Last year I followed the Integration Program for foreigners, which consists of a social orientation class, Dutch classes and work/study coaching. They also intermediate diploma equivalence processes for free.
I have a Brazilian diploma in English teaching and this is what my recognition process looked like:
- I provided Kom-Pas (now In-Gent) with the following documents:
- A copy of my diploma and a copy of my grades history (they had these translated).
- Official (original or scanned) subjects’ descriptions (provided by my University).
- Translation of the subjects’ descriptions (a summary in English made by me).
- My résumé.
- Letters from former employers or any document proving professional experience (optional).
2. My dossier was sent to Flemish Universities for analysis.
3. I was invited for an interview and a sample English lesson.
4. I received an official document saying my diploma is equivalent to Bachelor Secundair Onderwijs - onderwijs vak: Engels.
It seems like a very straightforward process, but in reality there’s a lot of waiting around, of being asked for documents you can’t provide and of more waiting around. This little process lasted a year and a half.
There were moments I completely forgot about it and I never really counted on it. I thought of it as a bonus, if it worked out well.
It did, and now I’m allowed to work as a teacher. And I hope I’m done with paperwork for a while.
Have you had your diploma recognized? How was it?
Or are you going to try?
Here are some useful links:
National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC-Vlaanderen)
Inburgering (Civic Integration Program)
In-Gent Integratie en Inburgering
