Follow-up to the Joint Masters Project: EMNEM (2005-2006)
Based on the lessons learned fom EUA’s Joint Masters Project and the continued interest in developing and sustaining joint Masters, EUA undertook a project with the aim to generate a detailed European quality assurance methodology. The project, European Masters New Evaluation Methodology (EMNEM), developed a set of Guidelines to provide different stakeholders involved in joint masters with a clear set of questions and issues, which they could usefully address in their daily work. The Guidelines were published in May 2006.
• Learn more about the EMNEM Project
Joint Masters Project (2002-2004)
Joint degrees in Europe are currently being hailed as innovative examples of inter-university cooperation and as pillars of future European higher education development. Despite this high level of political and institutional interest, before the EUA Joint Masters Project (2002 – 2004) little was known about the tangible successes and difficulties of existing joint programmes.
Built upon the results of EUA's Survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe
, which highlighted considerable diversity of structures among degree programmes as well as legal recognition difficulties for joint programmes, the Joint Masters Project was designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the actual operation of these programmes.
Launched in September 2002, the project selected 11 programmes to participate in a process of self-evaluation and research, internal development, and sharing of findings. The aim was to help existing networks improve their programmes, while also highlighting recommended practices for networks wishing to develop such programmes. The project outcomes were first discussed at an EUA conference on the specific theme of joint degrees, "Universities working together in Europe", from 24-25 October 2003 at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania.
The project finished in January 2004 with the publication of the report, Developing Joint Masters Programmes for Europe
. This report discusses both incentives and obstacles to the development of Joint Masters programmes in Europe, describes key features of existing programmes, and outlines recommended practices. The project was co-funded with the European Commission in the framework of the Socrates programme.