The Norwegian ENIC-NARIC centre
The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills is the responsible body for information on recognition of foreign education and is the Norwegian ENIC-NARIC office. In this article, you will find information about our duties as an ENIC-NARIC centre.
Recently edited : 28. March 2025What is ENIC-NARIC?
ENIC and NARIC are networks of national offices that provide information on the recognition of foreign education and education systems in different countries.
*ENIC: European Network of Information Centres in the European Region.
*NARIC: National Academic Recognition Information Centres in the European Union.
These European networks serve as key cooperation forums for national bodies responsible for recognizing foreign higher education within their respective countries and providing information about the Lisbon Recognition Convention. The networks hold annual meetings and also collaborate on specific cases.
What does an ENIC-NARIC office do?
An ENIC-NARIC office is responsible for providing information on relevant topics and challenges related to academic mobility and the recognition of foreign qualifications for both regulated and non-regulated professions.
The networks work closely together, and the different centers are expected to provide or refer to up-to-date information from the various bodies responsible for recognizing studies and qualifications in their respective member countries.
As an ENIC-NARIC office, HK-dir can provide valuable information about education systems, accredited institutions, and contact details for authorities in the network countries. You can also use our country database on our website, where you will find information about education systems and how qualifications from different countries are recognized in Norway.
Why have an ENIC-NARIC office?
The European Network of Information Centres (ENIC) was established by the Council of Europe and UNESCO in connection with the implementation of the Lisbon Recognition Convention, with the aim of developing policies and practices for the recognition of qualifications. The National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) were established as an initiative of the European Commission. The purpose is to facilitate mobility.
The Lisbon Recognition Convention is an agreement between UNESCO and Council of Europe member countries designed to promote greater academic mobility across borders.
In 2020, the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education was introduced to further cement this mission. This is the United Nations' first global treaty on higher education.
Who benefits from this?
As an ENIC-NARIC office, HK-dir provides guidance to:
- Individuals seeking employment or education in Norway or other countries linked to the Lisbon Recognition Convention. We provide information and guidance on recognition schemes and admission requirements.
- Employers who want to learn more about foreign qualifications, such as a specific country's education system, whether a position requires formal recognition (regulated or non-regulated professions), and which authority is responsible for recognizing foreign qualifications.
- Educational institutions and other organizations needing information on other countries' recognition procedures and education systems, qualification frameworks (level placement), accredited institutions, grading scales, and more.
- Caseworkers responsible for assessing foreign qualifications.
ENIC-NARIC Portal
This portal is a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO. It has been established as a tool to assist the ENIC-NARIC networks in carrying out their mandated tasks.