Ten Erasmus+ pilot projects trailblazing a European degree (label) and a possible European legal status for alliances of higher education institutions presented the key outcomes of their intense, one-year work at a large-scale conference which took place on 29 April 2024 in Brussels. The event was hosted by the SMARTT pilot project and its partner university, Université libre de Bruxelles.  

Following the European Commission’s presentation of a Blueprint for a European degree (for more details, see ACA Newsletter – Higher Education Europe, March 2024), the pilot project representatives discussed a series of topics related to  

• Challenges for joint degree programmes 
• The added value of a European degree and legal status for alliances 
• The proposed European criteria and  
• Recommendations for the future of both pilots, based on the lessons learned from their pilots.  

The final results of the ten pilot projects can be consulted by clicking the links below. 

To make a European degree the reality, the participants stressed the need for strong coordination between member states, legislative changes and sufficient funding at European, national and regional level for what promises to reshape the landscape of higher education across the continent.  

Looking forward, the pilot projects aim to capitalise on the insights gained during the pilots work and engage in a wider dialogue with the European Commission, member states and other higher education actors through the planned European Degree Policy Lab and the European Degree Forum, in order to develop a common understanding of the principles and criteria underlying the European degree.  

The European Commission will present the final report synthesising the results of the Erasmus+ pilot projects in autumn 2024.