The University of Bucharest, a key shaper of European Education Policy: The Joint European Degree Label – a new vision for Higher Education

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted the framework for implementing the Joint European Degree Label, marking a major milestone in strengthening the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

The University of Bucharest (UB) has been actively involved in this initiative from the outset, playing a pivotal role in shaping the principles, criteria, and strategic direction of this high-impact European academic, symbolic, and value-driven effort.

Representing the CIVIS European University Alliance and acting as coordinator of the European Degree Subgroup within FOREU4ALL – the community that brings together all 65 European university alliances under the European Commission’s umbrella – Professor Romiță Iucu, PhD, played a crucial role in designing and validating the framework for the European Degree. Professor Iucu also serves as the President of the Board of Trustees at the University of Bucharest and is a faculty member at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, contributing to this initiative from both an institutional and academic perspective, alongside a team of experts from UB and CIVIS.

“The adoption of the Joint European Degree Label framework is arguably one of the most significant achievements in higher education since the launch of the Bologna Process. We are proud that the University of Bucharest, through its contribution to this effort, positions itself as a key provider of education policy at the European level, offering expertise, vision, and leadership for an innovative transformation of higher education,” said Professor Romiță Iucu, corresponding member of the Romanian Academy.

The University of Bucharest is the only institution in Romania to have coordinated one of the six pilot projects funded by the European Commission to test and validate the European Degree: the SMARTT Project (Screening, Mapping, Analysing, Recommending, Transferring and Transforming Higher Education International Programmes). The project brought together four university alliances and institutions from 18 European countries, generating a common set of criteria that reflect academic excellence, European integration, and the flexibility of joint study programs.

Within the CIVIS Alliance, the University of Bucharest played a decisive role in integrating the European Degree into the alliance’s common educational strategy. Rooted in this vision, UB promoted a new curricular architecture based on flexible, autonomous modules, aligned with the micro-credentials philosophy and tailored to the needs of future students. The traditional structure (e.g., six semesters of 30 credits each for a bachelor’s program) can be reimagined into smaller learning units, which can be completed and certified independently, provided that the jointness (the integrated nature of the programs) is maintained, allowing students to build personalized educational paths. CIVIS has embedded the European Degree principles as a core pillar of its educational design and implementation strategy, as outlined in its official position.

Furthermore, in 2024, during the European University Alliances Week in Toulouse, UB advanced the idea of developing the European Degree as both a European and global brand, aiming to increase the international appeal of European higher education beyond EU borders, including to the United States and Asia. This move also incorporates an educational diplomacy dimension, offering a forward-looking response to Europe’s need to deliver global solutions to future crises.

The Council of the European Union emphasized in its recent resolution that the Joint European Degree Label may be awarded to joint programs developed by institutions in at least two EU member states. This label will not replace national diplomas but will act as an additional certification of quality and European integration. The resolution encourages flexible learning, aligned with the mission of the new generation of European universities and the growing need to respond to a more dynamic and opportunity-rich society.

The Joint European Degree Label will guarantee the highest standards of quality, based on a common quality assurance framework and automatic mutual recognition among member states—an objective strongly supported by the University of Bucharest. In an increasingly challenging geopolitical context, the joint European degree becomes a key instrument in strengthening the global standing of European universities.

Through its active involvement at every stage of developing the European Degree, from vision to implementation, the University of Bucharest reaffirms its role as a national and European leader, and a vital partner in driving educational transformation across Europe.