The webinar will highlight Japan’s experience in advancing qualifications recognition under UNESCO’s Tokyo and Global Conventions on higher education.
Date and time: 17 October 2025 – 12:00 to 13:10 (Bangkok, GMT+7) / 14:00 to 15:10 (Japan, UTC+9)
Format: Online via Zoom (prior registration required)
Prior registration is required:
https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I8woGgu7RmOjOTXZlYKZYA
Target audience: Policymakers and higher education stakeholders based in Asia and the Pacific
Languages: English
The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok), in cooperation with Japan, will host the third session of the Asia-Pacific webinar series on recognition conventions in higher education.
This webinar will share findings from UNESCO’s latest work on the application of Regional Qualifications Frameworks and National Qualifications Frameworks as tools to enable the transparent translation of qualifications across borders. By drawing on Japan’s experience of developing its National Qualifications Framework and credential evaluation systems, the session aims to foster peer learning among countries on their journey to ratify and implement the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (known as the Tokyo Convention), and the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.
Background
National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) are tools for classifying the qualifications of an education or training system into levels that clearly describe what a qualification holder knows, understands, and can do. They make qualifications comprehensible within and across borders and help facilitate lifelong learning. As of 2022, there are up to 140 NQFs worldwide, according to UNESCO’s Global Inventory of National and Regional Qualifications Frameworks.
Japan, which ratified the Tokyo Convention in 2017 and the Global Convention in 2022, has emerged as a regional leader in qualifications recognition. In 2018, it established the National Information Centre for Academic Recognition Japan (NIC-Japan), which developed the country’s credential evaluation system—a process for assessing and recognizing the value of qualifications earned abroad. In 2025, NIC-Japan also launched the Japanese Educational Qualifications Framework (JEQF), an official guide to qualifications obtainable in the national school system.
Session Objectives
- Present the latest global trends in the development of National Qualifications Frameworks.
- Share Japan’s experience with credential evaluation, capacity building for credential evaluators, and the development of its NQF.
- Foster discussions on the operationalisation of the Tokyo and Global Conventions, particularly regarding NQFs and the credential evaluation.
Programme
| 12:00 – 12:05 | Opening and introduction
– Ms. Marina Patrier, Deputy Regional Director and Chief of Education Section, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok) and Secretariat of the Tokyo Convention |
| 12:05 – 12:15 | Presentation: Global trends of NQFs and their role in operationalising the Global and Tokyo Conventions (Tentative title)
– Claudia Pompa, Programme Specialist, Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning System, Education Sector, UNESCO Headquarters |
| 12:15 – 12:45 | Presentations: Latest Trends in Japan’s Credential Evaluation and Educational Qualifications Framework
– Prof. Shingo Ashizawa, Kanda University of International Studies |
| 12:45 – 13:05 | Q&A |
| 13:05 – 13:10 | Wrap up
– Mr. Dean Chen, Associate Programme Specialist, Education Section, UNESCO Bangkok |
Who should attend
- Policymakers and government education officials
- UN agencies and development partners
- Researchers and civil society organizations
- Higher education personnel
- Students and youth
- Members of APNNIC
Session Presentations
Missed the Previous Webinars in the Series?
The first session, held on 28 August, brought together speakers from Australia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and South Africa to explore how UNESCO frameworks can strengthen collaboration and the recognition of qualifications. You can access the full video recording here.
The second session took place on 24 September 2025, featuring speakers from UNESCO and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The session focused on global trends i micro-credentials and highlighted New Zealand’s experience of integrating them into its National Qualifications Framework. You can access the full video recording here.
Cover Image by Leremy/Shutterstock.com