A European degree for all, without discrimination that breaks down the barriers of recognitions and bureaucracy, the European Commission has proposed.
Universities will cooperate on a voluntary basis so that their graduates enter the labor market with a European degree that will be recognized outside the borders of each country without the requirement of a long and time-consuming list of steps.
As the Commission explains, this is a new type of degree that will be awarded after transnational bachelor, master or doctoral programs provided at national, regional or institutional level, will be automatically recognized everywhere in the EU, will be awarded jointly and on a voluntary basis by a group of universities across Europe.
The only condition is that the partner universities meet specific criteria to be able to participate in this “partnership”.
“It’s about government, non-government institutions, for-profit and non-profit institutions. There are no conditions but criteria for quality” said the Vice President of the Commission Margaritis Schinas, stressing that the proposal is not addressed to “elite”. He explained at the same time that the reasons for needing the European degree are: “first of all because we still have many obstacles, a lot of bureaucracy, unequal situations. Secondly, because we want Europe to become an education destination for third-country nationals. If you are a citizen of a third country, instead of receiving a national degree, the possibility of a European degree is offered.”
The aim of introducing a European degree is to contribute to Europe’s competitiveness by equipping graduates with future skills and “providing at the same time a strong symbol of common European identity but also a strong sense of European belonging, reinforcing shared academic values and bringing people and universities together » points out the Commission.
The criteria that will exist
At the same time, the European degree, in addition to reducing bureaucracy, would allow higher education institutions from different countries to collaborate seamlessly across borders and establish joint programs.
The criteria for a European degree, according to the Commission’s proposal, concern the following:
- excellence in transition organization and program management: joint programs are based on Bologna and EU tools and standards, designed and delivered jointly, based on common quality assurance arrangements
- relevance of the learning experience Joint programs are learner-centred, labor market integration, relevant opportunities, interdisciplinarity components, learner mobility and skills acquisition
- focus on European values: joint programs promoting democracy, multilingualism, inclusion and environmental sustainability
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova spoke of a “voluntary but inclusive process”.
Given the diversity of European higher education systems across Europe, the Commission proposes a step-by-step approach for Member States towards a European degree, with two possible entry points:
- Preparatory European mark: a mark would provide a strong European mark. It will be awarded to joint degree programs that meet the proposed European criteria: students receive a European degree certificate together with their joint degree.
- A European diploma: this new type of qualification will be based on common criteria and based on national legislation. It will be awarded either jointly by several universities in different countries or, possibly, by a European legal entity set up by such universities: students will receive an automatically recognized “European degree”.
The pivotal role of Erasmus +
As part of its support to Member States, the European Commission will facilitate and support Member States in their work towards a European degree through a series of specific actions, including a policy workshop on European degrees supported by the Erasmus + programme.
This is expected to be established in 2025, with the aim of involving Member States and the higher education community in the development of guidelines for obtaining a European degree.
In 2025, the Commission plans to launch “European Degree Pathways” under the Erasmus+ program to provide financial incentives to Member States, together with accreditation and quality assurance bodies, universities, students, financial and social partners, in order to participate in the path to obtaining a European degree.
However, as noted by Margaritis Schinas, there are some “obstacles”, “simple formalities”, that need to be resolved, for example how the exams will be conducted.
Both the European degree plan and the proposal for a European quality assurance and recognition system in higher education as well as one related to attractive and sustainable careers in higher education will be discussed with the Council of the EU and key stakeholders in higher education sector in the coming months. In addition, Margaritis Schinas will present it at the Conference of Chancellors in Alexandroupolis on April 18.
Vice president @MargSchinas: The European Degree next to Schengen, Erasmus, the Single Market, the Euro is an important step for citizens’ Europe! pic.twitter.com/d5BcBxHvp1
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EEAthina) March 27, 2024
#Commission #European #degree #borders
