More than 3,500 foreign universities from 114 countries are included in the list of recognized educational institutions in Greece, which was published a few days ago and is expected to be updated today by the decision of the board of directors of the Interdisciplinary Organization for the Recognition of Academic Titles and Knowledge. (DOATAP).

At the same time, everyone who is interested in the recognition in our country of a university diploma included in the list will receive a response within a maximum of two months. DOATAP is gearing up for a fresh start next Monday when its services, with a full quorum after the summer break, will implement a new law that automates degree recognition procedures.

Few graduates of foreign universities can talk about their suffering until… they found a way out with DICATSA (the body was replaced by DOATAP in 2005), and then with DOATAP. Some graduated from famous foreign universities, and in Greece they had to overcome the excesses and distortions of the bureaucratic system.

Today, DOATAP President Orestis Kalogirou, after an intense training marathon for him and his staff, confidently tells K that it will only take one week from November to respond to a request for academic recognition of a candidate. a foreign master’s degree and a Ph.D. degree, while for a basic degree, the maximum term will be two months.

“From July 21, 2022, the new legislative framework of Law 4957/2022 is in force. The transition is a complex process that requires an adaptation period of several months,” notes Mr. Kalogiru.

The process is now completed quickly as regards the academic recognition of the degree, which is necessary either to continue studies at a university, or to be hired by a university or research center, or to participate in a research program, according to Law 4957/2022. the application for recognition of academic equivalence in DOATAP has been cancelled. Now the Greek universities and research centers are responsible for the academic recognition of the title. To this end, institutions will consider whether the foreign institution awarding the degree belongs to the National Register of Recognized Foreign Institutions and whether the degree type belongs to the National Register of Degree Types of Recognized Foreign Institutions. Both registries are posted on the DOATAP website.

In January, the waiting time for a preliminary check was 15 days and is now being reduced – at the beginning of 2020 it was three months.

On the contrary, degrees awarded by foreign universities that cooperate under a franchise agreement (franchise) with a Greek private college and study took place in Greece have a special status. If the training took place in Greece (the head university must answer this at the request of the Greek university), then the application will be rejected. This is because the recognition of such degrees is inconsistent with the provisions of Article 16 of the Greek Constitution. The holder of such a qualification can only receive recognition of professional qualifications and professional equivalence.

big jump

In the first half of 2022, DOATAP recognized over 5,700 titles, i.e. more than the average annual indicator for the decade 2010-2019, which was 5340 items. On an annualized basis, this corresponds to an increase of more than 110%. As of January 2022, the pre-screening wait time is currently 15 days and is now decreasing from three months in early 2020. As Mr. Kalogiru notes, “The first three to four months of the implementation of the new legal framework will be difficult. I hope that when the transition is complete, we will take a big leap towards almost zero latency.”