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NGO/CSO Recognition

Free NGO/CSO Recognition: an EAHEA Memorandum of Understanding for legally established non-profit foundations, associations and agencies.

What Is NGO/CSO Recognition?

NGO/CSO Recognition is the partnership program of the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) for legally established non-profit organizations: foundations, associations, agencies, institutions and other civil society organizations that work for education, research, quality assurance and lifelong learning. Recognition is formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by EAHEA and the organization, and the organization is listed in the Recognized Institutions directory.

Please note that NGO/CSO Recognition is a partnership between peer organizations. It is not an accreditation, a certification or a membership service, and it does not evaluate or approve the programs of the recognized organization.

What Does the Memorandum of Understanding Cover?

The MoU is a cooperation framework built on mutual respect and shared goals. It covers six areas of cooperation:

  • Reciprocal recognition: a framework for the mutual recognition of each party's accreditation processes, certifications and quality assurance standards in higher education and lifelong learning, based on a prior assessment and a common, explicit agreement. Both parties promote the recognition of each other's programs and certifications to support the mobility and employability of students and professionals.
  • Joint award arrangements: exploring and designing joint award programs that meet high quality standards and international, especially European, educational norms.
  • Cross-promotion: raising awareness of each other's work and supporting conferences, seminars, workshops and other events through the communication channels of both parties.
  • Joint campaigns: campaigns on the importance of quality education and lifelong learning, addressing groups such as women, youth, children and people with disabilities.
  • Co-branding: co-branded publications, reports, research papers and other materials that result from the cooperation.
  • Strategic partnerships: sharing information and resources to find and pursue partnerships with other organizations, institutions and stakeholders in education and research.

Is NGO/CSO Recognition Free?

Yes. NGO/CSO Recognition is completely free of charge. EAHEA does not charge an application fee, a review fee, a recognition fee or a renewal fee, and the listing of a recognized organization in the Recognized Institutions directory is free as well. Nothing is paid when you apply, and no payment is requested at any stage of the process.

Recognition is a partnership between peer organizations, not a service sold for a fee. The cooperation described in the Memorandum of Understanding is based on mutual benefit and shared goals.

Who Can Apply?

An organization can apply for NGO/CSO Recognition when both of the following conditions are met:

  • It is a legally established non-profit foundation, association, agency, institution or organization, registered with the competent authority of its country.
  • It is not a potential customer of EAHEA. It does not offer education or training that could be accredited, certified or validated by EAHEA, and it is not seeking an EAHEA service for itself, its programs or its staff.

Educational institutions, training providers, companies and individuals that need accreditation, certification, validation or membership should apply for the relevant EAHEA service instead.

Required Documents

Three documents are uploaded with the application form:

  • Registration Document: the official registration or establishment document issued by the competent authority.
  • Annual Report: the annual report for the previous financial year.
  • Invoice: an invoice issued to the legal address of the organization (electricity, water, gas, telephone, etc.).

Documents are accepted as PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC or DOCX files of up to 8 MB each. They are stored securely and are used only to verify the application.

Term of the Memorandum

The MoU is effective for five (5) years from the last date of signature. Six (6) months before the expiry date, the designated representatives start a joint evaluation, after which the MoU may be renewed for a further five-year period. Either party may request termination in writing ninety (90) days before the proposed termination date, and activities in progress can be concluded as planned. Both parties agree not to discriminate on any ground and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

How the process works

  1. ApplicationFill out the form online
  2. DocumentsUpload the three documents
  3. ReviewEAHEA reviews your application
  4. MemorandumSigned by both parties
  5. RecognitionListed in the directory

Sample certificate

Frequently asked questions

NGO/CSO Recognition is the partnership program of EAHEA for legally established non-profit foundations, associations, agencies and organizations. It is formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that covers reciprocal recognition, joint awards, cross-promotion, joint campaigns, co-branding and strategic partnerships. Recognized organizations are listed in the Recognized Institutions directory.

Yes. NGO/CSO Recognition is completely free of charge. There is no application fee, review fee, recognition fee or renewal fee, and nothing is paid when you apply.

A legally established non-profit foundation, association, agency, institution or organization that is registered with the competent authority of its country and is not a potential customer of EAHEA can apply.

No. Educational institutions, training providers, companies and individuals that need accreditation, certification, validation or membership are potential customers of EAHEA and should apply for the relevant EAHEA service instead.

Three documents are uploaded with the online application: the Registration Document (the official registration or establishment document issued by the competent authority), the Annual Report for the previous financial year, and an Invoice issued to the legal address of the organization (electricity, water, gas, telephone, etc.). Files can be PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC or DOCX, up to 8 MB each.

No. It is a partnership between peer organizations. It does not evaluate or approve the programs of the recognized organization, and it does not give the rights of an accredited institution or of a member.

The MoU is effective for five years from the last date of signature. Six months before the expiry date, both parties start a joint evaluation, after which the MoU may be renewed for a further five-year period. Either party may request termination in writing ninety days before the proposed termination date.

Complete the online application form with the details of your organization and its authorized representative and upload the three documents. The EAHEA Secretariat reviews the application and, when it is approved, the Memorandum of Understanding is prepared and signed by both parties.