The Double Diploma Project: A New Higher Education Concept in a United Europe

Abstract

Due to today's highly competitive and unstable job market the educational process of young people is more important than ever. New possibilities to improve both qualifications and the level of education are needed. After the expansion of the European Union the process of exchange and studying abroad in EU countries has become much easier. This increased mobility of students has created a need to standardise the structure of higher education. Student exchange programmes, e.g. SOCRATES-ERASMUS, provide the possibility of studying for one or two semesters at a partner university abroad, after which the student returns to his/her mother university. However, under this type of exchange programme the student can neither write the diploma thesis at the partner university abroad nor receive his/her degree from this university. In 2002, a new concept in educational cooperation began between the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany, and the Wroclaw University of Technology — Poland, called the Double Diploma, which offers such possibilities. Prerequisites for participation are good grades during studies at the mother university (Wroclaw University of Technology) and knowledge of the German language. The qualified persons go to the partner university (Otto-von-Guericke University) and study there for two years. After passing all examinations and defending his or her thesis, the student receives a Masters diploma in Engineering from both partner universities.