References – The Road toward European Joint Degrees

This document outlines a structured blueprint for a European degree as a response to legal and administrative barriers within the European Education Area. The document provides a comprehensive strategy for the development and implementation of a European degree. This initiative aims to enhance transnational cooperation in higher education by fostering joint degrees recognized across the European Union, improving mobility, and strengthening the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

 

The European degree initiative is designed to:

• Enhance student mobility and academic cooperation across European universities.
• Simplify the recognition of joint transnational degrees.
• Improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of European higher education institutions (HEIs).
• Address existing legal, administrative, and quality assurance barriers to joint degree programs.
• Establish a common European framework that maintains national autonomy but ensures interoperability.

The proposal outlines two options:

1. A European degree label – A certificate supplementing a joint degree awarded by multiple universities, showcasing compliance with common European criteria. (As a short-term/interim solution)

2. A fully integrated European degree – A new qualification that would be legally recognized across EU member states (as a long-term goal)

To ensure quality and consistency, the European degree would be based on a set of criteria including:

• Joint curriculum development: Degrees must be designed collaboratively by multiple universities.
• Mobility requirements: Students must complete part of their studies in at least two different countries.
• Integrated quality assurance: Programs must follow a harmonized European approach to accreditation.
• Recognition across EU member states: Degrees must comply with national and EU frameworks for easy recognition.
• Multilingual and intercultural competencies: The program should encourage language learning and cultural exchange

Challenges to Implementing the European Degree

The document identifies several major barriers to the European degree initiative:

1. Accreditation and Quality Assurance

• Lack of harmonized accreditation frameworks across member states.
• Varied national regulations governing joint programs.
 

2. Administrative and Legal Barriers

• Differences in degree recognition laws across EU countries.
• Bureaucratic challenges in joint degree program approval.
 

3. Funding and Institutional Support

• Need for sustainable funding mechanisms to support university collaborations.
• Ensuring financial accessibility for students participating in mobility programs.

4. Student Enrolment and Admission Complexity

• Differences in university admission processes across countries.
• Lack of standardized criteria for student selection in joint programs
 

Proposed Solutions to Overcome Barriers

The European Commission proposes several possible solutions:

► Develop a European Quality Assurance System

• A common accreditation process for joint programs, reducing redundancy in national approvals.
• A single evaluation process instead of multiple national assessments.

►Introduce a Legal Status for University Alliances

• Allow European university alliances to operate as single legal entities.
• Facilitate joint governance structures for managing shared academic programs.

►Enhance Digital and Administrative Infrastructure

• Use Europass Digital Credentials for automated recognition of qualifications.
• Establish centralized student enrolment platforms for transnational programs



Reference: European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission. (27/03/2024a). COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the documents Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a blueprint for a European degree Proposal for a Council recommendation on a European quality assurance and recognition system in higher education and Proposal for a Council recommendation on attractive and sustainable careers in higher education. Publications Office of the European Union. Accessible at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/bec6b5a9-f0e3-11ee-8e14-01aa75ed71a1.

The document outlines the European Commission’s proposal for establishing the European Degree – a new type of qualification, which aims to enhance transnational higher education cooperation across the EU.

This document focuses on the benefits of the proposed European Degree for different stakeholders:

 - For Students:

• More learning opportunities across multiple institutions.
• Transdisciplinary and future-proof skills.
• Automatic degree recognition across the EU, making job applications easier.

- For Higher Education Institutions:

• Simplifies the creation of joint degrees with universities across Europe.
• Boosts institutional competitiveness and attractiveness.
• Encourages innovation in teaching and research.

- For Employers:

• Certifies highly skilled graduates with European-wide qualifications.
• Increases Europe's talent pool, enhancing economic competitiveness.

- For the EU & Member States:

• Strengthens European identity and academic collaboration.

• Supports global talent attraction and improves the EU's strategic autonomy

The document proposes three steps that must be taken to establish the European degree:

1. Develop European criteria – The European Commission proposes standardized criteria for the European Degree to be adopted by the Council of the EU.

2. Create implementation guidelines – A European Degree Policy Lab will draft guidelines in collaboration with Member States, universities, and stakeholders.

3. Adapt national frameworks – Each Member State can choose how to integrate the European Degree into their national legislation.

 

To support universities and policymakers in the transition, the blueprint proposes:

1. A European Degree Policy Lab – A dedicated working group to provide technical assistance.

2. An annual European Degree Forum – A monitoring body to track progress and gather feedback from education stakeholders.

3. Erasmus+ funding – Support for universities to develop European Degree Pathway Projects and Design Measures.


Reference: European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. (27/03/2024b). A blueprint for a European degree. Publications Office of the European Union. Accessible at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/12bce743-43eb-11ef-865a-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.

This document outlines the European Commission’s vision for creating a European Degree, an initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border higher education cooperation and enhancing the competitiveness and attractiveness of European higher education institutions (HEIs). The European Degree represents a significant step towards a unified European Higher Education system.
 

