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TAM Report / Armenia - Joint master's Degrees

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Petya Mitova • 17 November 2025
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GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Developing and Implementing Joint Master’s Degree Programmes: Current Challenges and Prospectives    

Type of Event: Seminar

Modality: Hybrid

Location: Yerevan State University

Country: Armenia

Dates: 25-26 April, 2024

Expert: Ulrike Krawagna, University of Graz

Participants: Seventy people attended the event, among them university representatives, academics, members of university management and higher education policymakers.

              

THEMES COVERED

  • Policies, international instruments, and regulations related to joint, double, and multiple degrees.
  • Understanding the rationale, motivation, and terminology of joint programmes.
  • Identifying opportunities and challenges for HEIs (legal framework, language requirements, infrastructure, QA, funding).
  • Design, planning, and development of joint programmes (learning outcomes, admission, curriculum integration).
  • Funding models and sustainability strategies for international programmes.
  • SWOT analysis and institutional self-assessment for joint programme readiness.
  • Inclusion policies in developing joint master programmes.

 

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

  • Gained a clear understanding of the concepts, terminology, and regulations behind joint, double, and multiple master’s programmes. 
  • Examined the main opportunities and challenges for implementing joint programmes in Armenia and Ukraine, including legal and funding barriers. 
  • Learned about essential elements of joint programme design—curriculum planning, admission, quality assurance, and accreditation options. 
  • Reviewed practical tools, case studies, and examples that support the development and implementation of joint programmes.

 

OVERVIEW

The Technical Assistance Mission focused on developing and implementing Joint Master’s Degree Programmes in Armenia and Ukraine. Delivered as a hybrid seminar, the event brought together university representatives, academics, managers, and policymakers to deepen their understanding of joint, double, and multiple degree programmes. During the first sessions, the expert introduced key terminology, international regulations, and the rationale behind establishing joint programmes, supported by case studies from both countries to illustrate practical implementation pathways. 

The workshop combined presentations, discussions, and interactive tools such as Padlet and Mentimeter to allow participants to reflect on challenges and opportunities within their national and institutional contexts. A dedicated session explored the design and accreditation of joint programmes, including curriculum planning, admission processes, quality assurance mechanisms, and sustainability considerations. Participants also engaged in group work to conduct SWOT analyses of their current capacities and needs. 

Overall, the event strengthened participants’ understanding of how joint programmes can support internationalisation, enhance visibility, and benefit students through expanded mobility and academic opportunities. However, significant systemic challenges were identified, including the need to adapt legal regulations, establish accreditation procedures for joint degrees, and secure sustainable funding. The seminar concluded with recommendations for future national workshops focusing on legal reform, international curriculum development, and practical implementation strategies.

 

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

Title of the activity: Development and Implementation of Joint Master’s Programmes

Dates: 28 November 2024

Audience: The seminar gathered 29 participants, including senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the NEO–Ukraine team, 18 representatives from HEIs experienced in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programmes, additional HEIs interested in launching joint programmes, and two online speakers from the Ukrainian Catholic University.

Description: The follow-up seminar, organised by the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine together with the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” and supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities in developing, implementing and accrediting joint Master’s programmes. Building on the insights and recommendations from the April 2024 regional TAM in Yerevan, the event explored legal, procedural and quality assurance aspects relevant to joint programmes in the Ukrainian context.

Participants reviewed practical cases from Ukrainian universities, discussed existing barriers such as the lack of detailed national guidelines, and examined ways to strengthen institutional capacity for joint programme development, including within Erasmus Mundus projects. The seminar concluded with a shared recognition of the need to develop national Guidelines for implementing coordinated joint study programmes and issuing joint or double diplomas, with the Ministry announcing plans to establish a working group in 2025 to take this forward.

 

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

  • Update national legal regulations to allow the implementation and accreditation of joint programmes, including issuing joint diplomas.

  • Align accreditation procedures with the European Approach for Joint Programme Accreditation.

  • Create funding models to support international curriculum collaboration, mobility components, and joint programme sustainability.

  • Provide support for improving foreign language skills to enable effective international collaboration.

  • Recommended types of follow-up events include:

    • Workshops for policymakers and universities on adapting the legal framework.

    • Workshops on international curriculum development.

    • Training on European Approach accreditation.

    • Workshops on implementing international curricular components at institutional or subject level.

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

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