Recognition of qualifications held by refugees, displaced persons and persons in a refugee-like situation

Chapter VII of the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region contains a provision on the recognition of qualifications held by refugees, displaced persons and persons in a refugee-like situation.

Each Party shall take all feasible and reasonable steps within the framework of its education system and in conformity with its constitutional, legal, and regulatory provisions to develop procedures designed to assess fairly and expeditiously whether refugees, displaced persons and persons in a refugee-like situation fulfil the relevant requirements for access to higher education, to further higher education programmes or to employment activities, even in cases in which the qualifications obtained in one of the Parties cannot be proven through documentary evidence.

In accordance with the International Protection Act, applicants for international protection have access to education in the Republic of Slovenia under the conditions applicable to citizens of the Republic of Slovenia. The responsibility to prove the qualifications acquired in the country of origin are borne by the applicant.

Persons granted international protection have the right to education to the same degree as citizens of the Republic of Slovenia. The costs of the recognition and assessment of qualifications of persons granted international protection is covered by the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for the Support and Integration of Migrants.

The International Protection Act was the basis for the adoption of the Decree on the methods and conditions for ensuring the rights of persons with international protection, which entered into force on 30 December 2017 and governs, among other things, rights based on education and the methods and conditions for persons with international protection who cannot prove their previously attained education by documents on education (Chapter IV Education of persons with international protection who cannot prove their formal education with documents).

Considering the vulnerability and special status of these persons and their circumstances, the legislation ensures the conditions for their inclusion in the Slovenian educational space in order to make their integration as quick and successful as possible. The provisions of the Regulation govern specific procedures for ensuring the inclusion of these persons in the education system, both in secondary and in higher vocational education and higher education.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the National Education Institute of the Republic of Slovenia drafted a protocol for the integration of immigrants in the education system. The protocol includes the steps taken by schools in integrating immigrants, and the manner of claiming expenses, the obligations of schools, the rights and obligations of immigrants, and other relevant information necessary to successfully integrate immigrants. For persons under international protection without any documents who wish to enrol in secondary education, the National Education Institute carries out a test of general knowledge on the basis of a special protocol, the above Decree and the Rules on the assessment of the knowledge of persons under international protection without proof of educational qualifications of 18 July 2018.

National Examination Centre

The National Examination Centre carries out exams for persons under international protection without documents who wish to enrol into programmes of higher vocational education and higher education programmes. On the basis of a certificate on successfully completing the exam issued by the National Examination Centre and a successfully passed test of special talents, skills and physical and mental ability, if this is required by an educational or study programme, a person under international protection without documents may enrol in higher vocational education or higher education programmes.

International recommendations

International recommendation on the treatment of persons who cannot provide the required documentation on their education are summarised in the European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions (EAR HEI Manual), Part V, Chapter 21, page 129.

Recognition bodies can find information on international recommendations regarding the qualification of refugees without documents or with insufficient documents, and on practices of some countries in the following sources: