European experience in awarding and recognition of Joint Degrees Mrs Inga Juknyte-Petreikiene, Head of Vilnius branch of the College of Social Sciences EU SOCRATES/ERASMUS CD PROJECT Development and Implementation of Joint Study Programme in International Business Management PROJECT NUMBER: IC – LT-ERASMUS-PROGUC-1 PARTNER MEETING January 2007 Klaipeda, Lithuania

Overview Definition of Joint Degree (hereafter – JD) Issues and Challenges JD and national qualifications Recognition of JD

Definition of Joint Degree An integrated study programme envisages a curriculum that has been jointly designed by two institutions and is regulated by specific negotiated agreement. Students who freely choose the programme undertake defined periods of study in both academic establishments in terms of duration and content. At the end of the courses and after the relevant joint examinations, the students are awarded a single qualification jointly signed by the academic authorities of both institutions. (Finocchetti, Damiani, 2002)

Definition of Joint Degree Joint degree is a single diploma issued by two or more institutions offering an integrated study programme. The single diploma (Bachelor, Master, Doctor) is signed by the rectors of all participating universities and recognised as substitute of the national diplomas. (Schule, 2006)

Definition of Joint Degree JD are normally awarded after study programmes that correspond to all or at least some of the following characteristics: the programmes are developed and/or approved jointly by several institutions; students from each participating institution study parts of the programme at other institutions (but they do not necessarily study at all cooperating institutions);

Definition of Joint Degree students’ stay at the participating institutions should constitute a substantial part of the programme; periods of study and exams passed at the partner institution(s) are recognized fully and automatically; professors of each participating institution also teach at the other institutions, work out the curriculum jointly and form joint commissions for admission and examinations;

Definition of Joint Degree after completion of the full programme, the student either obtains the national degrees of each participating institution or a degree (in fact usually an unofficial “certificate” or “diploma”) awarded jointly by partner institutions ( Touch, Rauhvargers, 2002; ENIC and NARIC networks, 2003)

Issues and Challenges Very few countries have specific legal provisions regarding JD. The award of a single degree in the name of several institutions is still legally difficult. A real joint award falls outside the framework of both national and international legislation.

Joint degree and national qualifications Numbers of awarding possibilities are following: The award of a “real” joint degree on a single degree certificate; The award of two separate degree certificates; One degree certificate.

Several methods to provide evidence that the award does actually result from a joint programme: An unofficial degree certificate is awarded on behalf of the whole partnership, in addition to the national degree; A degree certificate awarded by one of the partner institutions is also signed by representatives of all the others;

Several methods to provide evidence that the award does actually result from a joint programme: A degree certificate, awarded and signed by representatives of one of the participating institutions only, notes clearly that its holder has followed a jointly developed programme and lists all the other partner institutions. One normal degree certificate is awarded by a single institution in the partnership.

Recognition of JD Periods studied at partner institutions are often recognized automatically; JD are automatically recognized by the partner institutions; National recognition poses no problem when the joint degree is awarded as a national qualification; JD are often recognized by other institutions in the countries concerned, if JD is recognized as national qualification.

Recognition of JD For the recognition of JD RECOMMENDATIONS ON RECOGNITION OF JOINT DEGREES (2004) was developed by UNESCO and Council of Europe. Paragraph 8 recommend to Governments to review their legislation with a view to removing any legal obstacles to the recognition of joint degrees and introduce legal provisions that would facilitate such recognition.

References and further readings Touch, Ch., Rauhvargers, A. Survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe. EUA, September, – 44 p. See:. Finocchetti C., Damiani M. S. Joint Degrees and Double Degrees. The Italian experience. July, – 19 p. See:. Developing Joint Masters Programmes for Europe. Results of the EUA Joint Masters Project. March 2002 – January 2004: EUA, – 42 p. See:. Draft explanatory memorandum to the draft recommendation on the recognition of Joint degrees. ENIC network (Council of Europe/UNESCO), NARIC network (European Commission). 14 April See:. Recommendation on the recognition of Joint degrees. The Committee on the Convention on the Recognition of the Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region. 9 June See:

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