Legal Affairs
Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019
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h4 styletextalign centerPREAMBLEh4
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p styletextalign justifyThe States Parties to the present Conventionnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongConsideringstrongnbspthe strong ties of solidarity which unite them expressed in the cultural and educational fields by the conclusion of numerous bilateral subregional and regional agreements including the Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean of 1974nbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongMindfulstrongnbspof the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations of 1945 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 the Convention against Discrimination in Education of 1960 the Convention on Technical and Vocational Education of 1989 the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and its Protocol of 1967nbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongTaking into considerationstrongnbspthe Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers of 2017 the Recommendation on the Recognition of Studies and Qualifications in Higher Education of 1993 the Recommendation concerning the Status of HigherEducation Teaching Personnel of 1997 the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees of 1984 and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement of 1998nbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongRecallingstrongnbspthe principles established in the Buenos Aires Declaration of 2017 and in the Cochabamba Agreements of 2018 adopted during the first and second Regional Meetings of Ministers of Education of Latin America and the Caribbean held in the Argentine Republic and the Plurinational State of Bolivia respectivelynbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongRecognizingstrongnbspthe contributions made by Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO representing Latin America and the Caribbean at any of the following meetingsnbspp
ol start1 styleliststyletype loweralpha
li styletextalign justifythe first Regional Intergovernmental Consultation Meeting held in Buenos Aires Argentina from 5 to 6 April 2018nbspli
li styletextalign justifythe second Regional Intergovernmental Consultation Meeting held in Córdoba Argentina from 13 to 14 June 2018 andnbspli
li styletextalign justifythe International Conference of States for the adoption of the present Convention held in Buenos Aires Argentina from 11 to 13 July 2019nbspli
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p styletextalign justifystrongTaking into accountstrongnbspthat education is a fundamental human right and a public good and therefore that there is a need to ensure inclusive and equitable access to quality learning for all from early childhood care and education ECCE to tertiary and higher education regardless of social status gender nationality community or group or differences of any other naturenbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongReaffirmingstrongnbsptheir responsibility to promote inclusive education equitable quality of higher education and lifelong learning opportunities for allnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongRecognizingstrongnbspthat the management and social distribution of knowledge are key elements in achieving equity and inclusion and that there is a need to develop common regional spaces for higher educationp
p styletextalign justifystrongRecognizingstrongnbspthe importance of sustaining strengthening and preserving the scientific technological and professional capacities of States Parties as a key factor in sustainable development and in their sovereigntynbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongConvincedstrongnbspthat the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees in higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean based on clear criteria by ensuring greater regional mobility of students graduates teachers and university researchers is an appropriate and highly positive driver for promoting internationalization processes and accelerating the development of the region involving the training and full use of the services of a growing number of scientists technicians and specialistsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongConvincedstrongnbspthat academic mobility is an element of particular value in todays world where the exchange and shared management of knowledge are of great importance in improving the quality of highereducation institutions and the training of students teachers and researchersnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongReaffirmingstrongnbspthe principles set forth in cultural and educational cooperation agreements already concluded between them and strongstrongly determined strongto implement them at the regional level as well as to consider the application of new concepts developed in the recommendations and conclusions adopted thereon by the relevant bodies of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO particularly the promotion of lifelong learning the democratization of education assessment for quality assurance adoption and implementation of an educational policy which takes into account structural economic and technical transformations political and social change as well as cultural and environmental contextsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongRecognizingstrongnbspthe need to take into consideration the relevance of national subregional and regional quality assurance and accreditation systems for learning outcomes in higher educationnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAwarestrongnbspthat the use of information and communication technologies has an impact on educational models knowledge transfer and learning methods thus enabling innovation as well as expanding access to quality higher educationnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongConsideringstrongnbsphigher education as a public good provided by public and private institutions and strongawarestrong of the need to uphold and protect the principles of academic freedom and of the autonomy of highereducation institutionsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongBearing in mindstrongnbspthat this Convention on the Recognition of Studies Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education is an effective instrument fornbspp
ol start1 styleliststyletype loweralpha
li styletextalign justifypromoting the best use of the learning opportunities offered by highereducation systems in the regionnbspli
li styletextalign justifyensuring greater mobility of students teachers and researchersnbspli
li styletextalign justifyfacilitating the recognition of studies degrees and professional diplomas for use in accordance with national legislationnbspli
