UK NARIC CEO Dr Cloud Bai-Yun is in Athens 3 and 4 November for a key preparatory meeting that will see the 2017 launch of a pilot project for new recognition processes for qualifications held by refugees and those in refugee situations.

The project will pilot processes developed by UK NARIC and its Norwegian counterpart, NOKUT, in a draft scheme - the 'European Qualifications Passport for Refugees'.

Involved in the pilot, in addition to the UK and Norway (through UK NARIC and NOKUT) are: Greece, through the relevant Ministries and the Hellenic NARIC, DOATAP; Italy, through CIMEA - NARIC Italia; and the Council of Europe. The Council and the Greek government organised and supported the Athens initiation meeting.

Education and employment are key to integration in societies; essential to this process is the recognition of qualification and skills.

Europe has seen a substantial increase in the number of refugees since 2015. Diverse responses were also seen in Europe. Varying actions are taken at national and local levels, including language education and programmes for access to education.

In October 2015 UK NARIC, based on its past experience in supporting Balkan refugee integration needs, developed the European qualifications passport for refugees in conjunction with NOKUT. The scheme has already been implemented in Norway.

It is understood that the current refugee situation is a shared challenge Europe is facing and that coordinated measures can benefit refugees and societies at much greater scale, assisting and speeding successful integration.

To this end, the Athens initiation meeting is a positive move forward with the EQP for refugees scheme. Detailed discussions and planning sessions involving all the project partners take place today (3 November) and tomorrow.