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[The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom) 2. NAT4DD Joint Master’s Programme Earns AQAS Accreditation, Marking a Milestone for CIVIS Joint Education NAT4DD Joint Master’s Programme Earns AQAS Accreditation, Marking a Milestone for CIVIS Joint Education ========================================================================================================= Study programmes 5 de octubre de 2026 The pioneering international CIVIS Joint Master’s Programme **“Drug Development: From Natural Products to Formulations and Applications – NAT4DD”** has successfully received European Approach accreditation from **AQAS (Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programmes)**, marking a major milestone for the development of joint academic programmes within **CIVIS Alliance** and for the international educational activities of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The programme is jointly offered by the [**National and Kapodistrian University of Athens**](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis/national-and-kapodistrian-university-of-athens), which serves as the coordinating university, [**Sapienza Università di Roma**](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis/sapienza-universita-di-roma), and the [**University of Bucharest**](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis/university-of-bucharest). Developed within the CIVIS framework, NAT4DD brings together the complementary academic and research expertise of the three universities to deliver an integrated, interdisciplinary and internationally oriented approach to modern drug development. Another step forward for CIVIS joint education ---------------------------------------------- NAT4DD’s successful accreditation reflects the growing capacity of CIVIS universities to move beyond individual mobility and cooperation schemes towards jointly designed, governed and quality-assured academic programmes. CIVIS Alliance approaches joint education through structured vision and governance, underpinned by a shared educational framework at Alliance level. Dedicated Units, Officers, and teams provide coordinated operational support, while targeted calls and incentivised projects encourage academics to collaborate in designing and delivering learning opportunities. This combination of strategic direction, institutional cooperation, and practical support enables the development of [joint degree programmes](https://civis.eu/es/learn/find-your-master-s-programme), micro-credentials, [Blended Intensive Programmes](https://civis.eu/es/learn/blended-intensive-programmes), and other [flexible educational formats](https://civis.eu/es/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer). With curriculum co-creation, mobility, quality and recognition as core priorities, CIVIS seeks to build inclusive learning pathways across institutions and disciplines, connecting academic expertise with societal challenges and contributing to the European Higher Education Area. For **Professor Sophia Papaioannou, CIVIS Scientific Director at NKUA and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion**, the accreditation also represents a wider institutional milestone for NKUA and its internationalisation strategy. As she noted: ![Professor Sophia Papaioannou, CIVIS Scientific Director at NKUA and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion](https://civis.eu/storage/files/vice-rector-pr-sophia-papaioannou.jpg) > The accreditation of NAT4DD marks an important milestone for the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and its internationalization strategy. As the first Joint Master’s Programme established within the framework of the CIVIS European University Alliance, with NKUA as the coordinating institution, the programme embodies a new approach to European higher education. Its pioneering character is evident on multiple levels: interdisciplinary and research-driven, international and inter-university, as well as educational, offering students a truly shared European learning experience. Its accreditation confirms NKUA’s capacity to lead the development of innovative, international, and high-quality study programmes and to contribute actively to shaping the University of the future Professor Sophia Papaioannou, CIVIS Scientific Director at NKUA and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion Her perspective highlights the broader significance of NAT4DD beyond the accreditation itself: as a tangible example of how the CIVIS Alliance can translate institutional cooperation into shared academic structures, common educational pathways and genuinely transnational learning experiences. Reflecting on the journey from the programme’s origins within CIVIS to its European accreditation, the NKUA Coordinating Team — **Professor Eleni Skaltsa, Professor Georgia Valsami, Assistant Professor Paraskevi Papakyriakopoulou and Dr. Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou**, from the School of Health Sciences – Department of Pharmacy at NKUA — stated: *“From the educational initiatives within CIVIS Alliance, to the European Approach accreditation of the CIVIS Joint Master's Programme NAT4DD, we have come a long and highly rewarding way. The European accreditation significantly strengthens the Programme’s international recognition and its capacity to offer modern, interdisciplinary education. This important milestone reflects a shared vision, excellent collaboration, and sustained collective effort, while also marking the beginning of the next phase in the development and implementation of the Programme”.