else interested in the topic.

Automatic recognition of qualifications

Helene Peterbauer, Michael Gaebel

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