Record number of higher education students highlights global need for recognition of qualifications

The number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide reached a record 264 million, a surge of 25 million since 2020 and more than double the total in 2000, according to new UNESCO data.

This rapid expansion reflects a global broadening of higher education pathways, including online degrees, hybrid courses, and micro-credentials shift, complementing traditional models and reshaping how knowledge is delivered and assessed. Academic mobility is also on the rise, with 6.9 million students studying away from their home country, a number that has tripled since 2000. 

While global enrolment has surged — with women now outnumbering men in higher education globally (113 women per 100 men in 2023) — large disparities persist. Sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, has a gross enrollment ratio of just 9% compared to the global average of 43%. 

The future of higher education is global, digital and mobile. With millions more people pursuing degrees and alternative credentials, international cooperation on qualification recognition is more critical than ever to support mobility and safeguard trust in qualifications.

Stefania Giannini, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education

UNESCO’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education is the first legally binding global UN treaty on higher education. It not only establishes fair and transparent recognition but also sets universal standards for quality assurance to ensure trust and confidence in higher education qualifications worldwide.

Since entering into force in March 2023, the number of countries having ratified has nearly doubled, up to 38 States Parties. The Convention establishes shared principles to facilitate the recognition of qualifications, including partial studies and prior learning, while upholding academic integrity and quality. The Global Convention on Higher Education works closely with the five regional conventionswhich also strive to enhance cooperation between countries within regions. 

Between them, the 38 States Parties are home to some 2 millionstudents studying outside their home countries, or 29% of the world’s estimated 6.9 million mobile students. When including the nearly 100 States Parties to all the Conventions – both global and regional – this rises to 5 million or 72% of the global total of internationally mobile students. In total, these States Parties include 131 million students, or 50% of global tertiary enrolment. 

Among the signatories of the Global Convention, France welcomed over 260,000 students in 2022, the United Kingdom over 670,000 students and Australia over 380,000 international students. Countries in East Asia and the Pacific are also increasingly hosting international students, with Japan welcoming just under 200,000 and the Republic of Korea, the Global Convention’s most recent State Party, growing steadily to 123,000 students.

Recognition that changes lives

The Global Convention is a game changer for students. Personal stories, such as those of Suchi Mazumdar, Vielky Àlvarez, and Christelle Mbonekube Musafiri, show how the Global Convention is unlocking new opportunities to explore academic pathways across borders.

Vielky and Suchi were able to pursue their studies without barriers in the United Kingdom and Estonia - both countries being signatories to the Global Convention on Higher Education. “Applying to the University of Tartu in Estonia was so easy, it was like applying to a university back home” explained Vielky “having the opportunity to pursue this master has changed my life”. 

Equally for Suchi, “My degree was very well received, and was recognized by the universities. I did not have to do any bridge of course before I pursued my masters. I felt welcomed and integrated into this community.”

“Education is everyone’s right,” said Suchi, who pursued a master's in biomedical sciences at the University of Glasgow. Coming from India, she sought to further her opportunities and study in this cutting-edge field. Similarly, Vielky, from the Dominican Republic, pursued a degree in information technology law in Estonia to gain global legal perspectives. “My plan is to go back home in order to help and to share the knowledge I acquired,” she said.

Recognition of the qualifications of refugees

UNESCO’s Global Convention also aims to support the millions of refugees striving to rebuild their lives despite displacement. For many, having the opportunity to continue their studies is still out of reach – only 7% of refugees globally have access to higher education. 

Christelle, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo living in Uganda, initially struggled to have her medical qualifications recognized. It was only through Uganda’s adoption of the UNESCO Qualifications Passport (UQP), a key tool in support of the recognition of refugees’ prior studies, that she found a pathway forward. “The UQP has helped me to achieve my dreams and goals,” she shared, “and to integrate further into my community through my work.”

Their experiences underline a central message: recognition is not merely about academic access - it is a catalyst for breaking down borders, social integration, and employability.

In addition to the Conventions, other UNESCO flagship initiatives include Campus Africa, which aims to provide a rapidly growing youth population with flexible and responsive higher education that prepares them for changing job markets, and empowers them to create solutions for their communities. UNESCO is also working to enhance the capacity of higher education institutions in Africa to respond to skills needs for national development. UNESCO’s International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) hosts the Higher Education Policy Observatory which provides access to information on higher education systems and policies implemented around the world, and comparison between countries. UNESCO is also preparing an AI competency framework for higher education.

Looking ahead: shaping the future of fair recognition

The second session of the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education is taking place on 24 and 25 June 2025 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. By adopting the work programme for 2025-2027 and setting the agenda of activities for the next two years, States Parties will strengthen their commitment to the future of the Convention and continue the work to advance international mobility in higher education and ensure fair and equitable opportunities for individuals pursuing higher education or work opportunities worldwide. 

This article is sourced directly from the official UNESCO website. For more information, visit https://www.unesco.org/en.