Bishkek, Oct. 21, 2026 /Kabar/. Today, October 21, the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation hosted meeting of the national working group tasked with preparing Kyrgyzstan for accession to the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (UNESCO Tokyo Convention).
According to the ministry, the primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the findings of a clause-by-clause analysis of the Convention’s provisions in relation to Kyrgyzstani legislation, to identify key legal and institutional issues, and to coordinate the next steps toward accession.
As part of this process, the national working group with the participation of international experts examined the provisions of the Tokyo Convention, the existing regulatory framework of the Kyrgyz Republic, and current mechanisms for recognizing foreign qualifications and periods of study. Based on this analysis, proposals were developed to improve national regulations and recognition practices.
During the meeting, particular attention was paid to delineating the mandates of competent state authorities, refining procedures for the recognition of foreign qualifications, ensuring the transparency of decisions, and protecting the rights of applicants.
Specific focus was on the organizational and legal aspects of Kyrgyzstan’s accession process, including coordination between the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant state bodies. "Accession to the Tokyo Convention is intended to foster academic mobility, enhance the transparency and fairness of qualification recognition procedures, and strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s international cooperation in the field of higher education," the statement reads.
The Tokyo Convention, adopted in 2011 under the auspices of UNESCO, serves as a key international legal instrument designed to facilitate the recognition of higher education qualifications among states in the Asia-Pacific region.
It is noted that preparatory work is being carried out in collaboration with UNESCO, with the aim of establishing the legal and institutional framework necessary for the effective implementation of the Convention’s provisions following the Kyrgyz Republic’s accession.
