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Five years since the European Commission presented its first ideas, EUA’s Maria Kelo reflects on what we now know about the European degree.
At the time, it was not clear what shape it should take, i.e, whether it would be a quality label to be awarded to joint programmes that meet specific European criteria, or an actual new degree type. What we now know is that to some extent the European degree might be both. What we also know is that the Commission does not intend to create a European body to award degrees. Instead, the European degree would be fully integrated into national qualifications frameworks across the European Union, and therefore be awarded following national regulations. As such, it would be a new type of joint degree, which would have additional specific features of a true ‘European nature’.
In addition, Maria highlights that whatever form the European degree takes, we need to make sure that it will not be used to justify further delays in the implementation of already agreed international cooperation tools and reforms linked to the Bologna Process.
The full article is available on University World News: Quality label or new degree? European degree may be both.
