UNESCO: Global Surge in Higher Education Highlights Need for Qualification Recognition

UNESCO: Global Surge in Higher Education Highlights Need for Qualification Recognition
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Global enrolment in higher education reached a record 264 million students, up 25 million since 2020, according to new UNESCO data. This growth reflects the diversification of learning pathways, including online degrees, hybrid formats, and micro-credentials. Academic mobility has also expanded, with 6.9 million students studying abroad—triple the number in 2000.

Despite the surge, disparities remain. Sub-Saharan Africa’s enrolment rate is just 9%, compared to the global average of 43%. Women now outnumber men globally in higher education, with 113 women per 100 men in 2023. UNESCO underscores the importance of fair recognition of qualifications to support this mobility.

Its Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, the first legally binding UN treaty in this area, promotes shared standards and quality assurance. Since taking effect in March 2023, 38 countries have ratified the Convention, representing half of global tertiary enrolments and 72% of internationally mobile students.

UNESCO also highlights the Convention’s role in supporting refugee students through tools like the UNESCO Qualifications Passport. With only 7% of refugees accessing higher education, recognition mechanisms are vital for inclusion and opportunity.