li styletextalign justifyreducing the recognition difficulties encountered by individuals who have completed highereducation studies diplomas and degreesnbspli
li styletextalign justifyreducing the recognition difficulties encountered by individuals who have completed a certified period of studies in a highereducation programmenbspli
li styletextalign justifyencouraging the retention of qualified human resources in the region and reducing brain drainnbspli
li styletextalign justifyincreasing measures to improve inclusion in higher educationnbspli
li styletextalign justifygenerating and supporting greater confidence in national highereducation evaluation and accreditation systemsnbspli
li styletextalign justifyfostering the creation and strengthening of networks to support the improvement of higher educationnbspli
li styletextalign justifypromoting the creation and strengthening of quality assurance and accreditation systems in States Partiesnbspli
li styletextalign justifyadvancing the initiatives of regional and subregional networks regarding the recognition of studies through mechanisms which ensure their qualitynbspli
li styletextalign justifyfostering and improving international cooperation and the sharing of accessible updated reliable transparent and relevant information between stakeholdersnbspli
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p styletextalign justifystrongUnderstandingstrongnbspthe internationalization of higher education as a process of development and implementation of policies and programmes for integrating international and intercultural dimensions into the missions aims and functions of higher education institutionsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongConvincedstrongnbspof the need to create and strengthen national systems of quality assurance and accreditation interlinked at the regional interregional and global levelsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongValuingstrongnbspthe importance of systems for the assessment and accreditation of higher education as well as of the readability and transparency of academic diplomas degrees and certificates issued by universities and highereducation institutions of the States Parties to this Convention in facilitating their recognitionnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongDeterminedstrongnbspto continue to develop their collaboration in this field by means of a new regional convention to strengthen and recognize the role of the national and regional bodies created for this purposenbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongTaking into accountstrongnbspthe role played by UNESCO in this area by facilitating the adoption of regional conventions on the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees in higher educationnbspp
p styletextalign justifyHave agreed as followsnbspp
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h4 styletextalign centerSECTION I DEFINITIONSh4
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle I Definitionsstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyFor the purposes of this Convention the terms below shall have the following meaningnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAccessstrong the right of candidates who have undertaken studies and obtained diplomas or degrees to apply and to be considered for admission to higher educationnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAccreditationstrong a process of assessment which is undertaken by the competent authority and which enables a highereducation programme or institution to be recognized or certified as meeting appropriate quality assurance standardsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAdmissionstrong the act of or system for allowing holders of qualifications to pursue higher education at a given institution andor in a given programmenbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongLifelong learningstrong all learning activity through formal nonformal or informal studies covering the entire lifespan and with the aim of improving knowledge skills and competencenbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongOpen and distance learningstrong ways of providing higher education through different forms of facetoface learning distance learning or nontraditional training modes using information and communications technologies ICT or a combination of the foregoingnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongPrior learningstrong the knowledge skills and competence an individual has acquired as a result of formal nonformal or informal assessed against a given set of learning outcomes or standardsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongFormal learningstrong learning derived from activities within a structured learning setting provided by an education institution authorized to deliver such learning activitiesnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongInformal learningstrong learning resulting from daily life activities related to work family or leisure or other informal activitiesnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongNonformal learningstrong learning acquired within the framework of an education or training institution not belonging to a formal education systemnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongQuality assurancestrong an ongoing and participatory process of assessing and enhancing the quality of a highereducation system institution or programme by means of acceptable quality standardsnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongCompetent recognition authoritiesstrong governmental or nongovernmental bodies with competence in higher education officially recognized in compliance with specific regulations and authorized to make decisions on the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees obtained abroadnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongQualification giving access to higher educationstrong any degree diploma or other certificate issued by the authorized entities in the country of origin attesting the completion of an education programme and giving the holder of the qualification the right to be considered for admission to higher educationnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongSecondary educationstrong the stage of studies of any kind as defined by a State Party which is immediately before higher education and which is sufficient for continuing to higher educationnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongHigher educationstrong any form of teaching and research after the secondary education level legally recognized as such including university education and various forms of tertiary education this level may be accessed by all persons with the competences required for higher