ENICNARIC

ENIC-NARIC, short for the European Network of Information Centres and National Academic Recognition Information Centres, is a pan-European network of national information centers that provide authoritative information on the recognition of foreign qualifications and the comparability of education systems. It aims to facilitate mobility and transparency in higher education and employment by offering guidance on recognition procedures, admission requirements, and credential verification.

The network has its roots in the ENIC initiative established by the Council of Europe and UNESCO in the 1990s and later expanded to include the national centers known as NARICs. In the early 2000s, the ENIC and NARIC networks were integrated into the ENIC-NARIC framework to reflect their shared mandate under the Lisbon Recognition Convention of 1997, which provides a common framework for recognizing qualifications in the European region. The network operates with support from the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and, for European Union matters, the European Commission.

Member centers function as official points of contact for recognition inquiries within their respective countries. They advise students, graduates, higher education institutions, employers, and public authorities on recognition procedures, issue statements of comparability or recognition when appropriate, and maintain current information about national education systems, qualification frameworks, and admission criteria. The ENIC-NARIC network also develops harmonized guidelines, publishes practical resources, and hosts multilingual information portals to aid decision-makers and applicants.

Overall, ENIC-NARIC serves as a core reference for cross-border recognition of qualifications in Europe, supporting international mobility and the transparency of education systems across participating countries.