During the workshop, Axel Aerden (NVAO) presented the results of a survey among ENIC-NARICs about the recognition of qualifications awarded by joint programmes. These results will be published and made available as an e-report on ECA's website. Herman De Leeuw (EAIE, chair ACE) presented the results of a survey among admission officers and credential evaluators about the same topic. The main conclusion was the higher education institutions are not aware of current developments and/or get lost in the jungle of joint programmes and their degrees. There was a call to develop national and European platforms of admission officers and credential evaluators and to bring them up to date by routinely organising dissemination meetings.

ENIC-NARICs discussed examples of actual degrees and Diploma Supplements awarded by joint programmes and established whether they were good, not so good or unacceptable to be accepted for a recognition procedure. The following essential elements and recommendations regarding the recognition of qualifications awarded by joint programmes came up during the workshop:

• All the higher education institutions involved in the joint programme should be appropriately recognised in the national regulatory framework;


• The joint programme needs to be recognised (as a higher education programme and as a joint programme) in all the relevant higher education systems;


• If a joint qualification/degree is awarded this should be done in accordance with all the national legal frameworks of the awarding institutions;


• The joint qualification/degree should be signed by the competent authorities of the awarding institutions;


• The Diploma Supplement should cover the totality of the joint programme.


• The Diploma Supplement should include one single contact person (e.g. admission officer) or contact details. This contact would preferably keep the joint programme’s records and archives and can thus function as an easily reachable contact point for recognition questions.

ENIC-NARICs concluded that there is a need for further elaboration of guidelines for institutions regarding the award of degrees and Diploma Supplements. ECA and the ENIC-NARICs will further cooperate on this issue. ECA will propose further (project) activities regarding the recognition of qualifications awarded by joint programmes.