The NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) is the national information centre especially geared to provide information on issues related to the recognition of foreign qualifications. The centre is part of the ENIC/NARIC network which comprises more than 54 countries and is composed of the information centres of the EU Member States and EEA (European Economic Area) countries as well as of the centres of the Sates belonging to the Council of Europe and UNESCO (ENIC). These information centres were designated by the Ministries of Education in the respective countries although the status and the scope of activities of individual NARICs may differ.
The NARIC Network was an initiative of the European Commission and was created in 1984 aiming at fostering the exchange of information on questions related to the recognition of qualifications.
The ENIC Network was an initiative of the Council of Europe and UNESCO and is made up of the national information centres of the States party to the European Cultural Convention or the UNESCO European Region which includes, among others, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The ENIC centres were set up by the national authorities of the respective countries whose mission and objectives are quite similar to those of the NARIC centres.
The Portuguese NARIC was created in 1986 under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and is presently integrated in the General Directorate for Higher Education. It provides information to higher education institutions, national and foreign students and graduates, professionals, national and international organizations, etc. Within this scope the centre is also responsible for the information on the register and academic recognition of higher education qualifications, pursuit of studies at national and foreign higher education institutions, the issue of statements either about the level of the education and training attended abroad and /or the statute of the respective institutions with the aim at continuing studies in Portugal. The Portuguese NARIC also promotes and follows up the implementation of the Lisbon Recognition Convention and provides information on the national and European Union legislation in force concerning professional recognition of qualifications under the scope of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of qualifications.
Contact the Portuguese NARIC Centre.
