The visual shows on the left side the title “The Student Voice at the European Parliament” and subtitle: “ESN’s recommendations for a student-centred European Degree“. On the right side there is a picture of the speakers on the table.
Friday, 16 January, 2026 - 11:34

On November 5, 2025, Simone Lepore (President of the Erasmus Student Network) represented student perspectives at the European Parliament’s Public Hearing on the European Degree organised by the CULT Committee in Brussels.  

Built on over 35 years of Erasmus+ experience, the European Degree initiative further positions mobility as a shaping element of European higher education. Building on the ESNsurvey XV and ESU’s Bologna with Student Eyes 2024 insights, Simone called for the challenges already identified in traditional student mobility to be more efficiently addressed by the European Degree framework. 

What is the European Degree? 
On March 27, 2024, the European Commission presented a blueprint for a European Degree, adopting ambitious proposals for Europe’s higher education sector. It proposed a concrete cooperation plan and support measures for EU Member States and their higher education systems to work towards the creation of a European Degree. 

On May 12, 2025, the Council of the EU adopted a Recommendation setting out common criteria for awarding the European Degree Label. This voluntary recognition mechanism, dedicated to joint programmes involving institutions from at least two EU Member states, aims at increasing transparency, visibility and academic credibility for those programmes while serving as a first step towards the possibility of a full Joint European Degree by 2029. 

What is ESN’s position on the European Degree? 
ESN supports the implementation of the European Degree but conditions the success of this initiative to the early tackling of barriers currently faced by students in traditional mobility schemes. 

During the Public Hearing, Simone highlighted the following six key areas that should be prioritised for the European Degree to impact students more meaningfully. 

  1. Recognition of learning outcomes: More than one in three students reported issues linked to courses, credit transfer and recognition procedures (ESNsurvey XV). The European Degree must ensure that recognition is automatic, transparent and trusted.  
  2. Flexibility: More than half of national student unions reported that study programmes were not adequately designed to facilitate mobility (ESU). Joint programmes should be designed with greater curricular flexibility and embed student-centred learning as a core principle. 
  3. Administrative complexity: 42,86% of national unions highlighted administrative complexities and a lack of transparency impairing outgoing mobility processes (ESU). In turn, only 44% of mobility students confirmed having benefited from an Online Learning Agreement (ESNsurvey). The European Degree should provide simplified administrative frameworks, while participating institutions must further implement digital tools in the process. 
  4. Inclusion and feasibility: The European Degree must address structural realities such as housing shortages, visa delays and financial barriers to participation to ensure inclusivity and equal access to mobility, including for underrepresented students. 
  5. Skills and competences: Mobility clearly enhances transversal and soft skills, while often overlooking other competences including innovation, entrepreneurship or leadership. For instance, 62% of student volunteers declared not having received any form of formal recognition for their commitment (ESN 2024 Local Section Survey). The European Degree should bridge this gap by promoting interdisciplinary and challenge-based learning, and recognising all learning experiences that contribute to skills, citizenship and employability. 
  6. European identity: Beyond skills and qualifications, the European Degree should strengthen students’ sense of belonging and shared responsibility through joint programmes emphasising sustainability, civic engagement and democratic participation activities. 

Want to read more about our position? 
Have a read at our latest key publications: 

With the adoption of the European Degree Label and the upcoming launch of the European Degree Lab and Forum in 2025, ESN will keep representing the voice of students, advocating for an inclusive and student-based approach that brings Europe’s knowledge, talent and values together in the process.