Potentialities and Constraints of Joint European Degrees in Engineering: Stakeholder Perspectives from the JEDI Project

Recent decades have witnessed various transformational initiatives for the harmonization of European higher education, Joint European Degrees (JEDs) representing one of the cornerstones. With its pioneering role in the establishment of Joint European Degree Label as a step towards JEDs, the JEDI Project, with its specific focus on engineering, has offered a model label with the participation of European University Alliances. This paper explores the potentialities and constraints of joint European degrees in engineering as perceived by multiple stakeholders associated with the industry, ministries, engineering, higher education, and accreditation. It employed a qualitative research design in which data was collected through focus group interviews and analysed through thematic analyses, revealing four overarching themes: (i) label and degree, (ii) quality assurance and accreditation, (iii) added value, promotion and recognition and (iv) long-term vision. Considering the potentialities and constraints of joint European degrees as discussed in this paper will provide guidance for practitioners and policymakers on their design and implementation.