Joint degrees in Europe

1. Dr. Andrejs Rauhvargers Secretary General, Latvian Rectors’ Conference Joint degrees in Europe

2. Methodology JD/MD questionnaire (answers from 31 educational systems) Additional information search • modified JD questionnaire to Tuning project networks joint degrees’ consortia (30 answers). • Stockholm seminar on Joint degrees • Individual consultations with Bologna follow-up gr. members, ENICs, etc.

3. Master degrees • Dominant trend - towards Master level degrees that require 300 ECTS credits • Suggested definition of a Master in the EHEA: normally 300 credits, of which: at least 60 at graduatelevel and in the appropriate area • This would allow for:- Bachelor 180 + Master 120 credits ; - Bachelor 240 + Master 90 - 120 credits (of which up to 30 or 60 may be waived) - 300 credits Master (integrated progr.)

4. Master degrees • Courses that are too short may find it very difficult, if not impossible, to get transferable accreditation when it is generalised in Europe. • Differentiation between “academic” and “professional” Master degrees – some countries do and some don’t . • Generel access requirement is Bachelor, but many countries allow access of equal qualifications and provide more bridges between the sectors of HE. • ECTS and DS – being used or introduced in most countries • Few HEI seek accreditation from foreign agencies, as national and regional are developing rapidly

5. ... curricula offered by institutions from different countries and leading to a recognised joint degree • JD are relevant to Bologna objectives : joint quality assurance, recognition across the EHEA, transparency / convergence of HE systems, mobility, international employability, attractiveness. • Most Bologna countries have started JD. • more widespread at doctoral and Master’s level,ECTS widely used.

6. NATIONAL LEGISLATIONS NEED AMENDMENTS Very few countries legislate specifically for joint degrees Absence of legislation • does not prevent the establishment of joint programmes • but it may cause serious problems as regards: award of JD and their national-level recognition

7. No specific legislation = all national requirements should be met: • students are not always allowed to enrol at several institutions, • requirement to defend final thesis at home institution • minimum period of study at national institution (often above 50%) • regulations governing the text on degree certificates/ diplomas • regulations regarding language of instruction (some countries)

8. How are joint degrees awarded? • ‘real’ joint degree in the name of all partner institutions; • several degree certificates from all partners; • ‘double degree’, • one degree in the name of the “home” institutionwith: • unofficial certificate from all partners, • notion of joint character in degere certificate or DS, • no notion at all

9. If one degree is awarded, there are several possibilities to indicate the joint character: • unofficial joint certificate in addition to the national degree, • degree certificate is also signed by partners, • degree certificate notes clearly the joint developed programme and lists partner institutions, • one normal degree certificate is awarded by a single institution in the partnership

10. National Recognition • no problems when JD is a national qualification • double awards: “the foreign one will be treated as any other foreign degree” • ‘real’ joint degree: falls outside legal regulations International recognition • no unknown problems while awarded as national qualification(s), • a ‘real’ joint award is not “seen” by international legislation

11. Recommendations • National legislation should be amended to make award of JD possible • International legislation should be amendedto extend the scope of the Lisbon Convention to JD • Common mechanisms for the quality assurance of joint degrees are needed • JD in professional fields should be encouraged to ensure free movement of persons and European employability of graduates