The 33rd Annual Joint Meeting of the ENIC-NARIC Networks took place in Athens, Greece, from 24 to 26 May 2026, bringing together recognition experts, policy-makers and representatives of international organisations to discuss the future of academic recognition and international cooperation in higher education.
Hosted by DOATAP, the meeting opened with discussions on recent developments in higher education and academic recognition in Greece, followed by a welcome reception at the Acropolis Museum. Over the course of the meeting, participants explored emerging challenges and opportunities linked to digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the evolution of recognition frameworks in Europe and beyond.
A keynote address by Professor Phil Newton (Swansea University) examined the implications of artificial intelligence for the certification of learning, setting the stage for a series of discussions and workshops on AI and education fraud, digital recognition ecosystems, and the recognition of qualifications in increasingly complex and international contexts.
Participants also exchanged updates on the work of the Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee, the ENIC Bureau and NARIC Advisory Board, and the ELCORE Working Group. Discussions highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen automatic recognition practices, enhance cooperation between networks, and improve information exchange to support fair and transparent recognition procedures.
Twelve workshop sessions addressed a wide range of topics, in the field of recognition of qualifications. The Council of Europe was involved in four workshops: AI & Education Fraud: Opportunities and Threats I Join to collaborate the LRC Convention Committee Bureau Workplan ’25-’28 I Artificial intelligence and recognition of qualifications I Automatic recognition of qualifications in Europe, where do we stand now?
The meeting further provided an opportunity for strategic dialogue on the future of recognition policies in Europe, including ongoing work on the revision of the ECTS User Guide, the drafting of a new Council of Europe Convention on Automatic Recognition, the revision of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), and developments related to the UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.
The Joint Meeting concluded with a forward-looking discussion on strategic priorities for the ENIC-NARIC Networks and reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation, trust and innovation in shaping the future of recognition.
For more information about the ENIC-NARIC Networks, visit the ENIC-NARIC website.
