Manifesto for the Fair Homologation of Foreign Higher Education Qualifications in Spain
United since 2023, Homologación Justa Ya has gathered more than 2000 SPANISH, EUROPEAN & NON EUROPEAN PROFESSIONALS to demand fair and timely recognition of FOREIGN DEGREES in Spain
We condemn:
1. EXCESSIVE DELAYS in the resolution of requests, which far exceed the 6-month limit stated in Spanish Law and even further the EU recommendation of 2 months.
2. LACK OF TRANSPARENCY and INADEQUATE COMMUNICATION when requests are followed up.
3. LACK OF CLARITY and EXCESSIVE REQUIREMENTS in comparison to other European countries.
4. Obvious administrative MISTAKES and INCONSISTENCIES neither admitted nor amended.
5. SHORTFALLS IN REGULATION that cause ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATIONS counter to the Spanish Constitution as well as European and international agreements.
We demand:
1. An EMERGENCY PLAN with provision of human and material resources to finally match the volume of requests, so that all presently pending requests may be processed within 3 months from its implementation and any further requests in maximum 6 months.
2. A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BOTH PERSONALIZED AND BIDIRECTIONAL between the agent directly in charge of an application and the applicant, including regularly updated real-time visibility on the expected resolution time.
3. EXPLICIT CLARIFICATION OF ALL DETAILED IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROCESSING RULES in the presently applicable legal regulation.
4. IMPROVED INITIAL TRAINING of agents assigned to the processing of requests.
CONTINUITY BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE STEPS IN PROCESSES.
TRULY IMPARTIAL AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS of administrative appeals.
5. LEGISLATIVE REFORM of the existing regulation, including the END OF THE INDISCRIMINATE EXCLUSION OF ANY PREVIOUSLY PROCESSED DEGREE prescribed in both Real Decreto 967/2014 and Real Decreto 889/2022, The CHRONOLOGICAL RESOLUTION OF REQUESTS ACCORDING TO THE DATE OF THE FIRST PLACED REQUEST.
The SIMPLIFICATION of the existing processes in compliance with EU recommendations.
We commit to:
1. Support graduates of any nationality and profession who seek the recognition of their degree in Spain through a MUTUAL SUPPORT NETWORK.
2. Carry out ACTIVITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS until such time that the Spanish processing system reach an appropriate level of functionality in relation to foreign degree homologation and equivalence requests.
3. FAITHFULLY CONTRIBUTE to a fairer and more prosperous society in the practice of our professions.
We call to:
The Spanish Ministry for Universities: urgently establish the required legislation and organizational initiatives.
The Spanish Ministry for Equality: be a proactive force regarding discriminations recognised for years by the Spanish Ombudsman.
All good wills within civil society, associations, non-governmental organizations, political parties, trade unions, professional organizations and any other groups or individuals committed to the achievement of the TRUE RULE OF LAW: support us.
The international institutions entrusted with the supervision and homogenization of foreign degree recognition processes, specifically the Co-Secretaries of the ENIC-NARIC collaborating network within the European Commission, within the Council of Europe and within UNESCO : utilise your advisory and monitorial role to ensure Spanish fulfilment o international commitments.
In Valencia, 20 January 2024