The EDLive project is selected for funding to advance the Joint European Degree Label

Arqus is pleased to announce that EDLive – The European Degree Label Live: From Vision to Action has been selected for funding under the Erasmus+ Partnerships for Excellence: European Degree exploratory action call.

Over the next 36 months, starting on next October, the project will contribute to the implementation of the Joint European Degree Label (jEDL), supporting the development of high-quality joint programmes and helping advance a more integrated, inclusive and internationally competitive European Higher Education Area.

Ulrike Krawagna (University of Graz), the leader of this proposal, states: “We are proud that Arqus is among the European University Alliances selected to contribute to the European Commission’s flagship initiative for higher education, helping to shape common European standards for high-quality joint programmes and supporting the development of a more integrated and inclusive European Education Area.”

The Arqus partner universities contribute over 25 years of experience in joint programme design and implementation, with leadership in European and global initiatives and projects such as EDLab, JOIMAN, JOI.CON, and JoinSee.

This is a significant achievement for the entire Arqus Alliance. By contributing to one of the European Commission’s flagship initiatives for higher education, Arqus further strengthens its role as a key actor in shaping the future of European university cooperation and reinforces its long-standing commitment to educational innovation, academic excellence and deep transnational collaboration.

The Joint European Degree Label is a major step towards a more integrated European Higher Education Area. While Europe’s higher education systems benefit from a rich diversity of academic traditions, legal frameworks and quality assurance systems, this diversity can also create barriers to the development and recognition of joint programmes. The Joint European Degree Label seeks to address these challenges by establishing a common European framework that enhances the transparency, quality and international recognition of joint degrees.

EDLive has been designed to support the transition from pilot initiatives to the large-scale implementation of the Joint European Degree Label across Europe. The project will develop practical strategies and tools to help higher education institutions design, deliver and recognise joint programmes aligned with common European standards, while promoting excellence, inclusiveness and innovation in transnational education.

For the Arqus Alliance, the participation in EDLive represents an opportunity to build on its extensive experience in collaborative education and to contribute directly to one of the most ambitious reforms currently shaping European higher education. The proposal was awarded 88 out of 100 points in the evaluation, with reviewers highlighting its strong strategic relevance, ambitious yet achievable objectives, comprehensive approach to supporting joint programmes and students, and the Alliance’s proven capacity to deliver. Evaluators also recognised Arqus’ extensive experience in developing joint programmes, its robust governance structures and its strong potential to help shape the next phase of the European Degree Initiative.

Over the next three years, Arqus and its partners will work together to translate the vision of the European Degree into concrete practices that benefit universities, students and employers alike. Through EDLive, the Alliance will contribute to developing shared quality standards, transparent multi-institutional governance, well-supported mobility pathways and more inclusive approaches to transnational education, helping to shape a stronger, more resilient and globally competitive European Higher Education Area.

In line with the objectives of the call, the project aims to increase the visibility and understanding of the jEDL, expand institutional capacity and the number of compliant joint programmes, and improve inclusiveness and accessibility through efficient, student‑centred support.

The project has been awarded €999,491.28 in Erasmus+ funding for a duration of 36 months, providing the resources needed to maximise its impact across the Alliance and contribute to the future implementation of the Joint European Degree Label in Europe.