education supported by a diploma degree or certificate of secondary school completion or by other mechanisms for this purpose determined by the State Party concernednbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAssessment of institutions or programmesstrong the process for establishing the level of educational quality of a highereducation institution or programmenbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAssessment of qualificationsstrong the written evaluation by a competent body of the certifications of foreign qualifications obtained by an individualnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongHighereducation institutionstrong an institution providing higher education and recognized by the competent authorities of a State Party as belonging to its highereducation system and authorized to issue diplomas degrees and certificates at the highereducation levelnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongQualifications frameworkstrong a system for the classification publication and organization of qualityassured qualifications according to a set of criterianbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAcademic mobilitystrong the movement of individuals outside their own country for the purpose of studying researching teaching or conducting other academic activitiesnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongPeriod of studystrong any component of a higher education programme which has been evaluated and documented and while not a complete programme of study in itself represents a significant acquisition of knowledge or skillp
p styletextalign justifystrongRefugeestrong any person who as a result of wellfounded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race religion nationality membership of a particular social group or political opinion is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or owing to such fear is unwilling to avail him or herself of the protection of that country or who not having a nationality and being outside the country of his or her former habitual residence as a result of such events is unable or owing to such fear is unwilling to return to itnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongDisplaced personsstrong persons or group of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict situations of generalized violence violations of human rights or natural or humanmade disasters and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State bordernbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongRecognitionstrong an administrative act by competent recognition authorities which within the regulatory framework of each State Party corroborates the official status and academic level and value of a diploma degree or certificate of a foreign education qualification or of prior learning or of partial studies the said act generates academic rights equal to those held by national citizens with similar diplomas degrees or certificates these rights refer tonbspp
ol start1 styleliststyletype loweralpha
li styletextalign justifythe continuation of studiesnbspli
li styletextalign justifyengagement in academic teaching or research activities in higher educationnbspli
li styletextalign justifythe facilitation of the recognition of professional qualifications for use in accordance with national legislationnbspli
ol
p styletextalign justifystrongLearning outcomesstrong statements of what an individual is expected to know understand and be able to demonstrate upon completion of a learning processnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongAcademic credit systemstrong a regulated way of describing an education programme by assigning credits to its components based on different parameters such as the workload of the student learning outcomes and facetoface contact hoursnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongDiploma supplementstrong a reference document describing the nature level context content and status of the studies successfully completed by the person whose name appears on the original diploma to which the supplement is annexednbspnbspp
p styletextalign justifystrongDegree certificate or diplomastrong document that constitutes official proof of the qualifications acquired by an individual after having passed a stage of training or completed full trainingnbspp
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h4 styletextalign centerSECTION II OBJECTIVES OF THE CONVENTIONh4
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle II Objectivesstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyThe States Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures to gradually achieve the objectives set forth in this Article II collaborating with other States Parties in the region through bilateral subregional or regional agreements tonbspp
p styletextalign justify1 Recognize studies diplomas and degrees in the countries of the region of Latin America and the Caribbean under the terms of this Convention and the specific regulations of each countrynbspp
p styletextalign justify2 Promote academic mobility among the States Partiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 Promote the harmonization of highereducation systems for the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees and facilitate the recognition of professional qualifications for use in accordance with national legislationnbspp
p styletextalign justify4 Harmonize wherever possible conditions for admission to authorized or recognized highereducation institutions in order to ensure equitable and inclusive access and to promote academic mobility among States Partiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify5 Ensure the joint use of available highereducation resources guided by principles of transparency quality and mutual trust by contributing to the comprehensive development of all peoples of the region through their education research innovation and globalization institutions for which purpose they shall take measures fornbspp
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li styletextalign justifyadopting through the diploma supplement or through a similar instrument similar terminology levels of achievement and classification including UNESCOs International Standard Classification of Education ISCED and its UNESCOapproved revisions in order to facilitate the implementation of a system establishing the comparability of studiesnbspli
li styletextalign justifypromoting the comparability of professional profiles to foster academic mobility and recognition among States Partiesnbspli
li styletextalign justifypromoting the comparability of certified periods of study to encourage mobility and recognition among States Partiesnbspli