Key takeaways:

• International cooperation in higher education is crucial for Europe’s economic competitiveness. A European Degree would serve as a common qualification framework recognized across EU Member States.
• The European Degree aims to facilitate transnational education, allowing universities across the EU to collaborate more effectively. The European Degree is designed to strengthen higher education cooperation between European countries.
• It is part of the European Education Area (EEA), supporting student mobility, joint degrees, and institutional cooperation.
• The initiative seeks to overcome legal and administrative barriers that make it difficult to establish joint programs across countries.
• A European Degree label will be introduced to certify joint degree programs that meet European standards.
• Europe needs future-proof skills to adapt to green and digital transitions. The initiative will boost student employability, providing graduates with multilingual, interdisciplinary, and problem-solving skills.
• The EU will work on quality assurance, recognition, and accreditation mechanisms to ensure the credibility of the European Degree.

Benefits of the European Degree:

A. Increased Employability and Skills Relevance

• The European Degree will emphasize transversal skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability.
• It aligns with the OECD Skills Outlook 2023, which highlights the need for highly skilled graduates.
 

B. Cutting Red Tape for Universities

• Legal and administrative barriers currently complicate joint programs and credit recognition.
• A European Degree will help harmonize regulations, making it easier for universities to collaborate.

C. Enhancing Global Competitiveness

• Universities offering a European Degree will attract international students and strengthen Europe’s position in the global education sector.
• Interdisciplinary programs will become more common, reflecting cutting-edge research and innovation.

Key Parameters of a European Degree:

• Voluntary participation – Universities can choose to award a European Degree.
• Common European criteria – The degree will follow agreed-upon European standards for education quality.
• Joint degree model – Universities from multiple countries will issue the degree together.
• Recognition across Member States – The European Degree will be legally recognized in participating countries.


Reference: European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. (15/07/2024). Blueprint for a European degree : Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social committee and the Committee of the Regions. Publications Office of the European Union. Accessible at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4559af49-43e2-11ef-865a-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.

This document presents the European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) opinion on several European Commission proposals related to higher education, including the proposed Blueprint for a European Degree (COM(2024)144). The EESC’s opinion serves as an advisory document, providing recommendations, criticisms, and amendments to ensure that the proposed initiatives align with equity, labour rights, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy. The EESC stresses institutional autonomy to ensure that a European Degree framework remains voluntary rather than mandatory.
 

General Recommendations:

• Higher education as a public good: The EESC emphasizes that education is a fundamental right, calling for policies that promote equality, fairness, and social inclusion.
• Autonomy & academic freedom: It urges stronger monitoring mechanisms to protect academic freedom across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), particularly in alignment with the Tirana Ministerial Communiqué.
• Inclusion and diversity: Calls for measures ensuring equal access for underrepresented groups, particularly in permanent teaching and research positions.
• Labour market relevance: Highlights the importance of consulting social partners and labour market actors when designing joint programmes to align with employment trends.

Amendments & Criticism of the European Commission Proposals:

A. Joint programme governance

• The EESC amends the European Commission’s recommendation to ensure that both students and staff (not just students) are included in decision-making processes for joint programmes.
• Emphasizes the democratic participation of academic and administrative staff in institutional governance.
 

B. Labour market and employability

• The EESC modifies the European Commission’s proposal by requiring direct consultations with labour market stakeholders in curriculum planning.
• Suggests strengthening career frameworks for academics by promoting secure, well-paid jobs with clear progression paths.

C. Recognition & quality assurance

• Calls for automatic recognition of qualifications through a harmonized European quality assurance system.
• Supports aligning policies with EHEA quality assurance principles to prevent fragmentation across Member States.
 

D. Digitalization & AI in higher education

• Recognizes the importance of AI and digital education but stresses the need for training programs for students and educators on the ethical and responsible use of AI.
 

E. Multilingualism in joint programs

• Advocates for language training and multilingual education, emphasizing that linguistic diversity is essential for academic mobility and European integration.


Reference: Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee – Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a blueprint for a European degree – Proposal for a Council Recommendation on attractive and sustainable careers in higher education – Proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European Quality Assurance and Recognition System in Higher Education. (28/11/2024). Official Journal, C 6883, ELI. Accessible at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C_202406883.

This document is structured as Frequently Asked Questions about the European Degree initiative. The document first addresses the rationale behind proposing a European Degree:

1. Economic considerations: a European Degree will enable HEIs to pool resources and expertise across the EU in the form of in-depth cooperation and transnational degree programmes.

2. Need for simplification to overcome hurdles due to national regulations. HEIs face currently too many obstacles when trying to develop joint degree programmes through already available mechanisms (European Universities alliances, Erasmus Mundus, etc.)

           a. HEIs report loss of time and high costs related to trying to overcome obstacles.
           b. Many of the persisting incompatibilities between national legislations are not addressed by any Bologna tool.
 

