In this week episode of Experiences of International Education I had the pleasure to speak with Stig Arne Skjerven, Norway's Deputy Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and Chair of UNESCO Global Recognition Convention Bureau. Stig Arne offers us a deep dive into the UNESCO Global Recognition Convention, telling us about the long road that led to its development, clearly explaining its rationale, its ambitions, its progress so far, and importantly stressing its socially progressive potential. The Global Recognition Convention can open up study, work and life choices to individuals around the world,... and also ease brain drain by faciliating internationally mobile students to return back to their own countries of origin overcoming recognition challenes for their international qualifications or periods of study aborad.
Stig Arne further shares important work he has been involved in with regards to the Qualifications Passport for Refugees, at a European and global level... and the memorable moment in summer 2023 when state parties to the Global Recognition Convention gathered for the first time after its coming into force!
'...one needs to be quite of steady when dealing with instruments like conventions, because it is about creating change, but change takes a long time and it needs many on board ... it's time consuming processes, but if one flips the coin, it's also processes that are needed to secure that all of the state parties and their ministries, and hopefully also the universities, are on board on the decision that is to make impact for individuals and for universities.'
'most rewarding is when you get to meet individuals in which the work one has contributed has an effect, and I'd like to pinpoint to the first sessions that took place on the European Qualification Passport for Refugees in Greece, ...hearing the stories of persons who went through this scheme in the beginning, how empowered they felt, how seen they felt, and ... and in a way, how life changing it had been for them in, in a critical moment in their lives.'
Thank you Stig Arne for sharing your views, insights and and experiences with us!
#TNE #qualityassurance #intled