Tokyo Convention
Overview
The Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (Tokyo Convention) is an international agreement among State Parties to ensure that students and academics are treated fairly concerning their higher education qualification. To promote and facilitate the implementation of this Convention, two mechanisms are established :
- The Committee of the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education is composed of one representative of each Party. The Committee may adopt declarations, protocols and models of good practice to guide the competent recognition authorities of the Parties in their implementation of this Convention and in their consideration of applications for the recognition of qualifications in higher education
- A network of national information centres on academic mobility and recognition is to uphold and assist the practical implementation of this Convention by the competent recognition authorities. Each Party shall appoint a member of their national information centre to the network of national information centres according to the Tokyo Convention.
The Convention includes articles to help facilitate physical and virtual mobility through fair qualifications recognition in the Asia-Pacific region. The APNNIC is the regional network charged with upholding and implementing the Tokyo Convention.
The main activities are at national and regional level:
National Information Centres (NIC)
NICs promote mutual understanding and transparency of national education systems and qualifications, as well as best-practice principles in recognition of qualifications to support quality decisions. APNNIC includes each Party’s NIC as a network member.
Regional network
As Secretariat of the Regional Committee on the Tokyo Convention and APNNIC, UNESCO supports ratification and implementation of the convention by building national-level awareness and capacities, and promoting collaboration among countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Tokyo Convention represents a landmark that reflects the new trends on the recognition of higher education qualifications in the Asia-Pacific region.
Regional Committee and related events from 2011
- First Session of the Committee of the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, 18-19 October 2018, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Second Regional Capacity Building Workshop on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications in Asia and the Pacific, 1-2 June 2017, Beijing, China
- 14th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific regional workshop on Education 2030, 17-18 August 2016, Sydney, Australia
- Regional Capacity Building Workshop on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications in Asia and the Pacific, 21-23 October 2015, Bangkok, Thailand
- 13th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific, 4-5 August 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- 12th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific, 21-23 May 2013, Bangkok, Thailand
- 11th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific in Conjunction with the Expert Seminar on the National Information Centers, 23-24 May 2012, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- International Conference of States with a view to Adoption of the Revised 1983 Regional Convention on Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific, 25-26 November 2011, Tokyo, Japan
- Second Session of the Committee of the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education and Inaugural Statement of APNNIC, 19-20 September 2010, Bangkok, Thailand