Центар за информисање и признавање докумената из области високог образовања

Overview

The Centar za informiranje i priznavanje dokumenata iz oblasti visokog obrazovanja (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian) – also known in English as the Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education and in abbreviated form as CIP or CIR – is the national information and recognition centre for foreign higher‑education qualifications in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Established under the 2007 Framework Law on Higher Education, CIP acts as the official reference point for credential recognition, information provision, consultancy and liaison with higher education institutions and international recognition networks.

Based in Mostar, CIP is recognised according to uniRank research as a key higher education organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 2007 and commencing operations in early 2008.

History and Legal Framework

CIP was legally established by the Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Službeni glasnik BiH”, No 59/07 and 59/09) as an independent administrative organisation. According to official records, the Council of Ministers confirmed its seat and mandate on 10 January 2008 and CIP began work on 1 March 2008. Its authority and purpose align with Article IX.2 of the Lisbon Recognition Convention (CRC-EHE, 1997), which Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified on 19 November 2003.

Under the Framework Law, CIP is a national contact point for qualification recognition and is empowered to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in international higher education projects, such as the ENIC-NARIC network and Erasmus+ framework.

Mission, Vision and Role in Higher Education

CIP’s mission is to ensure fair, transparent and professional information and recognition procedures for foreign higher‑education qualifications across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its aims include informing higher education institutions, individuals and other stakeholders regarding equivalence of foreign degrees, advising applicants on recognition processes and collaborating with authorities and universities to ensure robust recognition mechanisms.

The Centre emphasises values such as legality, transparency, public responsibility and institutional neutrality. Its vision is to support academic mobility, promote trust in credential evaluation and align national procedures with European and international standards for recognition and quality assurance.

Governance, Structure and Independence

CIP operates as a self‑governing body under the supervision of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it is not part of any university or accreditation agency. Its internal organisation is regulated by an official statute adopted in 2018, which establishes a director, a management board, organisational units for information, recognition and cooperation and a steering committee.

The Centre reports annually to its Governing Board, to the Council of Ministers and to the Parliamentary Assembly. Reporting and funding are public and CIP adheres to the Law on Freedom of Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring openness in operations and decision‑making.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role

While CIP itself does not accredit institutions, it plays a significant advisory and informational role in quality assurance. Under the Framework Law, the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance is responsible for institutional accreditation, while CIP provides opinions and recommendations on recognition based on externally obtained qualifications.

CIP’s recognition activities support qualification recognition for both academic purposes (continuation of studies) and professional purposes (employment in regulated and non‑regulated sectors). It also promotes the LISBON Recognition Convention and related frameworks nationally, helping authorities harmonise legislation and implement consistent evaluation procedures.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

CIP is an active member of the ENIC-NARIC Network, the international and European recognition network established by the Council of Europe and UNESCO. It officially represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in this network, exchanges data with ENIC counterparts across Europe and contributes to regional policy development on credential recognition.

• Since 2023 CIP has participated in the Council of Europe’s “Learners First – Support for ENIC Centres” project, which promotes inclusive and more efficient recognition procedures.
• The Centre has led the MOQAR project (“Mapping of Higher Education Qualifications for the Purpose of Automatic Recognition in Region”), a Council of Europe‑funded initiative aiming to facilitate automatic or streamlined recognition across Western Balkan countries.
• CIP was involved in the country’s implementation of the Lisbon Convention via platforms like ILIRIC and technical assistance missions, supporting completion of related legislative and procedural gaps.
• More recently, CIP has engaged with the emerging Global Convention on Recognition of Qualifications under UNESCO. Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified this convention in February 2025; it entered into force nationally on 18 June 2025.

Current/Future Impact on Higher Education

CIP's ongoing activities have multiple impacts:

1. Standardisation – CIP's recommendations and information dissemination help standardise recognition procedures across entities, cantons and universities in the country.
2. Facilitation of Mobility – CIP supports Bosnian students and academics abroad, as well as foreign degree holders seeking recognition in Bosnia for jobs or further studies.
3. Support for Digital Transformation – Through the MOQAR project in 2024, CIP has developed a digital database to make recognition outcomes publicly accessible and to facilitate automatic equivalence where possible.
4. Regional Integration – By mapping qualifications across Bosnia and other Western Balkans countries and aligning with ENIC networks, CIP promotes regional transparency and mutual recognition.
5. Global Alignment – With the recent ratification of the UNESCO Global Convention, CIP is positioned to expand Bosnia’s participation in transnational qualification recognition frameworks extending beyond Europe.

Summary

In summary, the Centar za informiranje i priznavanje dokumenata iz oblasti visokog obrazovanja (CIP/CIR) is a legally established, independent information and recognition authority for foreign higher‑education qualifications in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since its inception in 2008, it has acted as the national information centre under the Lisbon Recognition Convention, providing advisory, evaluative and representative services. Through its statutory mandate, international engagement and recent digitalisation efforts, CIP contributes to harmonising recognition practices, promoting academic and professional mobility and aligning national systems with European and global quality and recognition standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the role of CIP?
  CIP provides information, advisory opinions and recommendations on foreign higher‑education qualifications. It is not responsible for accrediting universities, but plays a key role in recognition processes, in cooperation with education ministries and higher‑education institutions.
• How can I apply for recognition of a foreign diploma?
  Applicants contact CIP to determine which national or entity‑level authority is responsible (e.g., the Agency for Higher Education, cantonal ministryor university centre). CIP provides guidance, checklists of documents and comparability evaluations to support the application.
• Is CIP part of a university or the accreditation agency?
  No — CIP is legally established as a separate administrative body under the Council of Ministers. It functions independently from both universities and the accreditation agency.
• Is CIP recognised internationally?
  Yes — CIP is a designated member of the ENIC‑NARIC Network and represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in international recognition initiatives. The country also participates in the Global Convention on Recognition.
• Are recognition decisions made by CIP binding?
  CIP provides advisory opinions on equivalence but does not issue binding recognition decisions. If a qualifying process is to be finalised, the competent municipal authority (university, ministryor commission) issues the official decision.
• What steps has CIP taken towards digital recognition?
  In 2024, CIP implemented the MOQAR project, developing an internal database and publishing a regional qualifications map to support automatic recognition and improve accessibility for stakeholders.
• Where is CIP located and how can it be contacted?
  CIP is based in Mostar at street address Kneza Višeslava bb (88000 Mostar). It can be reached by telephone (+387 36 333 980) or via email using official contact points listed publicly on its website.

Organization Name

Центар за информисање и признавање докумената из области високог образовања
Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education
Centar za informiranje i priznavanje dokumenata iz oblasti/područja visokog obrazovanja

Acronym

CIP
ЦИП

Year of Establishment

2007

Control Type

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Kneza Branimira 12
Mostar
88000 Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina

Phone

+387 (36) 333 980

Fax

+387 (36) 333 991

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

Not available

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Not available

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