ShareThe European Commission approves the European joint degree label
Following its approval, a joint rollout will begin, consisting of three phases and expected to conclude by 2029.
At the end of May, the Council of the European Union approved two documents of special significance for both the European Higher Education Area and AQU Catalunya. First, the final approval of the European Joint Degree Label stands out. After this step, the Commission, together with EU member states, will continue advancing towards the European Joint Degree with a plan to be implemented in three phases, expected to conclude in 2029. The first phase involves the approval by the European Commission and member states of both the procedure and the criteria for its application. Subsequently, the second phase will consist of the effective implementation of the label, taking place between 2026 and 2028, which will serve to explore the possibility of fully rolling out the European Joint Degree starting in 2029, corresponding to the third phase.
Secondly, the Commission also approved the recommendation on the European Quality Assurance and Recognition System in Higher Education. The recommendation urges member states to take a series of measures aimed at improving all quality assurance systems; to study the development of a specific quality assurance framework for alliances of higher education institutions; and to streamline programmatic and combined approaches to external quality assurance. Moreover, it encourages member states to work towards establishing the foundations for a European Joint Degree label and mutual recognition.
Additionally, the Council’s resolution sets out the “components for studying the development of a specific quality assurance framework for alliances of higher education institutions” and the “European criteria for the European Joint Degree label.” In the latter case, the Council foresees that agencies registered in EQAR, such as AQU Catalunya, will verify compliance with the criteria required for awarding the label. The European Joint Degree label will be granted to joint programmes delivered through transnational cooperation between universities from different countries, including at least two EU member states.