Madam France Marquet attended Intergovernmental Conference of States Parties to the Global Convention on Higher Education

Back
News UNESCO Headquaters, Paris - 25th June 2025

Paris, July 2025

Madam France Marquet, Principal Trustee of the Madanjeet Singh Foundation and South Asia Foundation (SAF) Representative to UNESCO, attended the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Conference of States Parties to the Global Convention on Higher Education, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

UNESCO

Key Highlights from the Conference

  • Purpose: The conference focused on advancing the implementation of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, the first worldwide United Nations treaty in higher education. The Convention aims to ensure fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory recognition of higher education qualifications across regions, facilitating international academic mobility and access to employment opportunities.
  • Agenda: Delegates adopted the interim work programme for 2025–2027 and the first Operational Guidelines, providing a common understanding and practical tools for the Convention’s application.
  • Critical Discussions: The session addressed:
  • The relationship between the Global Convention and regional recognition conventions
  • Quality assurance, including transnational education
  • Recognition of refugees’ qualifications and development of complementary pathways.

About the Global Convention

  • Adoption: The Convention was adopted in November 2019 and entered into force in March 2023.
  • Impact: With 36 states ratified as of March 2025, the Convention supports over 6 million international students, offering a framework for mutual recognition of qualifications, prior learning, and partial studies, including non-traditional learning modes.

About the Madanjeet Singh Foundation

The Foundation, established by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh, is dedicated to promoting tolerance, non-violence, and sustainable development through education and cultural exchange across South Asia. Madam France Marquet, as Principal Trustee, continues to champion these values on the international stage.