Conference report: Annual Conference: Boosting the potential of joint degrees: The Erasmus Mundus experience

Executive Summary

This executive summary synthesises the main findings and recommendations that emerged from the presentations and discussions during the Erasmus Mundus Community Conference "Boosting the potential of Joint Degrees in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programmes" on 30 November – 1 December
2023 in Brussels, Belgium.

Key insights include:
Added value of engaging in Joint Degrees (JDs)
- From the perspective of the European Commission, JDs align with the policy objectives of the EU, serve as a hallmark of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and contribute to the excellence of European Higher Education systems, while laying the foundation for a European degree in the future.
- From the viewpoint of learners and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), JDs contribute to a coherent and high-quality programme design and implementation, streamlined administrative processes and facilitated accreditation procedures.
- Business representatives highlight that companies operating globally could benefit from graduates with JDs due to their specialised training and international exposure.

Key takeaways:
- The conference underlined the role of HEIs as key actors in creating and co-designing an innovative, internationally oriented higher education environment. The importance of effective communication, cooperation, flexibility, and inclusiveness was stressed as beneficial for HEIs, students, and stakeholders involved in the process of developing and awarding JDs.
- Students should be involved in the development and promotion of JD programmes to ensure that their voices are heard.
- Key enabling factors for implementing JD programmes are financial sustainability, streamlined accreditation and administrative processes, standardised definitions and a forward-looking approach in the efforts to enhance the quality, attractiveness and coherence of higher education
through JDs.
- While JDs should be enabled and facilitated for HEIs at the level of the EU and the EHEA, speakers and conference participants underlined the importance of continuously acknowledging the diversity of HEIs and programmes, including the co-existence of different degree types along with the specific priorities, capacities, and strategic choices of HEIs, acknowledging their autonomy and strategic objectives.

To read the entire conference report download the attached pdf version.