Report on the final results of the Erasmus+ pilot projects
Building on the preliminary results of the Erasmus+ pilot projects, the Commission proposed a blueprint for a European degree in March 2024 (Link). The report now published presents new details on the individual projects, summarises the respective objectives and conclusions, and presents (measurement) indicators for the 16 criteria for a European degree and a European label. The document also presents recommendations from the projects to political decision-makers, member states, universities and quality assurance agencies.
Four projects for testing a European legal status for alliances
The four pilot projects focusing on a possible European legal status for alliances are also examined in detail. Overall, four areas are identified that an institutionalised cooperation instrument should cover:
- Joint educational activities,
- Sustainable governance and funding,
- Joint resource management,
- External relations
Currently, no national or EU legal instrument fulfils these special requirements. The projects assessed the advantages, disadvantages and usefulness of the five existing EU instruments and formulated recommendations. The projects also recommended reforms to the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) to enable its recognition as a higher education institution for the purpose of joint transnational activities (e.g., by allowing private partners to join and strengthen its pan-European reach).
Six projects for testing a European degree
Alongside detailed descriptions of the projects, the report addresses many of the findings and concepts already presented in the working document for the blueprint, which are briefly outlined below.
Based on the results, a clear added value for students, higher education institutions and EU Member States could be identified, such as the development of future-relevant skills, reduction of administrative hurdles and improved employment opportunities for students after graduation.
Over 50 obstacles were also listed, which will be addressed in 2025 through the ‘European degree pathway projects’ initiative already announced in the blueprint. The Commission report categorises the six obstacles identified by the Erasmus+ pilot projects on the European degree (label)in four main areas: Accreditation and quality assurance, programme structure, administrative structure, as well as student admission and enrolment. In addition to individual solutions, six overarching solutions for overcoming the obstacles at national and regional level are also presented.
Another outcome of the Erasmus+ pilot projects are initiatives to develop tools, roadmaps and guidelines for implementing the European criteria in practice. This led to the recommendation announced in the blueprint, to set up a ‘European degree policy lab’ in the form of a series of thematic working sessions to encourage EU Member States and the higher education community to develop guidelines for a European degree. An annual ‘European degree forum’ will then be held to take stock of progress, with the participation of high-ranking representatives of the EU Member States and the most important quality assurance organisations, among others.
According to the pilot projects, a dual approach with two options (labelling and graduation), building on existing quality assurance processes, facilitates the inclusive process and the possibility to progress at different speeds and on a voluntary basis.
The pilot projects also highlighted the need for specific funding (both at EU and national level) for the development of joint degree programmes in order to incentivise the development of innovative joint degree programmes and support students. Therefore, the Commission has proposed to launch an ‘Erasmus+ European degree exploratory action’ for European degrees in 2025, in addition to other existing sources of funding under the Erasmus+ programme.
