European Qualification Passport for Refugees: the panel discussion in UniTo

Monday, December 12th, 2022 started the first in presence post-COVID evaluation session of EQPR - European Qualification Passport for Refugees at the Aula  Multifunzione of the Cavallerizza Reale of Turin. The panel discussion was organized as part of the joint project between the European Union and the Council of Europe: "Support for an efficient national mechanism for the recognition of refugee qualifications". The action is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support of the European Commission

In collaboration with the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the action will support the Italian authorities in improving the existing processes for the recognition of refugees’ qualifications in the public sectors, in the academic a non-academic world. Through targeted activities, this technical support will help improve the competence of public administration bodies to process applications for recognition of refugees’ qualifications according to the European Qualification Passport for Refugees (EQPR) methodology and to improve the pathways for recognition of refugees’ qualifications in regulated professions.

The aim of the panel discussion is to debate the recognition of qualifications as a tool for integrating refugees into higher education and the labor market. The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) was created in 2017 by the Council of Europe with the aim of helping Member States to face the challenges brought by the refugee crisis and to support them restoring their lives in the host countries, giving them the opportunity to have their qualifications assessed even in the case of insufficient or missing documentation. The EQPR helps refugees and asylum seekers continue their studies or to find a job, but also eliminate unnecessary and repeated assessments of the same qualifications in other European countries when the EQPR holder moves.

The panel discussion was organized by the European Commission (DG REFORM), the Council of Europe (Education Department), the Ministry of University and Research and CIMEA, in collaboration with Agenzia Piemonte Lavoro, the University of Turin and UNHCR.

From December 13th till December 16th, 2022, 50 refugees and asylum seekers are receiving the assessment of their qualifications during evaluation sessions.