Dutch universities call on government to be constructive in ‘European Degree’ discussion

Last year, the European Commission published its plans to work towards a ‘European Degree’ that can facilitate collaboration in the field of higher education. A European degree could facilitate and simplify the development of joint study programmes, for example by universities that are part of an alliance within the European Universities Initiative (EUI). The Commission believes a European Degree could provide answers to challenges related to accreditation, quality assurance, mobility, and infrastructure. Through in-depth cooperation, knowledge institutions can contribute to innovation and flexibility of higher education while students and staff gain access to knowledge that they would not always have been available to them at their home institution. They can thereby gain new skills that contribute to the competitiveness of both the Netherlands and Europe.