li styletextalign justifyestablishing cooperation mechanisms designed to create quality assurance agencies and bodies where they do not exist to strengthen existing such agencies and bodies and to converge towards assessment and accreditation systems and criteria for highereducation institutions and programmes which may be recognized by all States Partiesnbspnbspli
li styletextalign justifyworking towards interlinking national regional and global quality assurance systemsnbspli
li styletextalign justifytaking into account prevailing national legislation and adopting in relation to the admission to further studies a dynamic approach which takes into account the knowledge skills and academic and professional capacities accredited by diplomas degrees and certificates and prior learning based on a holistic vision of educationnbspli
li styletextalign justifyestablishing the conditions for the timely recognition of studies diplomas and degrees for the purpose of enabling the pursuit of studies of academic teaching and of research considering the legislation of each State Party with reference to quality certified through national systems of assessment and accreditation in higher educationnbspli
li styletextalign justifyfacilitating the recognition of diplomas and degrees for use in the labour market in accordance with national legislationnbspli
li styletextalign justifypromoting the exchange of information and documentation on education science arts technology and innovation and on national and regional assessment and accreditation processes which may contribute to the implementation of this Conventionnbspli
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p styletextalign justify6 Encourage inclusive and equitable access to quality higher education and support lifelong learning opportunities for allnbspp
p styletextalign justify7 Promote interregional and intraregional cooperation to facilitate the recognition of studies diplomas and degreesnbspp
p styletextalign justify8 Encourage academic mobility of qualified individuals in the region which contributes to the comprehensive development of peoples and States Parties enabling a fluid exchange of knowledge and skillsnbspp
p styletextalign justify9 Create or strengthen national bodies responsible for the effective implementation of this Convention and their collaboration with peer bodies in the regionnbspp
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h4 styletextalign centerSECTION III OBLIGATIONS OF STATES PARTIESnbsph4
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III1 Obligationsstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyThe States Parties undertake tonbspp
p styletextalign justify1 Promote the defining of the terms of a diploma supplement or other similar instrument as a tool for facilitating the recognition processnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 Continue to encourage highereducation institutions to establish and enter into agreements for academic mobility meeting the necessary legal conditions and creating incentives for that purposenbspp
p styletextalign justify3 Continue to foster and promote among highereducation institutions the establishment and implementation of integrated academic programmes including research and graduate and postgraduate trainingnbspp
p styletextalign justify4 Establish where they do not exist mechanisms for assessment and accreditation which ensure the quality of higher education and strengthen existing such mechanisms as well as foster the exchange and convergence of criteria among the national agencies responsiblenbspp
p styletextalign justify5 Develop and maintain national repositories andor centres for disseminating and sharing information on highereducation systems institutions assessment and accreditation systems and criteria and opportunities for academic mobilitynbspp
p styletextalign justify6 Establish or strengthen national qualifications frameworks as tools for the recognition of studies diplomas and degreesnbspp
p styletextalign justify7 Use where they exist the accreditation processes of countries as a criterion for the recognition of studies diplomas and degreesnbspp
p styletextalign justify8 Establish in collaboration with the relevant national bodies the conditions and procedures for the timely recognition of studies diplomas and degrees for the purpose of enabling the pursuit of studies of academic teaching and of research worknbspp
p styletextalign justify9 Establish or strengthen fair and transparent mechanisms for the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees without any form of discriminationnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III2 Recognition for the Pursuit of Studiesstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 For the purpose of the pursuit of studies in higher education States Parties shall grant recognition of studies diplomas and degrees obtained in other States Parties in accordance with current national legislation This will require that such certificates relate to completed periods of studies or to periods certified under a programme of higher education and which are expressed in academic credits or the respective units of measurement used in each State Partynbspnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The recognition referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be granted without discrimination with respect to the acquisition of formal or informal learning or the method of learning whether traditional or not including open and distance education by which the studies were undertaken or the degrees or diplomas obtained subject to the quality assurance established by the competent authoritynbspp
p styletextalign justify3 The recognition of periods of study certified under a highereducation programme shall be subject to established requirements in accordance with national legislation and reasonable equivalencenbspp
p styletextalign justify4 Any diploma certificate or degree giving access to higher education in a State Party may enable access to the highereducation system in another State Party subject to assessment by the competent authoritiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify5 Each State Party whose national legislation so permits agrees to recognize the level of competency or learning outcomes if said level corresponds to equivalent studies in a highereducation programme for which recognition is requirednbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III3 Results of Recognitionstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyIn one State Party recognition that is aligned with what is expressed in the regulatory framework of that State Party and which is in respect of studies diplomas and degrees in higher education awarded in another State Party shall have similar effects as those of its own studies diplomas and degrees awarded by officially recognized higher education institutions includingnbspp
