Qualification recognition support for refugees at Gloucestershire (UK) event
UK ENIC colleagues provided face-to-face support at a Resettlement Jobs Fair in Gloucestershire, UK, earlier this month.
Building Futures was organised by Gloucestershire County Council, supporting refugees and asylum seekers from Ukraine and other countries. It also attracted many other people living locally who wanted to find out more about potential routes into employment.
Alina Davodova, UK ENIC’s Senior Information Officer, and Nada El-Rahil, Information Officer, were on hand to explain how we can support people with qualification recognition, and to provide advice to those with missing or partial documentation.
Alina said: ‘We spoke to around 50 people from all over the world, as well as various organisations, who were interested in using our services. It was great to connect with so many people and, once again, to show what support we can offer to refugees and asylum-seekers.'
Employers, training providers, clubs, support groups and wellbeing services were also among those offering advice to visitors at the event. There were also qualification translators, adult education teams and language interpreters from the council, as well representatives from the NHS and the Department for Work & Pensions.
Members seeking guidance on recognition of refugee qualifications - for example in respect of applicants who have incomplete documentation - can email us on [email protected]. Members with access to our online Member Enquiry Service can use that facility to get advice on a refugee’s overseas qualifications.
UK ENIC is able to assess qualifications, obtained outside of the UK, which are nationally recognised in the country of origin at the time of award, via our Statement of Comparability service. This includes school, vocational and higher education awards.
We also offer advice and resources to organisations dealing with refugees - admitting institutions, refugee welfare organisations, local authorities etc. The evaluation and verification of qualifications and skills of refugees presents particular challenges, especially missing or incomplete documentation.
UK ENIC has played a leading role in international initiatives on refugee recognition, such as the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR). We also delivered the year-long ‘Syrians in Jordan’ project, which engaged with over 1,000 refugees. The SIJ scheme provided recognition statements containing information about the levels of qualifications and skills of Syrian refugees living in Jordan, and gave guidance on work and study opportunities available.
This work has provided insights and experience in how recognition in cases of partial or missing documentation can be practically achieved and managed.