B. Standards for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes in the EHEA
1. Eligibility
1.1 Status
The institutions that offer a joint programme should1 be recognised as higher education institutions by the relevant authorities of their countries. Their respective national legal frameworks should enable them to participate in the joint programme and, if applicable, to award a joint degree. The institutions awarding the degree(s) should ensure that the degree(s) belong to the higher education degree systems of the countries in which they are based.
1.2 Joint design and delivery
The joint programme should be offered jointly, involving all cooperating institutions in the design and delivery of the programme.
1.3 Cooperation Agreement
The terms and conditions of the joint programme should be laid down in a cooperation agreement. The agreement should in particular cover the following issues:
- Denomination of the degree(s) awarded in the programme
- Coordination and responsibilities of the partners involved regarding management and financial organisation (including funding, sharing of costs and income etc.)
- Admission and selection procedures for students
- Mobility of students and teachers
- Examination regulations, student assessment methods, recognition of credits and degree awarding procedures in the consortium.
2. Learning Outcomes
2.1 Level [ESG 1.2]
The intended learning outcomes should align with the corresponding level in the Framework for Qualifications in the European Higher Education Area (FQ-EHEA), as well as the applicable national qualifications framework(s).
2.2 Disciplinary field
The intended learning outcomes should comprise knowledge, skills, and competencies in the respective disciplinary field(s).
2.3 Achievement [ESG 1.2]
The programme should be able to demonstrate that the intended learning outcomes are achieved.
2.4 Regulated Professions
If relevant for the specific joint programme, the minimum agreed training conditions specified in the European Union Directive 2005/36/EC, or relevant common trainings frameworks established under the Directive, should be taken into account.
3. Study Programme [ESG 1.2]
3.1 Curriculum
The structure and content of the curriculum should be fit to enable the students to achieve the intended learning outcomes.
3.2 Credits
The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) should be applied properly and the distribution of credits should be clear.
3.3 Workload
A joint bachelor programme will typically amount to a total student workload of 180-240 ECTS-credits; a joint master programme will typically amount to 90-120 ECTS-credits and should not be less than 60 ECTS-credits at second cycle level (credit ranges according to the FQ-EHEA); for joint doctorates there is no credit range specified.
The workload and the average time to complete the programme should be monitored.
4. Admission and Recognition [ESG 1.4]
4.1. Admission
The admission requirements and selection procedures should be appropriate in light of the programme’s level and discipline.
4.2. Recognition
Recognition of qualifications and of periods of studies (including recognition of prior learning) should be applied in line with the Lisbon Recognition Convention and subsidiary documents.
5. Learning, Teaching and Assessment [ESG 1.3]
5.1 Learning and teaching
The programme should be designed to correspond with the intended learning outcomes, and the learning and teaching approaches applied should be adequate to achieve those. The diversity of students and their needs should be respected and attended to, especially in view of potential different cultural backgrounds of the students.
5.2 Assessment of students
The examination regulations and the assessment of the achieved learning outcomes should correspond with the intended learning outcomes. They should be applied consistently among partner institutions.
6. Student Support [ESG 1.6]
The student support services should contribute to the achievement of the intended learning outcomes. They should take into account specific challenges of mobile students.
7. Resources [ESG 1.5 & 1.6]
7.1 Staff
The staff should be sufficient and adequate (qualifications, professional and international experience) to implement the study programme.
7.2 Facilities
The facilities provided should be sufficient and adequate in view of the intended learning outcomes.
8. Transparency and Documentation [ESG 1.8]
Relevant information about the programme like admission requirements and procedures, course catalogue, examination and assessment procedures etc. should be well documented and published by taking into account specific needs of mobile students.
9. Quality Assurance [ESG 1.1 & part 1]
The cooperating institutions should apply joint internal quality assurance processes in accordance with part one of the ESG.
1 The Standards use of the common English usage of “should” which has the connotation of prescription and compliance.
Read further: C. Procedure
