At a meeting in Budapest on 17-18 October 2024, the Directors-General for Higher Education (DGHE) emphasized the importance of degree and credit mobility in higher education for regional and national competitiveness.
The participants also noted the significance of strategic partnerships, including regional collaboration and cross-border cooperation. The Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU presented the recent growth in the number of international students in Hungary, which had reached 43,137 in 2023, and emphasised the impact of international mobility on the country’s gross domestic product by demonstrating the expenditures of foreign students. Additionally, the Hungarian presidency highlighted the advancement of Hungarian higher education institutions in global rankings, where five domestic universities were among the top 1000 in 2023. The European Commission presented the advantages of European degrees compared to other joint degrees, quoting examples for the proposed European criteria. Furthermore, presentations were made on the progress and transformation potential of the European Universities initiative, which currently comprises over 560 institutions belonging to 64 alliances.
The workshops during the event focused on the European degree package and strategies for its realisation. Participants explored the significance and added value of the European quality assurance and recognition system, as well as the potential for increased recognition of career development for academic staff.
On the second day of the event, the Directors General continued their policy discussions about the renewal of financing and governance models in higher education. They also talked about policy planning solutions to address negative demographic trends and indicated the importance of the third mission of higher education institutions.