Dubai Cares and UNESCO launched the Universal Qualifications Passport (UQP) as a multilateral solution to enhance access to higher education and employment opportunities for displaced and disadvantaged individuals. The initiative was modeled on the successful creation of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees, developed by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) and the Council of Europe.
The UQP process provided an advisory evaluation of a candidate’s educational background and highest completed qualification, including university studies and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), even in cases where official documentation was unavailable. This innovative approach supported refugees and vulnerable migrants by enabling them to pursue higher education and employment opportunities despite the absence of formal academic records.
The program implemented a full-scale pilot of the UQP in Colombia and Iraq, with the intention of expanding the methodology to two additional regions.