International credential evaluation: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Gunnar Vaht, Head of the Estonian Academic Recognition Information Centre (Estonian ENIC/NARIC), Estonia

Ann Koenig, Associate Director of Credential Evaluation, AACRAO International Education Services, USA

Autumn EAIE Academy, Tallinn, November 2013

• Secondary, vocational and higher education systems of Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus – from the Soviet period to most recent developments

• Descriptions on educational credentials, state standard format credentials, security features

• Transcripts – useful information for credential evaluators and admission officers in admission to HE and for credit transfer

• Assessment and comparison of qualifications

• Fake institutions, diploma mill industry, diplomas for sale

• Forgeries and fraud detection

• Verification of educational credentials

• How to find official resources and other reliable sources of information.

Topics

Confirm Key Info and Terms in Original Language

Confirm Information On Credentials

Credential info• Name of credential in Russian• Type of document: original, official copy• Date of issue• Level of education• Type of education• Fits the educational chronology?

Institution info• Name, type, level and status of institution

Programme info• List of courses• Number of hours / workload• Specialisation

All authentic higher education diplomas (Soviet and Russian) and transcripts (new forms from 1996 until 2010) are issued in the state standard format and are printed on security paper by the printing house Goznak.

Since 2011 the diplomas are printed in a number of printing houses with no one standard model in use.

Pay attention to the following elements:• Design of the form (blank, year of model/print)• Serial code and number (characters, font)• Name of printing house and year of model• Handwriting• Name of institution• Date of issue• Stamp/seal (name of institution; name of ministry)

Fraud Detection (Soviet and Russian credentials)

Correct code and year of printing but incorrect font was used (sample of a typical fake degree)

PPF Goznaka 1993

Russian Federation Higher Education DiplomasSerial codes (2011 – 2012)

New serial code system since 2011

•Bakalavr-diplomas: P No. 00000; PA No. 00000; PБ No. 00000; etc.•Specialist´s diplomas: K No. 00000; KA No. 00000; KБ No. 00000; etc.•Magistr-diplomas: H No. 00000; HA No. 00000; HБ No. 00000; etc.

Since 2011 at least 20 of printing houses have a license to print higher education diplomas (no standard font for a serial code and number)

For example printed by:

•Goznak, MPF, Moskva, 2011, „Б“•OOO „N.T.Graf“, Moskva, 2011 g., „Б“•FGUP Tipografiya No.12 im. M.I.Lohankova, Sankt-Peterburg, 2011, „Б“

KKvalifikacija = Specialist´s Diploma

Sample of HE diploma model from 2011 (side 1)

FGUP Tipografiya No.12 im. M.I.Lohankova, Sankt-Peterburg, 2011, „Б“

Sample of HE diploma model from 2011 (side 2)

Russian Federation Higher Education DiplomasNew model since 2012/2013 academic year

New serial code system

•There is a new statute regarding diplomas issued by Russian Ministry of Education dated 2 March 2012 with samples of formats and indication for features including the serial number and digits. The digit system for serial number is 6+7.

000000 0000000 •The first number is a Serial code with 6 digits – 1st and 2nd digits indicate the status of institution (federal, state, municipal, private, etc); 3rd and 4th indicate the region (location); 5th and 6th indicate the printing-house. Next 7 digits are the diploma number. 

Russian FederationGeneral Secondary Education

Аттестат о среднем (полном) общем образовании

Attestat o srednem (polnom) obschem obrazovanii

Certificate of Secondary (Complete) General Education

Different models (template, feautures, serial code systems, etc):• Model until 1992• Model 1993• Model 1994 – 1995• Model 1996 – 2000• Model 2001 – 2003 • Model 2004 – 2006• Model 2007 – 2009• Model 2010• Model since 2011

MG Goznaka 1994 MG Goznaka 1994 (should be 1996 or 1997)

Authentic Forgery

Agencies – diplomas for sale

Unknown number of agencies are selling educational credentials:

•Primary and secondary school certificates•Vocational, technical school diplomas•Higher education diplomas•Kandidat nauk; Doktor nauk diplomas•Transcripts•Dissertations; course papers; etc (‘second hand thesis’)•+ registration in school registry and databases (rare, expensive)

Ukrainian diplomas and certificates for sale

Course materials

Handouts of more than 500 pages will be distributed to the participants (admission officers, international strudent officers, credential evaluators, etc) to help them in their day-to-day work with applicants from Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus, as well with the applicants who hold an old qualification from the period of Soviet Union.

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