The main purpose of the project is to strengthen cooperation among the Erasmus Mundus National Structures and the NARIC, ENIC and MERIC Centres.The five partners participating in the Bridge Project work both as Erasmus Mundus National Structures and as NARIC Centres:
The idea for the Bridge Project came after acknowledging that very often credential evaluation centres, such as the NARIC, ENIC and MERIC Centres, are not familiar with the specific elements of joint courses and qualifications and of Erasmus Mundus ones as well.During the life of a joint course, three phases have been identified when issues related to recognition and to differences between HE systems arise:
- programme creation: in this phase, it is necessary to consider the differences among various H.Ed. systems at international level;
- student recruitment: students’ selection follows criteria based on the evaluation of their qualification and on the status of the awarding institution;
- qualification award: when a double, multiple or joint degree is awarded and the Diploma Supplement is issued, it is necessary to comply with the different national regulations on joint programmes and joint degrees.
Considering the needs described above, the aims of the BRIDGE project are:
- to enhance the dialogue between the Network of Erasmus Mundus National Structures and the NARIC Centres;
- to assess the ENIC and MERIC Centres’ level of knowledge about the Erasmus Mundus Programme and to study real cases of EM qualification evaluations carried out in the centres;
- to provide practical tools and useful suggestions to EM consortia in the field of recognition;
- support credential evaluation centres, HE institutions, as well as employers to understand the features of joint courses, their quality and the precise value of the final qualification (both for academic and professional purposes).
The project was funded in the framework of Action 3 of the Erasmus Mundus Programme and it ended in 2012.