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Commission awards quality labels to European universities in 2010

The labels are given to institutions which have shown excellence in applying the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and the Diploma Supplement (DS), two European instruments that make teaching and learning more transparent and facilitate the recognition of studies and qualifications.

Five universities were awarded with the 2010 ECTS Label in the fringes of a Belgian Presidency conference on Youth on the Move, the EU's new flagship initiative to support young people, in Antwerp (Belgium) on 5-6 October. Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” (Bulgaria), Masarykova Univerzita (Czech Republic), the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia) as well as Sakarya Üniversitesi and Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi (both Turkey) received the distinction for their great commitment and success in applying the European credit system.

"The label gives us credibility abroad", said Mikulas Bek, Vice-Rector of Masaryk University, the second largest university in the Czech Republic. "It's also a sign of quality, which is useful for our graduates wanting to work outside of the country", he added.

In addition, the European Commission awarded 54 higher education institutions from 17 European countries with the 2010 Diploma Supplement label. They received this recognition for their efforts to give every graduate a standardised document with their diploma, automatically and free of charge, describing the nature and content of their studies. The aim of the Diploma Supplement is to make it easier for graduates to find jobs on the international labour market.

To know more

• Pictures of the ECTS and DS Award Ceremony in Antwerp, 5th October 2010

• More about the label holders 2009 and 2010…in their own words

• More about ECTS

• More about the Diploma Supplement

• Conference: Youth on the move – Achieving mobility for all!