GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The general objective of this call for proposals is to test and explore deeper transnational cooperation instruments to further develop a genuinely European dimension in the higher education sector, built on shared values, as mentioned in the European strategy for universities presented by the Commission on 18 January 2022 and as confirmed in the Council Conclusions on a European strategy empowering higher education institutions for the future of Europe and the Council recommendation on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation, adopted on 5 April 2022. To address this objective, the call is composed of two separate topics with specific objectives:

• Topic 1: Pilot a joint European degree label / The specific objective of Topic 1 is to allow alliances of higher education institutions and national authorities to examine, test and facilitate the delivery of a joint European degree label, based on a common set of co-created European criteria (see Call Annex). The aim is to encourage, where appropriate, and make it easier for higher education institutions engaged in transnational cooperation, to provide joint programmes and award joint degrees, in accordance with the Bologna instruments, as well as to take further steps to recognise the value of innovative transnational learning experiences and to increase the visibility, attractiveness and reputation, both in Europe and beyond, of joint programmes provided by alliances of European higher education institutions.
• Topic 2: Pilot institutionalised EU cooperation instruments to explore the  feasibility for a possible European legal status for alliances of higher education institutions / The specific objective of Topic 2 is to examine, test and facilitate the use of existing institutionalised cooperation instruments at European level, such as a possible legal status for alliances of higher education institutions – for example ‘European Universities’, with the objective of facilitating deeper, long-term and flexible transnational cooperation. The aim is to give alliances, on a voluntary basis, the latitude to act together, make common strategic decisions, experiment joint recruitment, design joint curricula or pool resources and human, technical, data, education, research and innovation capacities.