Law
Legal Frameworks for Cross-Border Online Degree Recognition
An analysis of accreditation reciprocity and the legal mechanisms that determine how online degrees are recognized across jurisdictions. We compare regional frameworks and propose criteria for transparent, portable recognition.
As online degrees cross borders, recognition becomes a legal as much as an academic question. We compare how major jurisdictions evaluate foreign and online qualifications.
Mechanisms of recognition #
We distinguish between automatic recognition under regional conventions and case-by-case evaluation, and analyze the evidentiary burden each places on graduates.
Toward portable recognition #
We propose transparency criteria — published outcomes, verifiable accreditation, and standardized credential metadata — that make online degrees more portable across systems.
Keywords
References
- UNESCO (2019). Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.
- Council of Europe (1997). Lisbon Recognition Convention.
- Knight, J. (2019). The Internationalization of Higher Education. Journal of Studies in International Education.