WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1793/98 by Michael McGOWAN to the Commission. Mutual recognition of university qualifications
Date: 1998-06-11
Institutions: European Parliament, MCGOWAN
Subjects: EU programme, free movement of persons, higher education, recognition of diplomas, research staff, student mobility, teaching curriculum, vocational training

22.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 50/95

(1999/C 50/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1793/98

by Michael McGowan (PSE) to the Commission

(11 June 1998)

Subject: Mutual recognition of university qualifications

In view of the fact that not all countries require a second university degree for higher studies, has the Commission
a programme to facilitate graduates in taking up courses in other Member States?

Is the Commission aware that there are problems for graduates from the United Kingdom progressing to
doctorate studies following the completion of a first degree?

What are the different degree qualifications in different Member States?

What is the status in each Member State and does the Commission have a programme to allow free movement of
graduates to continue their higher education and research in other Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Article 126 of the EC Treaty stipulates that (cid:145)the Community shall contribute to the development of quality
education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplement-
ing their action, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the
organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity(cid:146).

Since 1987, the Community(cid:146)s Erasmus programme has enabled a considerable number of students and teachers to
take advantage of mobility. This mobility, which takes place at all levels, including master(cid:146)s and doctorate levels,
always forms an integral part of the university course. For example, in the 1998/1999 academic year, 198 315
students from the Community, the European Economic Area and the associated countries should be spending a
period of study in another country, 149 941 of them at first-degree level, 43 194 at master(cid:146)s level and 5 180 at
doctorate level. The figures for the United Kingdom are 23 180, 2 634 and 256 respectively.

Apart from the possibilities offered by Erasmus, there is no other Community programme to encourage graduates
to undertake post-graduate studies in other Member States.

As far as the structure of qualifications is concerned, the second edition of the Guide to higher education systems
and qualifications covering EU/EEA states will be published by the Commission in a few weeks(cid:146) time. The
contents of this guide will also be made available to the general public on the Internet site of DG XXII for
Education, Training and Youth, on the page devoted to the Erasmus programme.

It should also be pointed out that, through its Erasmus programme, the Commission encourages universities to
cooperate in developing advanced-level (master(cid:146)s) curricula which not only encourage mobility but also provide
an introduction to research.

Finally, as regards research, within the Fourth framework programme (1), the aim of the specific programme
(cid:145)Training and mobility of researchers(cid:146) (TMR) is to promote, through the stimulation of training and the mobility
of researchers, a quantitative and qualitative increase of human resources within the Community and in the States
associated with the TMR programme. This specific programme is exclusively oriented towards researchers at
post-graduate or post-doctoral level. Although, in the case of post-graduate students, the emphasis is on the
research project and the training of the young researchers rather than on the degree obtained, the TMR
programme contributes significantly to the free movement of researchers throughout the Community.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.