p styletextalign justify1 Access to various levels of higher education under the same conditions as those applicable to individuals who have completed studies and holders of diplomas and degrees of the State Party in which recognition is soughtnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The continuation of highereducation studies for students with studies carried out within the framework of a highereducation programme resulting in recognized credits or other units of measurement based on national legislation and the conditions established by highereducation institutionsnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 The use of an academic title subject to the laws and regulations of the State Party or of a jurisdiction thereof in which recognition is soughtnbspp
p styletextalign justify4 Access to employment opportunities subject to the laws and regulations of the State Party or of a jurisdiction thereof in which recognition is soughtnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III4 Terms of Recognitionstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 The States Parties shall take appropriate measures in accordance with their national legislation to ensure that holders of diplomas or degrees issued by a highereducation institution in another State Party shall have adequate access upon request to the appropriate national authority to an assessment of these qualifications in a timely mannernbspp
p styletextalign justify2 Decisions on recognition shall be made within a reasonable time limit specified beforehand by the competent authorities in the area of recognition and calculated from the time all necessary information in the case has been provided If recognition is withheld the reasons for the refusal to grant recognition shall be stated and information shall be given concerning possible measures the holder of the qualification may take in order to obtain recognition at a later stage If recognition is withheld or if no decision is taken the holder of the qualification shall be entitled to make an appeal within the time limit established in the national legislationnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III5 Provisions regarding Refugees and Displaced Personsstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyEach State Party shall take all reasonable measures within the framework of its highereducation system and in accordance with its national constitutional and legal provisions in the case of refugees or displaced persons to develop procedures including the recognition of prior learning to enable the fair and expeditious assessment of eligibility for access to highereducation programmes or for the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees even in the absence of the necessary documentation for recognitionnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III6 Beneficiariesstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 The benefits established in this Convention shall be applicable to all persons who have completed their studies fully or partially in public or private highereducation institutions recognized by the competent authorities in one of the States Parties regardless of their nationality and without discrimination of any kindnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The States Parties agree to take measures to facilitate the continuation of education in highereducation institutions of their respective countries for individuals who have completed studies and holders of diplomas and degrees of other States Parties which meet the requirements for admission to the appropriate highereducation programme in accordance with national legislationnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 The provisions of the present Convention shall apply to all forms of higher education as defined in Article Inbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle III7 Implementation Bodiesstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyThe States Parties undertake to achieve the objectives defined and to ensure the implementation and fulfilment of the commitments set out in this Convention through the followingnbspp
p styletextalign justify1 national bodiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 bilateral and regional bodiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 accreditation andor assessment agencies and bodiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify4 professional bodies if provided for in the corresponding national legislationnbspp
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h4 styletextalign centerSECTION IV IMPLEMENTATIONh4
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle IV1 Convention Committeestrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 A Convention Committee composed of representatives of all States Parties is hereby established It shall have a Secretariat provided by the DirectorGeneral of UNESCOnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The Convention Committee shall promote this Convention and shall oversee its implementation It shall receive and examine the periodic reports which the States Parties shall communicate to it every two years on the progress made and the obstacles encountered by them in the implementation of this Convention and it shall also receive and examine the studies carried out by its Secretariat on the said Conventionnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 The Convention Committee shall address to the States Parties recommendations of a general or individual nature through subsequent subsidiary texts to facilitate recognitionnbspp
p styletextalign justify4 The Convention Committee shall maintain links to the other UNESCO regional committees for the implementation of conventions on the recognition of studies diplomas and degrees in higher education adopted under the auspices of UNESCOnbspp
p styletextalign justify5 The Convention Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure The Committee shall meet at least once every two yearsnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle IV2 Network of National Implementation Structuresstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyA network of national implementation structures shall be established so as to provide information on mobility and recognition in order to assist with the practical implementation of this Convention by the competent authorities in the area of recognition by facilitating the exchange of recognition and mobility information among the States Partiesnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle IV3 Collaborationstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyThe States Parties shall take the necessary steps to collaborate with organizations and stakeholders at the national level including the institutions responsible for quality assurance systems with the aim of ensuring the effective implementation of this Convention They shall establish with them the agreements and forms of collaboration which they deem most appropriatenbspp