3. The European Degree will address barriers related to:

a. Programme and curriculum structure
b. Accreditation and quality assurance
c. Governance structure
d. Student enrolment and admission
 

The FAQ addresses the benefits for Member States:

• Competitive educational offer, innovative pedagogies and cutting-edge skills needed for the green and digital transitions
• A stronger sense of European identity and belonging
• Benefits for students: unique intercultural skills, improved language skills, interdisciplinary and labour market-relevant components in their programmes, extensive professional networks
• Wider brain circulation within Europe
• Less administrative hurdles for HEIs
• Future-proof competencies and skills that are particularly sought by employers
 

The Concept of the European Degree:

• A common European framework for the design and delivery of joint programmes and the award of joint degrees matching a set of common European criteria
• Automatic recognition in all EU Member States
• A common set of co-created European criteria
• The European Degree would be awarded jointly by higher education institutions of any type
 

The Proposed European Criteria:
The proposed European criteria are grouped into three main categories:

1. Transnational programme, organisation, and management
2. Learning experience
3. European values, inclusiveness & multilingualism

The criteria fully respect academic freedom:

• They are not pedagogically prescriptive
• Can be adapted to various academic disciplines and educational contexts

The legal difference between a joint degree, a European degree, and a European label:
• A joint degree is a single diploma awarded by the higher education institutions offering a joint educational programme
• The European Degree would be a new type of joint degree, based on a joint educational programme fulfilling common criteria agreed at EU level
• A European label would be a preparatory, intermediate step that would certify the compliance of a joint educational programme with the European criteria
 

Key takeaways from the questions addressed in the FAQ:

• The document stresses that the European Degree is a voluntary framework to simplify the development, implementation and recognition of joint programmes and joint degrees
• The European Degree would not diminish the value of the national degrees, but rather complement and enrich the academic offer of HEIs in Member States
• Automatic recognition of qualifications alone does not facilitate the provision of joint programmes and joint degrees; the European Degree will boost the implementation of the Bologna instruments
• The joint degree programme must be offered by at least two higher education institutions from at least two different EU Member States
• Non-EU members may participate if they fully respect the European criteria
• It is recommended that the quality assurance of the joint programmes leading to a European Degree or a European label be integrated in national quality assurance procedures
• The European Degree aims to reduce the costs for universities to set up transnational joint degree programmes

Reference: European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. (19/12/2024a). Blueprint for a European degree : frequently asked questions. Publications Office of the European. Accessible at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/72864ead-bdcb-11ef-91ed-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.

This document presents the final outcomes of the Erasmus+ policy experimentation projects aimed at testing the European Degree (label) and institutionalized EU cooperation instruments. It assesses the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of a European Degree framework and potential legal instruments for deeper cooperation among higher education institutions (HEIs) in Europe.
 

Key Takeaways:

• The European Degree aims to enhance transnational education collaboration and boost Europe’s global competitiveness.
• A European Degree label could simplify joint programme creation and recognition across Member States.
• Institutionalized cooperation instruments could provide a legal framework for cross-border university alliances.
• Legal and administrative barriers remain a major challenge to joint degrees.
• Pilot projects identified over 50 obstacles to the seamless delivery of joint programs, including regulatory mismatches and accreditation complexities.

Context:

• The European Degree concept was introduced in response to challenges in joint educational programmes across Europe.
• The initiative aligns with the European Education Area (EEA) 2025 strategy, focusing on seamless higher education cooperation.
• The Erasmus+ pilot projects (2023–2024) tested the feasibility of both a European Degree label and institutional cooperation mechanisms.

The European Degree would not replace national degrees but complement them by providing a transnational framework based on shared European criteria.
 

Key Characteristics of a European Degree:

• A voluntary framework simplifying the development, implementation, and recognition of joint degrees.
• Awarded jointly by multiple HEIs from different European countries.
• Based on a common set of European criteria to ensure quality, mobility, and recognition.

The European Degree concept is aligned with Bologna Process principles, including:

• ECTS credits and learning outcomes-based assessment
• Quality assurance mechanisms (ESG standards)
• Diploma Supplement for transparency

Challenges Identified:
• Inconsistent national regulations (e.g., different programme durations, credit requirements, mandatory languages)
• Accreditation hurdles – Quality assurance standards vary across countries
• Diploma structure mismatches – Issues with templates, official recognition, and degree certification requirements
• Legal barriers – Some countries do not allow joint doctoral degrees

Proposed Solutions:

• A European Degree Label as an initial step, which would act as a quality mark for joint degrees without requiring national legal changes
• Revised European criteria (16 criteria) for defining a European Degree, ensuring alignment with Bologna Process standards
• Further legal and policy recommendations to streamline joint programme delivery

Reference: European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. (19/12/2024b). COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Report on the final outcomes of the Erasmus+ policy experimentation projects: European degree (label) and institutionalised EU cooperation instruments. Publications Office of the European Union. Accessible at https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=SWD(2024)291&lang=en.