Opening new paths to a European Degree: EUniWell secures €1 million for PATH_ED
EUniWell, the European University for Well-Being, is among the first European Universities alliances to secure a €1 million European Commission grant under the Erasmus+ “Partnerships for Excellence: European Universities – European Degree exploratory action”. The consortium’s three-year “Partnerships for Excellence: European Universities – European Degree exploratory action” (PATH_ED) project will support four existing joint and double degree programmes as well as two new joint programmes in obtaining the Joint European Degree Label. Coordinated by the University of Cologne, PATH_ED will bring together all twelve EUniWell member universities and four additional European partners.
Creating a shared European learning experience
Over the next three years, EUniWell will will work with six programmes representing different disciplines, institutions, countries, and European Qualifications Framework levels. They serve learners ranging from bachelor’s students to lifelong learners. Four programmes already exist and will be adapted to respond to the criteria necessary to earn the European Degree Label;
- German-Italian Bachelor of Law (University of Cologne and University of Florence);
- German-Italian Master of Law (University of Cologne and University of Florence);
- Master’s degree in Global Peace, Justice and Well-Being (University of Florence, Linnaeus University, and University of Murcia);
- Master’s degree in International Finance (University of Florence and University of Konstanz)
Two programmes will be new:
- Professional Master’s degree in Well-Being oriented Healthcare (University of Cologne, University of Murcia, Semmelweis University, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, and University of Florence); and
- Master’s degree in Environmental Humanities (University of Florence and University of Cologne).
The Joint European Degree Label recognises joint programmes that meet 16 criteria designed to put European values into practice. These include transnational programme organisation and quality assurance, embedded mobility, multilingualism, inclusion, sustainability, and digital competences.
PATH_ED will support the six programmes in adapting curricula, governance, mobility arrangements, accreditation and quality assurance, and the formal structures required for joint degrees. All programmes will to obtain the European Degree Label by the end of the project. The experience gained will be shared across the European Higher Education Area through toolboxes, workshops, peer learning, a final conference, and national and European networks.
“PATH_ED will put the Joint European Degree Label into practice across six very different programmes and several national systems,” said Professor Beatrix Busse, EUniWell Chief Development Officer and PATH_ED project coordinator. “The project will support them in meeting the European Degree Label criteria and overcoming remaining legal and administrative barriers”
Students at the heart of PATH_ED
€500,000 of the project funds will be committed to direct and service-based student support.
This budget allocation will include direct financial assistance - such as scholarships, mobility and tuition fee support - as well as guidance, mentoring, and accessibility and inclusion services. The student support measures will be tailored to the needs of each programme and are intended to reduce barriers to participation and cross-border mobility.
This commitment to student support reflects a central principle of the Joint European Degree Label: programmes should embody European values not only in their content and structure, but also in their accessibility.
An Alliance-wide endeavour
The PATH_ED consortium involves all twelve EUniWell member universities. The Universities of Cologne, Florence, Konstanz and Murcia, and Nantes Université are full project partners. The other seven participate as associated university partners: Inalco, Linnaeus University, Semmelweis University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the University of Birmingham, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, and the Medical University of Warsaw.
Four additional associated partners contribute expertise in accreditation, quality assurance, and European higher education cooperation: the European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education (ECA), the German accreditation agency AQAS, the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ), and the Coimbra Group.
Together, the consortium will connect the development of the six programmes with a wider exchange on implementing the Joint European Degree Label across Europe.
About EUniWell
The European University for Well-Being (EUniWell) is a European Universities alliance of twelve universities, supported by more than 60 associated partners. Established in 2020 through the Erasmus+ European Universities Initiative, EUniWell works across education, research, innovation, and civic engagement to advance individual, societal, and environmental well-being.
Contact
Media Contact:
Professor Dr Beatrix Busse
Chief Development Officer, European University for Well-Being
Vice-Rector for Teaching and Studies, University of Cologne
beatrix.busse[at]uni-koeln.de
Dr. Dorothee Groeger
Referentin für Kooperation in Forschung und Lehre
dorothee.groeger@uni-koeln.de
Press and Communications Team:
Eva Laurie
Head of Communications
European University for Well-Being
eva.laurie[at]uni-koeln.de
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