Arqus fully supports the Coimbra Group statement on why we need the European Degree now

Since its inception in 2019, Arqus has put a great effort into the development and delivery of joint programmes of all kinds: three joint programmes have been set up, two of them ex novo leading to joint Master’s degrees accredited according to the European Approach, and seven more are currently under development covering both EQF6 and EQF7 levels. The Alliance has also designed and delivered joint short-term learning experiences in the form of MOOCs, microcredentials, summer and winter schools, etc. 

On top of that, from March 2023 to April 2024, Arqus led a consortium of four alliances (Arqus, ENLIGHT, EUTOPIA and SEA-EU) in the EDLab pilot project, one of the six policy experimentation projects funded by the European Commission (EC) to explore the viability of the implementation of the European Degree Label.

The Arqus position paper on the European Degree was published last October, aiming to contribute to the policy debate on the European Degree and the European Degree label at a crucial point in the debate in the light of the Higher Education Package published on 27 March 2024, and of the Arqus collective experience and experiments, the challenges encountered and our shared ambitions for the coming years.

Today, ahead of the meeting of the Education Committee on 3-4 February 2025, the Coimbra Group (CG), an associate partner of Arqus and of the EDLab project, has published a statement urging all actors to keep the momentum going. “In today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, the European Degree represents a bold initiative to renew and transform higher education across Europe”.

The CG statement underlines the added value of the European Degree in the form of enhanced competitiveness, benefits for universities, students and staff, alongside innovation in academia, highlights the need for a collective vision and in particular the importance of seizing the moment. 

“The European Degree represents a renewal in the higher education sector—a renewal of discussions, processes, ambition, and of the collective vision of a united Europe. By focusing on its benefits, addressing challenges collaboratively, and ensuring adequate support, we can make the European Degree a transformative initiative for students, Universities and the broader academic community.” 

Arqus shares this perspective and fully supports the CG statement.