Description
On 27 March, the Commission presented three initiatives to promote transnational cooperation between higher education institutions, with the ultimate goal of creating a European diploma. A voluntary European diploma would benefit students and the higher education community by stimulating learning mobility within the EU and enhancing students' transversal skills. It would help meet labour market demand and make graduates more attractive to future employers, while attracting students from all over the world and strengthening European competitiveness.
The three initiatives address legal and administrative barriers that prevent partner universities from establishing competitive joint degree programmes at bachelor, master or doctoral level. The proposals are based on the institutional autonomy and academic freedom of universities. They fully respect the competences of Member States and regional governments in the field of higher education.
Today's package includes a Communication on a European Diploma Plan and two proposals for Council recommendations to support the higher education sector: one to improve quality assurance processes and automatic recognition of qualifications in higher education and the other to make academic careers more attractive and sustainable.
A plan for a European degree
The presented blueprint for a European degree paves the way for a new type of joint programme, realised on a voluntary basis at national, regional or institutional level and based on a common set of criteria agreed at European level.Such a European degree would reduce bureaucracy and enable higher education institutions from different countries to cooperate seamlessly across borders and establish joint programmes.
The Commission communication proposes a concrete path of cooperation between EU Member States and the higher education sector towards the creation of a European diploma that is automatically recognised throughout the EU. Given the diversity of higher education systems in Europe, the Commission proposes a step-by-step approach for Member States towards a European diploma, with two possible entry points:
- A preparatory European label: a label would provide a strong European label. It would be awarded to common degree programmes that meet the proposed European criteria: students would receive a European diploma certificate together with their common diploma.
- A European diploma: this new type of qualification would be based on common criteria and would be anchored in national legislation. It would be awarded jointly by several universities in different countries or possibly by a European legal entity set up by those universities: students would receive an automatically recognised 'European diploma'.
The Commission will facilitate and support Member States in their work towards a European diploma through a number of concrete actions, including a European Diploma Strategy Lab supported by the Erasmus+ programme, to be set up in 2025, with the aim of involving Member States and the higher education community in the development of guidelines for a European diploma.
In 2025, the Commission plans to launch 'European diploma pathway projects' within the Erasmus+ programme to provide financial incentives for Member States, together with their accreditation and quality assurance agencies, universities, students and economic and social partners, to take the pathway to a European diploma.
Simpler and better quality assurance and automatic recognition of university degrees
The Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European Quality Assurance and Recognition System in Higher Education invites Member States and higher education institutions to simplify and improve their quality assurance processes and practices. These are necessary conditions for accountability and trust and for improving the performance of universities. Member States are urged to take measures to enable higher education institutions to adapt the programmes they offer more quickly to the needs of society.
This recommendation would endorse innovative pedagogical offers and ensure that higher education institutions can create quality-assured transnational programmes that are automatically recognised throughout the EU. The European diploma will depend on solid quality assurance and automatic recognition.
Evaluating the different roles of academic staff equally
The proposal for a Council Recommendation on attractive and sustainable careers in higher education aims to ensure that staff engaged in cross-border educational activities and innovative teaching methods get the recognition and reward they deserve. It makes recommendations to ensure that national higher education systems address the uneven recognition of the different roles that staff take on in addition to research, such as teaching and investment in the integration of sustainable development. It also encourages Member States to promote transnational educational activities.
In September 2020, the Commission Communication on the realisation of the European Educational Area by 2025 identified the need to facilitate the implementation of joint degree programmes of higher education alliances. The action plan was approved by the Council the following year.
This package of measures was announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union 2023 address and is part of the Commission's work programme for 2024. The plan for a European diploma is based on six Erasmus+ pilot projects involving more than 140 higher education institutions across the EU.
The package will be discussed with the EU Council and key higher education stakeholders in the coming months. The Commission invites the Council, Member States, universities, students and economic and social partners to work together to make the European diploma a reality.
Source: Press Office of the European Commission Representation in Italy
Photo: EC