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Courtesy of University World News
The Addis Convention and the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education are playing an increasingly critical role in promoting international cooperation, coherence in recognition practices and stronger quality assurance in higher education systems.
A webinar hosted on 25 June by UNESCO’s Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA), in collaboration with the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA), examined how these conventions can facilitate the fair and transparent recognition of academic qualifications across borders.
The Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States – known as the Addis Convention – serves as a legal framework for recognition across the African continent. Its global counterpart, the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education, is the first international treaty of its kind.
The event came at a critical time, with African universities navigating growing demands for student and academic mobility, international partnerships, and the recognition of micro-credentials. Yet, despite the clear benefits of these frameworks – including expanded opportunities for cross-border education and digital learning – uptake in the region has been slow.
To date, only one Southern African Development Community (SADC) member state has ratified the Global Convention, and four have signed the Addis Convention. UNESCO has warned that this limited engagement could hinder the region’s progress in internationalisation, qualification recognition, and inter-university cooperation.
A framework for fairness
Dr Peter Wells from UNESCO ROSA reaffirmed their commitment to promoting adoption of the conventions in the SADC region. He described them as foundational instruments for enabling professional and academic mobility within Africa and globally.
“The revised regional and global recognition conventions are not just administrative instruments; they are foundational tools that bring coherence to the global higher education landscape, facilitating fair academic mobility and informed quality assurance,” Wells said.
“These conventions ensure transparency, fairness, and mutual respect across education systems. Recognition under the Global Convention is about rights; the right of individuals to have their qualifications assessed fairly, promptly, and without discrimination.”
While the Global Convention promotes international cooperation, it fully respects domestic laws and the autonomy of institutions. It is not a prescription, but a framework for fairness, Wells said.
He added that these conventions prioritise quality-informed, transparent decision-making – essential for building trust in higher education credentials globally.
Africa’s increasing participation in the Global Convention, alongside its regional counterpart, marks a shift towards greater academic and professional mobility across the continent. “With countries like South Africa, Senegal, Guinea, Djibouti, Cabo Verde, and Côte d’Ivoire already on board, Africa is beginning to shape the future of global qualification recognition – not just as a participant, but as a contributor to global norms,” he said.
Equitable access and trust
Miriam Chiyaba, former CEO of the Zambia Qualifications Authority, or ZAQA, and a member of the Global Convention’s Drafting Committee, reflected on the history and significance of the conventions in the African context.
The Addis Convention, which entered into force in 2019, now has 14 African state parties. The Global Convention, effective since March 2023, had 38 state parties as of May 2025, including six African countries.
Chiyaba stressed the need for harmonised quality assurance systems across the continent for the conventions to fulfil their objectives. “The Addis Convention is a legal framework for the fair and transparent recognition of higher education in the African region to facilitate mobility and inter-university cooperation. It strengthens and promotes inter-regional and international cooperation in the recognition of qualifications.”
She emphasised that mutual recognition hinges on mutual trust. “We must trust that robust accreditation systems are in place to register higher education institutions, ensure proper supervision of assessments, and uphold quality assurance. The conventions strengthen trust among signatories and advocate for quality enhancement at institutional, national, regional and continental levels.”
They also support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, particularly in ensuring equitable access to higher education, she added.
One of the conventions’ core aims is to reduce ‘brain drain’ by establishing effective quality assurance and accreditation mechanisms while promoting African academic resources. They also seek to facilitate greater mobility among students, academics and researchers, encourage joint training and research programmes, and support the awarding of joint degrees.
Quality assurance and regional cooperation
In December 2024, UNESCO ROSA and SARUA signed an agreement to advance quality assurance and governance in SADC higher education systems.
The partnership prioritises professional development and capacity-building, while promoting the ratification and implementation of both the Addis and Global Conventions. Engagement will focus on working with ministries and universities to raise awareness and encourage adoption.
“The ratification of the conventions by individual countries constitutes a binding agreement on the standards and criteria applicable to recognising foreign qualifications and those granting access to African higher education institutions,” said Chiyaba.
“It confirms governments’ commitment to developing national quality assurance mechanisms to build confidence in their higher education institutions. This, in turn, enables the internationalisation of study programmes and research and facilitates mobility among staff and students.”
