Announcement on Adjusting the Special Certification Rules for Cross-Border Distance Diploma Certificates During the Pandemic
关于调整疫情期间对跨境远程文凭证书特殊认证规则的公告
Unofficial English Translation Provided by XL Law & Consulting P.A.
According to relevant national policies, foreign (overseas) academic degree certificates and higher education diplomas obtained through cross-border distance learning are not within the scope of certification of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (“CSCSE” or “our Center”). After the outbreak of COVID-19, our Center insisted on prioritizing the health and safety of overseas students. For overseas students who were affected by the epidemic pandemic and were forced to choose to take some or all of their courses online, after the degree requirements of the foreign (overseas) universities are met, the degree obtained can be certified under normal practices. At present, most of the world has reopened to international students and foreign (overseas) universities have fully resumed in-person classroom teaching. According to a notice issued by the National Health Commission, China downgraded the management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B starting from January 8, 2023, from which point and its epidemic pandemic prevention and control work has ever since entered a new stage phase. In order to effectively safeguard the interests of international students and maintain equity in education, our Center hereby decides to cancel the special certification rules during COVID-19. Our Center will no longer provide certification services for foreign (overseas) certificates and diplomas obtained by new students and current students through cross-border distance learning during or after Spring 2023 (Fall 2023 in the southern hemisphere). In case of exceptional circumstances in compliance with law, our Center will evaluate the certification applications on a case-by-case basis.
根据国家有关政策，跨境远程国（境）外学历学位证书和高等教育文凭暂不在我中心认证范围内。新冠肺炎疫情爆发后，我中心坚持把留学人员的健康和安全放在首位，对于受疫情影响，被迫选择通过在线方式修读部分或者全部课程的留学人员，在满足国（境）外高校规定的学位授予条件后，其所获得的学位可以获得正常认证。目前，主要留学目的地均已开放边境，国（境）外院校全面恢复线下授课。国家卫健委宣布自2023年1月8日起，对新型冠状病毒感染实施“乙类乙管”，我国疫情防控也进入了新阶段。为切实保障广大留学人员的利益，维护教育公平，我中心决定取消疫情期间的特殊认证规则。对于2023年春季学期（南半球秋季学期）及以后仍采用远程方式学习（包括新入学和继续学习的情况）所获国（境）外文凭证书，中心将不再提供认证服务。确有特殊原因且符合有关规定的，中心将做好个案处理。
We hereby notify the above.
特此公告。
The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange
教育部留学服务中心
January 28, 2023
2023年1月28日