* European Approach accreditation confirms academic quality --------------------------------------------------------- Following an extensive external evaluation procedure, the AQAS Standing Commission, at its meeting on 7 September 2026, decided to accredit NAT4DD in accordance with the **AQAS Criteria for Programme Accreditation**. According to the final accreditation report, the programme essentially complies with the applicable criteria, as well as with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The accreditation process was conducted in accordance with the **European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes**, which provides a common framework for the external quality assurance of joint programmes offered collaboratively by higher education institutions in different European countries. As part of the evaluation procedure, an on-site visit took place at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on 17 and 18 June 2026. Following the visit, the expert panel highlighted in its final report the consortium’s extensive experience in international cooperation within CIVIS Alliance, the strong commitment of all three partner universities to the joint programme, its common governance and quality-assurance framework, its clearly defined admission procedures and learning outcomes, and the comprehensive support structures available to students. From natural products to pharmaceutical applications ---------------------------------------------------- NAT4DD is a two-year, 120-ECTS Joint Master’s Programme designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills covering the entire drug-development pathway, with particular emphasis on natural products and their progression towards pharmaceutical applications, including cosmetics, dietary supplements and medical devices. Its interdisciplinary curriculum integrates **natural product chemistry, analytical and computational techniques, biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, formulation development, pharmacology, molecular and cellular biology**, as well as related areas of pharmaceutical research. By connecting fundamental scientific knowledge with applied research and development, the programme seeks to prepare graduates for an increasingly interdisciplinary and international pharmaceutical and biomedical environment. Mobility at the heart of the CIVIS learning experience ------------------------------------------------------ A defining feature of NAT4DD is its **international and interdisciplinary structure**, which places academic mobility at the centre of the student experience. Students undertake **compulsory mobility across the three partner universities**, allowing them to benefit from the distinct academic environments, scientific expertise and research infrastructures offered by **NKUA, Sapienza Università di Roma and the University of Bucharest.** The programme combines lectures, laboratory training, seminars, research-oriented and project-based learning, and culminates in a mandatory internship and Master’s thesis. The external evaluation panel specifically identified the programme’s international and multicultural character, as well as its integration of academic and industrial perspectives, among its key strengths. Through this model, NAT4DD translates one of the central ambitions of CIVIS into practice: enabling students to experience several universities as part of a shared educational environment rather than as separate national institutions. Extending CIVIS cooperation beyond Europe ----------------------------------------- The international dimension of NAT4DD extends beyond the three European partner universities through collaboration with **five** [**Associated Partner Universities in Africa**](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/associate-members-universities-in-africa): - **Eduardo Mondlane University** in Mozambique, - the **University of the Witwatersrand** in South Africa, - the **University of Sfax** in Tunisia, - **Hassan II University of Casablanca** in Morocco, and - **Makerere University** in Uganda. Their involvement broadens the programme’s international academic network and contributes additional scientific perspectives, knowledge and expertise to its educational activities. This wider cooperation also reflects CIVIS’ commitment to strengthening African-European academic partnerships and developing educational initiatives that connect universities, researchers and students across geographical and institutional boundaries. Advancing a shared European Higher Education Area ------------------------------------------------- The successful accreditation of NAT4DD represents an important achievement for all three partner universities and further reinforces the programme consortium’s commitment to high-quality international education, academic collaboration and the development of innovative joint study programmes within the European Higher Education Area. At the same time, it reflects the broader objectives of CIVIS Alliance: to create integrated educational opportunities that transcend national boundaries and bring together students, academics, researchers and institutions across Europe and beyond. By combining shared academic governance, compulsory mobility, interdisciplinary learning, international cooperation and common quality-assurance standards, NAT4DD provides a concrete example of how European Universities alliances can contribute to the emergence of new models of transnational higher education. AQAS will publish the final accreditation report on its website and register the report in the DEQAR (Database of External Quality Assurance Results – [www.deqar.eu](http://www.deqar.eu)). --- *Photo: CIVIS Office NKUA* Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/africa-charter1-800x600.jpg?token=d5b695acf9ecf4d0c38f220871c1b81c)Wits Casablanca African Partner Universities 30 de septiembre de 2026 ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/wits-casablanca) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/civis-show-800x600.jpg?token=d33226425fc5127a5aad705fb2a9144c)Siete años de CIVIS: de un proyecto ambicioso a una próspera comunidad académica Communication and Dissemination 17 de septiembre de 2026 ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/seven-years-of-civis-from-an-ambitious-project-to-a-thriving-academic-community) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/tr2-800x600.jpg?token=7ef6de17ebf4f78056295caacae897a5)TRACEE Study programmes 17 de septiembre de 2026 ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/tracee) [Descubra todas nuestras historias](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom) [ Wits Casablanca ](< https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/wits-casablanca >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 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