Your opinion is needed! EU initiative for a common European higher education qualification

The European Commission wants your opinion on a common European higher education qualification, appropriate quality assurance and recognition systems and attractive and sustainable careers in higher education. To this end, it has published consultations aimed at all interested parties - from the higher education sector to partners in its ecosystem, trade unions and employers' organisations, businesses and SMEs, research and innovation institutions, civil society, citizens and Member States (local, regional and national authorities).

The Commission will analyse the opinions, views and ideas of the participants in these consultations on the way forward towards a common European degree, attractive and sustainable careers in higher education and a European quality assurance and recognition system, and build further planning on this.

In her declaration of intent on the State of the Union 2023, President von der Leyen emphasised the common European higher education qualification as one of the most important priorities for 2024. The initiative has therefore also been included in the Commission's work programme for 2024. This initiative will contribute to the realisation of a European Education Area. It is a key flagship initiative of the European Higher Education Strategy and follows the Council's Recommendation on facilitating effective European cooperation in higher education, both adopted in 2022.

Deadline: 6 February 2024

Please click on one of the public consultations below to find out more, view the feedback received or provide feedback yourself:

European Quality Assurance and Recognition System (new guidance)

The objective of a European Quality Assurance and Recognition System in higher education is to support robust and future-proof quality assurance systems across the EU. Such systems are the basis for trust and transparency and enable deeper cooperation across EU countries and seamless mobility. This is key to further boosting joint educational activities and programmes at all levels, including joint European degrees and micro-credentials, and ensuring their automatic recognition across the EU.

Joint European degree

As announced in the European strategy for universities, this initiative presents the objectives and avenues to set-up a joint European degree to be delivered at national, regional or institutional level. The degree will attest learning outcomes as part of a joint programme among several institutions across Europe. The degree could be offered by alliances of higher education institutions, for example the European Universities, based on a common set of European criteria.

Attractive and sustainable careers in higher education

As announced in the European strategy for universities, high quality staff are key for thriving EU higher education institutions and deeper cooperation with other institutions across Europe and beyond. Yet, staff face uneven recognition of their roles, precarious conditions, gender bias, and lack of support to work in another EU country. This initiative will encourage EU countries to create better conditions for more attractive, diverse, and sustainable careers in higher education.

You can find out more about the background of the exploratory study here (PDF).

Source: EU Commission