​The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education or ‘Tokyo Convention’  commenced on 1 February 2018 after being ratified by Australia, China, New Zealand, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The Tokyo Convention provides the region with a dedicated forum for cooperation in making sure qualifications are recognised as fully and widely as possible. This will support Australian higher education graduates, including international graduates, to access greater study and work opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.

Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham and Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Karen Andrews MP welcomed the Tokyo Convention in a media release noting the benefits of greater recognition for Australian higher education graduates and Australian higher education providers.
 
The Tokyo Convention’s commencement also represents a significant contribution to the implementation of the National Strategy for International Education 2025, which commits to increasing mobility through improved qualifications recognition practices and to promote Australian qualifications as world-class.
 
The recognition of Australian qualifications is critical to facilitating student, academic, education provider and labour mobility, and underpins the success of Australia’s international education sector.

Minister Birmingham urged other countries in the region to sign on to the Tokyo Convention to facilitate greater mobility in the Asia-Pacific.