Recognition of Academic Titles Earned in the EU: The Role of the Declaration of Value

It is essential to clarify that the Declaration of Value, or DOV, is not a mandatory document for citizens of the European Union who wish to have their qualifications, earned in an EU member state, recognised in Italy. Nevertheless, while not compulsory, obtaining a Declaration of Value is strongly recommended to ensure a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of one’s qualifications. In many instances, particularly within the academic sphere, Italian universities and higher education institutions often consider the DOV an indispensable document for formalising academic recognition. This recommendation arises from the document’s role in offering an authoritative and detailed account of the qualification’s origin, characteristics, and context, thus facilitating a more precise assessment and a smoother recognition process within the Italian academic and professional environment.
In terms of its necessity for the recognition of foreign qualifications, the Council of State in Italy has made it clear that the absence of a Declaration of Value does not prevent academic authorities from conducting a rigorous evaluation. This legal standpoint, along with other judicial pronouncements, suggests that it is inappropriate to view the DOV as a decisive or exclusionary factor in recognising foreign qualifications. The absence of the document does not invalidate the recognition process or preclude a thorough assessment of the applicant’s educational credentials.
Instead, the relevant authorities are required to conduct a detailed examination of the congruence and compatibility between the educational content of the foreign qualification and the equivalent courses within the Italian education system. This evaluation should utilise all available investigative tools and methods, considering every aspect that might impact the recognition decision. Consequently, the judgment should be based on the substantive equivalency of the qualifications rather than on the formal presence of a Declaration of Value. In this context, the DOV should not act as a barrier or a discriminatory factor, but rather as an additional, valuable piece of evidence that can support the assessment process by providing comprehensive background information.