The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (EAC) published, on 19 December, a study on the feasibility of a European system for guaranteeing the quality and recognition of higher education qualifications. This report, published on the same day as an analysis of the opportunities offered to the European higher education sector by the proposed European Diploma (see EUROPE 13549/29), assesses the implementation of the 2006 Recommendation aimed at harmonising quality assurance practices across the European Union.
While progress has been made, disparities persist. Only 23 joint programmes used the European approach to quality assurance between 2016 and 2023. The report recommends stepping up transnational cooperation and further integrating automatic recognition of diplomas to facilitate the mobility of students and teachers.
Based on interviews with 82 national players and 11 European representatives, the study also proposes tools to enhance transparency and simplify accreditation procedures. It calls for existing frameworks to be modernised, in particular to incorporate micro-certifications and to support the initiative of European universities.
With more than 82 national and European stakeholders consulted, the project aims to guarantee minimum standards while respecting the autonomy of establishments. The aim is to guide the Member States towards a more integrated European education area during the year 2025.
To read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/eyg (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)