Report findings on mutual recognition encouraging, says NFER

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has published a new report on the mutual recognition of teaching qualifications (1 Dec 2006).

The report was jointly commissioned by the Teaching Councils of England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, together with the relevant UK and Irish government departments. It shows a considerable convergence in terms of what is required of teacher trainees and states that areas of divergence are on a more cosmetic level.

The report suggests that "…standardisation of the ways that the standards are presented, entry requirements and quality assurance mechanisms would reduce system difference and encourage swifter mutual recognition of teaching qualifications in the five countries."

Under the European Directive on a general system for the recognition of higher education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years’ duration (89/48/EEC as amended by 2001/19/EC), a professional qualification awarded in one EEA country must be recognised in another.

The findings of the independent research report are encouraging, given the mobility of European labour and the undoubted impact that the expansion of the European Union will have over the next few years on teacher mobility.

Cross-nation research into mutual recognition of teaching qualifications (PDF, 506KB)