What if a student completed the course in Portugal and could, the next day, practice the profession in France, without equivalence processes, without bureaucracy and without months of waiting? The European Union wants to turn this hypothesis into reality by 2029, with the creation of the European Diploma, valid in all Member States. Speaking to DN, the Portuguese MEP, member of the Culture and Education Committee, Hélder Sousa e Silva explains the entire process, which has already started with the attribution of the “European diploma label”.
“In May this year, the European Council approved a resolution on the European diploma and how to implement it by 2029. It is up to the Commission and Parliament to monitor what has already been done [com o rótulo europeu]”, account.
Today will be the first time that this objective is evaluated and, according to the MEP, The objective is that, in 2029, there will be a European Diploma valid in all member states. Hélder Sousa e Silva explains that the meeting will serve to “monitor” the first step already taken. The current phase, he says, is that of the “European label”, a type of certification placed on diplomas. It works as a quality seal that guarantees that the course meets the established criteria.
But the path has other stages and the calendar has already been defined: “In 2025-2026 the preparation will take place, in 26-27 the initial implementation and in 28-29 the final implementation of the diploma will already be. In short, we have two objectives here, an intermediate one, which is the label, and the final one, the diploma”, he explains
For the MEP, the benefits for students and professionals will be clear: “I consider it an important issue because today we waste a lot of time asking for equivalences and when we manage to reach the end of this process, the gain will be equivalent to what happened with the abolition of roamingthe Schengen agreement, Erasmus, among other measures”, he argues. And he emphasizes the direct impact on people’s lives: “The diploma is a small gesture, but it will make a huge difference in the lives of citizens and in the job market.”
The change will also affect the way institutions present themselves abroad. “We will no longer have a diploma from universe A, B or C and we will have a European diploma”, he adds. The MEP therefore considers this to be a structuring measure, as “it will provide more opportunities for mobility, employment and recognition of citizenship.” and “it will require a standardization of the institutions’ curricula”. “After Bologna, it’s an additional benefit. There is administrative simplification and quality assurance”, he says.
Hélder Sousa e Silva further states that “the Portuguese Government supports this measure and recognizes its contribution to the valorization of Portuguese academic institutions”. Portugal is already part of this movement, with “29 Portuguese educational institutions that are within the alliances of European universities and are following this path.” In the European Union as a whole, “there are 65 active alliances that integrate more than 570 Higher Education institutions, particularly public institutions, which shows national involvement.”
With a future-oriented vision, the MEP believes in extending the measure to technical-professional courses. “It’s another way of making room for job mobility by recognizing the professional training that exists. There can and should be an appreciation of professional technical education”, he maintains. Hélder Sousa e Silva projects an even greater ambition: “When we reach 2029, it would be useful to think about an extra-European diploma, so that universities can then carry out joint programs and develop an intercontinental diploma to give rise to this global achievement”, he concludes.