Kazakhstan has taken a strategic step in the global education landscape. The country has ratified the Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific - known as the Tokyo Convention, DKNews.kz reports.
UNESCO welcomed the decision, noting that it confirms Kazakhstan’s leadership in promoting fair recognition of qualifications and strengthening regional academic cooperation across Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Why This Matters
Ratifying the Convention is more than a formal procedure - it is a systemic reform measure. The document ensures that diplomas and qualifications are assessed based on learning outcomes rather than administrative barriers.
Joining the Tokyo Convention enhances mutual trust among higher education systems, expands academic mobility for students and faculty, and contributes to the development of a more integrated regional education space.
In practical terms, Kazakhstan is reinforcing its commitment to aligning its higher education system with international standards and ensuring transparent and reliable qualification recognition procedures.
A Strategic Move Toward Educational Leadership
The ratification is closely linked to Kazakhstan’s broader strategic goal of positioning itself as a regional education hub in Central Asia. This priority was outlined by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his article “The Renaissance of Central Asia: Toward Sustainable Development and Prosperity” published on August 8, 2024.
The move strengthens international confidence in Kazakhstan’s national qualifications framework and recognition mechanisms.
Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek emphasized the practical importance of the decision:
“For Kazakhstan, this is an important and practical step. The Convention simplifies the mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications, expanding access for our graduates to educational and professional opportunities in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, while also contributing to attracting international students to Kazakhstani universities. This strengthens the international competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s higher education system, expands academic mobility, and enhances the country’s positioning as an attractive regional educational center. In the context of the global knowledge economy, such decisions directly contribute to the development of human capital and the country’s long-term growth.”
What Is the Tokyo Convention
Adopted in 2011 and entering into force in 2018, the Tokyo Convention modernized the regional framework for the recognition of qualifications. It enshrines principles of transparency, quality assurance, information exchange, and fairness.
The Convention reflects contemporary trends in cross-border education and international labor mobility. Member states commit to evaluating qualifications based on learning outcomes rather than procedural or administrative constraints.
UNESCO’s Ongoing Support
UNESCO has worked closely with Kazakhstan for many years to strengthen national capacity in qualification recognition through technical consultations and experience sharing.
Amir Piric, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, stated:
“UNESCO congratulates Kazakhstan as the first country in Central Asia to ratify the Tokyo Convention, demonstrating the country’s commitment to inclusive and fair recognition of qualifications, international standards in higher education, and making a significant contribution to the implementation of its strategy to develop Kazakhstan as a regional higher education hub.”
UNESCO will continue to support Kazakhstan in effectively implementing the Convention through policy dialogue, capacity building, and cooperation with national recognition authorities.
A Global Dimension
Kazakhstan’s ratification of the Tokyo Convention complements its commitment to joining the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, which operates in synergy with UNESCO’s regional recognition conventions.
Together, these international legal instruments form a coherent global framework that promotes academic and professional mobility, supports economic integration, and enhances transparency in higher education systems worldwide.
Kazakhstan will officially become a State Party to the Tokyo Convention three months after depositing its instrument of ratification with UNESCO.
The ratification sends a strong signal of Kazakhstan’s commitment to openness, international cooperation, and shared responsibility in higher education. In an increasingly competitive global knowledge economy, such decisions play a critical role in strengthening human capital and shaping the country’s long-term development trajectory.
