Norway: a wake-up call for greater
cooperation on foreign qualification recognition
Norway explores extending recognition of foreign vocational qualifications within the ENIC-NARIC networks.
The Norwegian ENIC-NARIC centre is responsible for responding to the demand for recognition of foreign qualifications. In 2016 and 2019, it added recognition services for vocational qualifications at EQF levels 4 and 5 to meet the needs of immigrants for formal recognition in the Norwegian labour market. The government wants to reduce work-related crime and social dumping and is proposing new legislation that will place stricter requirements on employers. The first proposals relate to the construction and cleaning sectors, which rely on foreign workers in Norway. These proposals include requiring a minimum number of qualified workers on permanent contracts when companies work for the State. This would lead to increased demand for recognition certificates.
ENIC-NARIC networks
The ENIC-NARIC networks include recognition and information centres in 55 countries in Europe and beyond. They support the recognition of foreign qualifications within national education systems. Initially focused on higher education qualifications, the networks have expanded to include the recognition of foreign vocational qualifications in response to increased cross-border mobility of workers.
The BRAVO project
The Norwegian ENIC-NARIC centre is leading the 2-year project Bridging a European network for recognition of vocational qualifications (BRAVO), that is working to develop NARIC into a network for the recognition of vocational qualifications. It aims to map knowledge on how vocational qualifications are currently assessed and recognised in Europe and to enable the exchange of best practices. Jointly funded with Erasmus+, BRAVO brings together partners from the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills in Norway, the Swedish Council for Higher Education, and the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education in Lithuania.
BRAVO partners identified relevant stakeholders and conducted a survey on the recognition practices of ENIC-NARIC member organisations to help cooperation in offering services for foreign vocational qualifications. The survey also examined how ENIC-NARIC members use EU tools such as the EQF and Europass certificate supplements, and their views on the Lisbon Recognition Convention for vocational qualifications.