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h4 styletextalign centerSECTION V FINAL CLAUSESh4
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V1 Signature Ratification Acceptance Approval or Accessionstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 This Convention shall be open for signature and ratification acceptance approval or accession bynbspp
ol start1 styleliststyletype loweralpha
li styletextalign justifyUNESCO Member States of the Latin America and Caribbean Region as defined in the emDefinition of regions with a view to the execution by the Organization of regional activitiesem adopted by the General Conference of UNESCOnbspli
li styletextalign justifyother UNESCO Member States belonging to the other regions of the world andnbspli
li styletextalign justifythe Holy Seenbspli
ol
p styletextalign justify2 The consent to be bound by this Convention may be expressed by one of the following meansnbspp
ol start1 styleliststyletype loweralpha
li styletextalign justifya signature without reservation as to ratification acceptance approval or accessionnbspli
li styletextalign justifya signature subject to ratification acceptance approval or accession followed by ratification acceptance approval or accession ornbspli
li styletextalign justifythe deposit of an instrument of ratification acceptance approval or accessionnbspli
ol
p styletextalign justify3 The instruments of ratification acceptance approval or accession shall be deposited with the DirectorGeneral of UNESCOnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V2 Entry into Forcestrongh5
p styletextalign justifyThis Convention shall enter into force one month after the date on which four 4 UNESCO Member States of the Latin America and Caribbean Region have consented to be bound by the Convention by any of the means specified in Article V12 It shall enter into force with respect to any other States Parties one 1 month after they have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention by any of the means specified in Article V12p
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V3 Relationship to Other Instrumentsstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 This Convention shall not affect in any way other international agreements or national regulations in force in the States Parties which grant greater advantages than those granted by this Conventionnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The States Parties to the present Convention which are also Contracting States to the 1974 Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean hereinafter referred to as the Convention of 1974nbspp
ol start1 styleliststyletype loweralpha
li styletextalign justifyshall apply the provisions of the present Convention in their mutual relationsnbspli
li styletextalign justifyshall continue to apply the Convention of 1974 in their relations with any other Contracting State to the Convention of 1974 which is not a State Party to the present Conventionnbspli
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p styletextalign justify3 The States Parties to the present Convention undertake to abstain from becoming Parties to the Convention of 1974 in the event that they are not already Contracting States to that Conventionnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V4 Withdrawalstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 A State Party may withdraw from this Conventionnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The withdrawal shall be notified by an instrument in writing deposited with the DirectorGeneral of UNESCOnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 The withdrawal shall take effect twelve 12 months after the instrument of withdrawal is received by the DirectorGeneral of UNESCO It shall have no retroactive effects nor shall it affect the recognition of studies certificates diplomas degrees or other qualifications which has taken place in accordance with the provisions of the Convention previouslynbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V5 Amendmentsstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 Any State Party may propose amendments to modify this Conventionnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 Proposed amendments to this Convention shall be submitted in writing to the DirectorGeneral of UNESCO who shall transmit them to the States Parties within thirty 30 days of receipt thereofnbspp
p styletextalign justify3 The Convention Committee shall examine these proposals within a period of twelve 12 months following notification of the States Partiesnbspp
p styletextalign justify4 Amendments shall be adopted by the Convention Committee by a twothirds majority of the States Parties present and votingnbspp
p styletextalign justify5 Any amendment so adopted shall be incorporated into a Protocol to this Convention The Protocol shall specify the modalities for its entry into force which in any event shall require the expression of consent by the States Parties to be bound by itnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V6 Depositary Functionsstrongh5
p styletextalign justify1 The DirectorGeneral of UNESCO shall be the depositary of this Conventionnbspp
p styletextalign justify2 The DirectorGeneral of UNESCO shall inform the States Parties and other Member States of UNESCO of the deposit of the instruments of ratification acceptance approval or accession referred to in article V12 and the withdrawals referred to in article V4nbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V7 Registrationstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyIn conformity with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations this Convention shall be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations at the request of the DirectorGeneral of UNESCOnbspp
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h5 styletextalign centerstrongArticle V8 Authentic textsstrongh5
p styletextalign justifyThis Convention has been drawn up in English French and Spanish all three texts being equally authenticnbspp
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p styletextalign justifyIN FAITH WHEREOF the undersigned representatives being duly authorized thereto have signed this Conventionnbspp
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p styletextalign justifyDone at Buenos Aires this thirteenth day of July 2019 in the English French and Spanish languages the three texts being equally authoritative the original version shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization A certified copy shall be sent to all States referred to in Article V1 and to the Secretariat of the United Nationsp
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Argentina -