On March 17-18, 2016, Nadezhda Nemchinova, Head of NVSU International Offie, took part as a Bologna process expert in the workshop on Joint Programmes and Double Degree Programmes: Strategy, Management and Implementationheld in the University of Novi Sad (Serbia). Joint programmes are the hallmark of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) designed to enhance the mobility of students and university staff, promote mutual learning and cooperation opportunities, and develop high-quality programmes.

The workshop was organized by the University of Barcelona (UdB) and the European University Association (EUA), members of the European Commission SPHERE Project Consortium (Support and Promotion for Higher Education Reform Experts). The latter aims at supporting, promoting and improving the qualifications of experts in reforming of higher education.

The workshop was attended by experts of the Bologna process, representatives of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission, national Erasmus+ officers.

The workshop was devoted to the following issues:

Section 1: Joint programmes and degrees: What are they and what are they good for?

Section 2: Joint programmes and joint degrees. Different forms of cooperation with different implications.

Section 3: Development of joint programmes: partnership, curricula design, coordination, mobility (including credit award and grading).

Section 4: Joint programmes in times of digital provision.

Section 5: Quality assurance of joint programmes and degrees.

Section 6: Joint programmes and strategic internationalisation (institutional investment in joint programs, evaluating impact, spin-off cooperation and wider strategic partnerships.?

Section 7: Joint programmes: Opportunities under Erasmus+.

Workshop participants had an opportunity to learn about the experience of developing and implementing joint programmes and double degree programmes in the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Jordan, Palestine, Kazakhstan, Ukraine. The workshop included discussions on the issues of joint programmes quality assurance and accreditation, funding, recognition of joint degrees, management efficiency, and student mobility.