Nuffic's recognition department: a role model for Japan?
The Japanese Ministry of Education has asked the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation (NIAD-UE) to set up a national recognition information centre, which does not yet exist in Japan. A small delegation of the NIAD-UE visited Nuffic in February, to discuss the ins and outs of running such a centre.
The Japanese delegation brought with them an extensive list of detailed questions, most of which could be answered and illustrated by providing practical examples and statistics on the processes of credential evaluation.
Experts of Nuffic’s International Recognition Department tried to provide as much practical information as possible during the short meeting, from procedures to budgets and from databases to staff requirements.
Following the Lisbon Convention
More general information on the implementation of the Bologna Process and the Lisbon Recognition Convention had already been provided during NIAD-UE’s previous visits to Nuffic a few years ago. This resulted in a report, describing the good practices in recognition of only a few selected countries.
The fact that Japan now wants to actually set up its own centre seems linked to the revision of the Asia-Pacific Recognition Convention (originally dating from 1983), which has now firmly been based on the same principles as the Lisbon Recognition Convention. A national information centre (similar to those of the European Region) is required to implement the Asia-Pacific Convention.
Nuffic's good name
Among the European recognition networks, Nuffic is well-known for its sound knowledge on the application of the criteria of the Lisbon Convention and for its efficient procedures.
During the meeting, the members of the Japanese delegation were surprised by the amount of tasks carried out by Nuffic’s International Recognition Department. They were also amazed by the sheer number of actual evaluations of foreign qualifications produced annually (more than 12,000 in 2011).
Kai-zen
One aspect of our processes was not difficult to explain, as the delegation immediately understood the Japanese word Kai-zen . They were also aware that it refers to a methodology for improving a process, which Nuffic used to achieve its goal of getting more than 95% of all evaluations of foreign qualifications delivered on time.
The delegation will report its findings to NIAD-UE’s management, and may get in touch with Nuffic for further consultation.