About the ENIC-NARIC Networks

This overview sets out the roles and responsibilities of the national information centres which operate within the ENIC-NARIC Networks.

1. National Information Centre (ENIC or ENIC-NARIC)

A national Information Centre (ENIC or ENIC-NARIC) is an entity established by each Party to the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (commonly known as the Lisbon Recognition Convention-LRC), in accordance with its Article IX.2(1). The national information centre reports to its respective national competent authority (Ministry of Education or similar body) as a Party to the LRC. Upon request, the national information centre may provide information to UNESCO and the Council of Europe, in their role as Co-Secretariats of the LRC, but also to the Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee (LRCC).

The status and mandate of the national information centre is determined by the respective national competent authority. However, a national information centre should abide by LRC provisions, including the 2004 Joint ENIC/NARIC Charter of Activities and Services, and the 2019 Guidelines for National Online Information Systems.

At a minimum and according to Article IX.2(2) of the LRC, a National information centre should:

• facilitate access to authoritative and accurate information on the higher education system and qualifications of the country in which it is located;
• facilitate access to information on the higher education systems and qualifications of the other Parties;
• give advice or information on recognition matters and assessment of qualifications, in accordance with national laws and regulations.

Depending on the implementation structure, some Parties may also mandate their national information centre to evaluate qualifications held by individuals, and thus issue recognition advice/recommendation or legally-binding recognition decisions.

The list of all national information centres, with contact information, is available on the country pages section.

See also:

Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention - LRC, 1997)

Joint ENIC/NARIC Charter of Activities and Services, 2004

Guidelines for National Online Information Systems, 2019

2. European Network of National Information Centres (ENIC Network)

The European Network of national information centres (ENIC Network) was established in 1994, in close collaboration with UNESCO and the Council of Europe as Co-Secretariats. It complies with Article X.1(b) and X.3 of the LRC.

The ENIC Network:

• upholds and assists with the practical LRC implementation by competent national authorities, Party to the LRC;
• serves as a multilateral cooperation mechanism within the UNESCO Europe and North America region, and links with other UNESCO regions.

Each Party appoints its national information centre as a member of the ENIC Network, and holds one vote. In this context, all national information centres from 54 Parties to the LRC are members, and known as ENICs. The ENIC Network meets yearly. To support the governance of the ENIC Network, the national information centres elect three representatives to the ENIC Bureau (EB) for a two-year mandate.

See also:

Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention - LRC, 1997)

About the governance of the ENIC-NARIC Networks

3. National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC Network)

The National Academic Recognition Information Centres Network was established in 1984 with the European Commission as secretariat. The NARIC Network has a similar mandate to the ENIC Network, but in the context of the European Union. Erasmus+ Programme countries from outside the European Union are also eligible to appoint a national information centre.

Each Party is eligible to take part in all Actions of the Erasmus+ Programme and appoints its national information centre as a member of the NARIC Network. In this context, the specific national information centres from 34 Parties to the LRC are members, and known as ENIC-NARICs. The NARIC Network meets twice yearly. To support the governance of the NARIC Network, the NARICs elect three representatives to the NARIC Advisory Board (NAB) for a two-year mandate.

See also:

About the governance of the ENIC-NARIC Networks

4. The ENIC-NARIC Networks

The ENIC and NARIC Networks (jointly known as the ENIC-NARIC Networks) cooperate closely in accordance with their respective mandate, with the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO as Co-Secretariats.

Joint initiatives of the ENIC-NARIC Networks’ include:

• holding an annual joint meeting to support multilateral cooperation through sharing of qualification-recognition information on policies and practices, and providing an opportunity for capacity building activities. Representatives of non-governmental organisations may also be invited to attend the meeting as observers;
• managing on-line information systems (e.g. ENIC-NARIC.net Web site, listservs, social media) as essential tools to assist the ENIC-NARIC Networks in carrying out their mandate, especially the LRC information provision;
• participating in consultative processes on international normative instruments, recommendations, declarations, protocols and models of good practice related to qualification recognition (e.g. Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee and its bureau, proposed UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education).

5. About the enic-naric.net website

This site, a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO, has been created primarily as a tool to assist the ENIC-NARIC Networks in carrying out the tasks they have been mandated to accomplish within their own jurisdiction, by directing them to up-to-date information supplied and maintained by the competent bodies in each member country and by each member organisation.

It is also its expressed purpose to help other interested organisations and individuals easily find information on current issues in international academic and professional mobility, and on procedures for the recognition of foreign qualifications.