Lithuania: VET institutions recognise professional qualifications acquired abroad

Challenges and legal response

Recognition of professional qualifications is one of the rights and guarantees of the EU citizens, and a component of the principle of free movement of persons. Lithuania did not have a service for academic recognition of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications issued by foreign and international VET institutions.

With the resolution ‘On the approval of the description of the procedure for academic recognition of education and qualifications acquired according to educational programmes of foreign countries and international organisations’, the system of academic recognition now covers not only qualifications from general and combined (general and VET) education programmes that grant access to higher education, but also VET qualifications obtained through VET programmes. This development was largely driven by the increasing mobility of the holders of foreign qualifications, as well as by the aim to respond to the strategic European priority of removing obstacles to the free movement of persons and services across Member States.

The aim of academic recognition of non-national VET qualifications is to enable international VET qualification holders to continue their VET studies in the country, enter the Lithuanian labour market, or pursue other activities that require a VET qualification at the appropriate level. This recognition service is now available to citizens of Lithuania, other EU countries, and third countries.

Following the recent legislative amendments, holders of foreign or international VET qualifications can pursue professional activities or enrol in VET programmes/modules in Lithuania after their qualifications have been recognised and aligned with a corresponding level of the Lithuanian qualifications framework (LTQF). Their qualifications can now be recognised as equivalent to corresponding qualifications awarded in Lithuania, or to the corresponding level of the LTQF, as long as there is no substantial difference between the general requirements of the foreign or international qualifications and those of the Lithuanian education system.

Stakeholder roles in the recognition procedures

Monitoring the academic recognition of general and VET qualifications is carried out by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. The principal institution, responsible for recognising academic qualifications, is the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC), which represents Lithuania within the European Network of National Information Centres (ENIC) and the National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) of the European Union (ENIC/NARIC Centre for Lithuania). It collects and provides information on education systems of foreign countries. Prior to the recent legal amendment, the SKVC provided consultations about foreign qualifications in VET (516 consultations provided in 2023), which signals increased interest and demand for such services.

After the amendment, VET institutions acquired the right to carry out academic recognition and validation of foreign and international qualifications for the purpose of continuation of learning according to VET programmes. This means that a Lithuanian returnee or migrant with a foreign VET qualification can now apply to a VET institution in Lithuania, and the institution can recognise their prior learning and qualifications for entry into a relevant VET programme. This expansion allows for more inclusive recognition of a wider range of educational backgrounds, not just those that lead to higher education.

To ensure quality assurance of the VET processes, internal quality systems in all VET institutions must now also cover recognition and validation procedures. As the field of academic recognition and validation of qualifications has become an important mandate for the VET institutions, this will also be evaluated during their external assessments.

Read more

Government of the Republic of Lithuania. (2024). Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 212 „Dėl užsienio valstybių ir tarptautinių organizacijų švietimo programomis įgyto išsilavinimo ir kvalifikacijų akademinio pripažinimo tvarkos aprašo patvirtinimo“  [Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No. 212 ‘On the Approval of the Description of the Procedure for Academic Recognition of Education and Qualifications Acquired According to Educational Programmes of Foreign Countries and International Organisations’] (in Lithuanian).