Schinas on Joint European Degree

"A few weeks ago, the European Commission took a step forward and submitted a proposal for a Joint European Degree that I am sure, in a few years, will become a visible symbol of the European integration next to the Euro, Schengen and Erasmus," Schinas said and added: "The idea of this degree is based on a long and rich history of collaborations and alliances among EU universities. Today we have built 60 such European Alliances with 500 universities (10% of the total number of universities in the EU). As you know better than I do, these cross-border synergies are already funding joint courses, cross-border collaborations and ever more mobility."

Regarding the proposal, he pointed out the following: "It concerns a new type, voluntary, joint program that will be co-formed by universities from different EU countries. This European degree will be recognized in all EU member states, it is oriented to the needs of the modern economy and labour market. It will, overall, turn Europe into an attractive educational destination for students from third countries."

European Education Area

The most important thing, he said, is that this initiative will allow Europeans to experience in practice the importance of a European Education Area. "With this degree, the European Education Area will turn - literally - into a tangible reality. Thus, mobility will become the norm and not the exception. Universities, like yours, but also similar institutions across the EU, have been asking us for years for such an initiative."