It is imperative to add that the Declaration of Value is not mandatory for European Union citizens who wish to have their qualifications, obtained in an EU country, recognised in Italy. However, for a more thorough evaluation of their qualifications, obtaining a Declaration of Value is highly recommended and often becomes an indispensable requirement by universities to formalise academic recognition. This recommendation underscores the document’s utility in providing detailed insights into the qualification’s origin, thus facilitating a more accurate assessment and recognition process within the Italian academic and professional landscape. Concerning whether the Declaration of Value is indispensable for evaluating a foreign qualification, the Council of State has clarified that its omission from an application does not preclude a thorough evaluation by academic authorities. Following this and other judicial pronouncements, it would be inappropriate to assign a decisive and discriminatory role to the Declaration of Value in the recognition process of foreign qualifications.
Indeed, the competent authority should conduct a detailed examination of the congruence and coherence between the educational content of the foreign and Italian courses, using all available investigative tools and considering all involved aspects to base its judgment on substantive rather than formal elements. Thus, the Declaration should not act as a discriminatory factor but rather as an additional source of information to support the evaluation process.
The Declaration of Value is an official document issued in Italian by the local Italian consular diplomatic authority, providing essential information such as:
- A value attestation by the consular diplomatic representation, detailing the ECTS credits obtained (if applicable) and the duration of the attended course;
- The authority under which the qualification was issued;
- The educational institution where the courses were completed or attended;
- A confirmation that the issuing institution is officially recognised within the education system of the issuing country;
- An authenticated copy of the diploma, signed by the head of the educational institution;
- A brief description of the academic/school/professional training system relevant to the issued qualification, including the degree level achieved for access to higher education courses;
- An official certified translation of the qualification by the Consulate;
- The diploma holder’s details;
- The issuance date of the qualification;
- The registration number;
- The field, specialisation, and course of study;
- The duration of the study programme;
- The overall final examination average;
- The grading system in the country of issuance according to the officially recognised education system;
- Any qualification for professional practice obtained upon completion of the studies;
- A brief description of the national education system.