The SMARTT project

Step-by-step

First phase of the project

In the first part of the project, the SMARTT Experts will work on designing a SMARTT vision on the European Degree label criteria, starting from the proposed list of criteria of the European Commission and the comparative analysis with other relevant criteria and guidelines, such as the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes, Erasmus Mundus, and other. Based on this SMARTT vision, the experts will design indicators and measures of achievement and testing for the criteria, which are piloted on one central joint degree programme delivered by 4 CIVIS universities, namely the “South European Studies (EUROSUD)” programme, coordinated by the University of Glasgow.

Next Steps

Based on this first testing phase, the SMARTT team will refine the instruments and tools (survey, indicator sheets, criteria descriptors, etc.) and prepare an extended testing phase for at least 50 joint, multiple, double degree programmes and micro-credentials delivered in transnational cooperation among different higher education institutions from CIVIS and the other associated partners. The list of programmes will be selected by the SMARTT advisory bodies (Education Council and Global Education Council), based on a set of criteria for ensuring a balanced approach (fields of studies, level of studies, type of degree partnership, geographical balance, etc.). 

Along the testing phases on the selected programmes, the project team will conduct a series of interviews and focus groups with different stakeholders, such as Ministries, Quality Assurance Agencies, Students representatives, and other relevant stakeholders from national and local level, discussing also on the barriers and challenges faced by higher education institutions when designing and implementing joint and multiple degree programmes, such as those included in the European Degree label piloting process.

Proposals and recommendations

Based on the testing phases and the discussions with different stakeholders, the project team will develop recommendations and proposals towards the European Commission and the member states, aiming to provide a clear evidence-base analysis on the piloting process for a European Degree label. In parallel, under the coordination of the European Commission, the SMARTT team will support the design and development of a label template for the European Degree label, aiming to issue it to the students of the EUROSUD programme, during the project implementation phase. 

The main outcomes of the project consist of recommendations and proposals based on extended testing phases for the establishment of a potential European Degree label, with open-access to the collected data and the methodology in place, supporting the transferability of the acquired knowledge for future approaches in this regard. Also, the project team will organise dissemination actions and events aiming to share the results of the work conducted in the project and to extend the results in other similar areas.

Members of SMARTT in Academia

European University Alliances

• CIVIS - Europe’s Civic University Alliance (Coordinator)
• EUTOPIA (Associate)
• NeurotechEU (Associate)
• UNITA (Associate)

The European Universities Alliances participate with the following Higher Education Institutions 

1. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid  (Spain)
2. Aix-Marseille Université (France) 
3. Université libre de Bruxelles  (Belgium)
4. Sapienza Università di Roma  (Italy) 
5. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens  (Greece)
6. University of Bucharest  (Romania) 
7. Stockholm University  (Sweden) 
8. Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (Austria) 
9. Berhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Germany) 
10. University of Glasgow (Scotland)  
11. University of Lausanne (Switzerland)
12. University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)  
13. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) 
14. Radboud University  (Netherland) 
15. Universidad Miguel Hernández (Spain)
16. Karolinska Institutet  (Sweden) 
17. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (Germany)
18. Boğaziçi Üniversitesi  (Turkey) 
19. Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie din Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
20. Debreceni Egyetem  (Hungary) 
21. Université de Lille (France)     
22. Háskólinn í Reykjavík (Iceland) 
23. Universidade de Beira Interior (Portugal)
24.  Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain) 
25. Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (France) 
26. Université Savoie Mont Blanc (France) 
27. Università di Torino (Italy)
28. Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara (Romania) 
29. Hassan II Institute of Agronomy & Veterinary Medicine – Rabat (Morocco)

Member of SMARTT in Government and Civil Society

National Authorities

• MEFP – Ministerio de Universidades Españoln (Spain)
• MESRI – Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (France)
• MUR – Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (Italy)
• General Secretariat for Higher Education of the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs (Greece)
• SERI – Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation  (Switzerland)
• ANECA – National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (Spain) 
• ANVUR – Italian National Agency (Italy)
• ARES – Académie de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur (Belgium)
• QAA Austria – Agentur fur Qualitatssicherung und Akkreditieru (Austria)
• QAA – Lead Policy Officer for Nations and Europe  (UK)
• Swedish Higher Education Authority (Sweden)
• HAHE – Hellenic Authority of Higher Education (Greece)
• ARACIS – Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (Romania)
• Hcéres – Haut Conseil de l’évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (France)
• MOVETIA — Swiss exchange agency (Switzerland)

Institutions & NGOs 

• Cámara de Comercio – Commerce Chamber (Spain)
• Fundación madri+d – Fundación para el Conocimiento Madrimasd (Spain)
• ELIX – Conservation Volunteers Greece (Greece)
• UNICEF Greece Country Office (Greece)

Student Networks

• ESN Greece
• CIVIS Global Student Council
• OI Salzburg Student Council

Contact SMARTT

email: smartt@lists.civis.eu