Joint European Degree label in Engineering (JEDI): toward an EU framework for engineering education
The Joint European Degree Label in Engineering (JEDI) project, coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, brings together 16 partner institutions (engineering schools, technical universities, accreditation agencies, ministries and industry representatives) from 11 European countries. Its objective is to develop a common European label for joint degrees in engineering, to facilitate their recognition and accreditation at European level.
Background and context
In view of the increase in student mobility and joint programmes, the project is responding to a growing need to harmonise the criteria for the assessment and recognition of diplomas. Currently, the lack of harmonised rules complicates the recognition of joint diplomas, both at national and European level. Professional associations of engineers, in particular, are often reluctant to recognise foreign programmes, which hampers the integration of these degrees into the European engineering, technology and science sectors - contributing to the skills gap and mismatch.
About this initiative
To overcome these obstacles, JEDI has put in place a structured framework to ensure the coherence and quality of joint programmes. This framework includes the alignment of curricula with common learning outcomes, as well as the establishment of quality assurance and accreditation criteria. A prototype label was developed, based on common criteria, and tested on selected joint degree programs.
Feedback was collected from students, academic institutions and employers to assess the impact of the label and refine its applicability and effectiveness. Indeed, a qualitative study published in 2025 in theInternational Journal of Engineering Education shows that stakeholders see great potential in joint degrees and the creation of a European label, even if differences between countries on points such as the duration of courses,the language of instruction, the recognition of hybrid or online training, etc. further complicate the establishment of a common framework.
Why is this a good practice?
This project offers a concrete solution to the challenges of recognising joint engineering degrees in Europe, placing digitalisation at the heart of its approach. In the long run, it holds the potential to facilitate graduate academic and professional mobility, strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions and industrial actors, and contribute to the harmonisation of engineering training standards. Moreover, building on existing accreditation frameworks such as the EUR-ACE label, the project aims to ensure continuity and consistency with recognised quality standards, while promoting pedagogical innovation and mutual recognition of qualifications at European level.
Its work is embedded in the European Universities ecosystem, which today reaches nearly half of Europe’s student population and has already produced over 600 joint study programmes, including around 160 joint degrees. By co-creating shared criteria for a European engineering degree label with universities, quality assurance bodies, ministries, employers and students, JEDI addresses one of the main structural barriers to joint programmes: recognition and trust across national systems. Through this multistakeholder approach, the project strengthens the visibility, credibility and labour-market relevance of joint engineering degrees, while providing concrete, transferable inputs for future European degree frameworks.
