Study on the Diploma Supplement as seen by its users - naric

Foreword
This project is the outcome of the initial contact that started in 2004 between the ENIC-
NARIC (European Network Information Centre – National Academic Recognition Information
Centre) network and ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher
Education). The interests the two organisations have with regard to the recognition of
evaluation or accreditation decisions for ENQA and the recognition of qualification for the
ENIC-NARIC were the starting point for reflection on possible complementary activities with
regards to the mobility of students and holders of a diploma.
The initial belief at the beginning of the project was that by optimising the implementation of
tools already employed across Europe, such as the Diploma Supplement, this could improve
the quality of higher education institutions’ activities as well as the recognition of
qualifications. This was confirmed with the conclusions resulting from the project. Clearly, the
problems associated with the academic recognition of qualifications are closely linked to the
quality of the Diploma Supplement. By taking an interest in the mechanisms put in place to
guarantee the quality of the Diploma Supplement, the daily work of ENIC-NARIC centres
could be improved. Beyond the issues surrounding the academic recognition of qualifications
in guaranteeing the quality of the Diploma Supplement, this would open up its potential as an
informative and communicative tool as well as helping to facilitate the mobility of personnel
and of European development.
However, it is important to outline certain limitations here. The technical feasibility of the
academic recognition of qualifications as well as the evaluation of the quality of programmes
do not cover all the issues related to the topic of recognition. It does not, for example,
include political concerns that arise for those merely seeking the recognition of their
qualifications. Furthermore, recognition has economic implications in terms of, for example,
granting scholarships or designating places at higher education institutions and in terms of
both employment and migration policy. Fundamentally, recognition is the responsibility of the
political order and remains regulated by legal measures laid down in the country.
The project greatly benefitted from the participation of several partners particularly interested
in the Diploma Supplement implementation. We would like to take this opportunity to thank
all the members of the steering group and the partners however much involved in this
project: the European higher education institutions that provided the ENIC-NARIC centres
with example Diploma Supplements and, more specifically, the three institutions in Finland,
France and Turkey who generously accepted to receive us and answer our questions. Our
thanks go out particularly to the other organisations who have participated in the entirety of
the project without whom this study would have been less pertinent: BusinessEurope, ESU,
EUA and EURASHE. The steering group would like to especially thank Henning Dettleff, the
representative of BusinessEurope, for his time and investment as well as his particularly
active participation in the project.
Bruno CURVALE, president of ENQA.
Françoise PROFIT, president of ENIC network.
“Diploma supplement as seen by its users” 4