The University of Cádiz shares its experience in the implementation of European joint degrees with representatives from 13 Spanish universities 3 June 2026
University professionals learn about SEA-EU’s co-teaching and accreditation models in Cádiz
The University of Cádiz hosted last week representatives from 13 Spanish universities interested in learning first-hand about the experience gained by UCA and the SEA-EU Alliance in the design, accreditation and implementation of international joint degrees. The activity, delivered as a micro-credential jointly organised by the Vice-Rectorate for Degrees and Quality and the Vice-Rectorate for Internationalisation, brought together 22 in-person participants and 15 online attendees. The high level of demand has already led to the preparation of a second edition, which will take place next November alongside the UEUE (Spanish Universities in European Universities) meeting.
Beyond its training component, the event reflects the leading role that the University of Cádiz and SEA-EU are playing in one of the main challenges currently facing the European Universities Alliances: the creation and implementation of joint programmes and international joint degrees. Representatives from universities across Spain travelled to Cádiz to learn how issues such as governance, quality assurance, mobility, international accreditation and academic coordination have been addressed within these programmes.
The institutional welcome was delivered by Manuel Arcila, Vice-Rector for Degrees and Quality at the University of Cádiz, and Marcela Iglesias, SEA-EU General Coordinator and Vice-Rector for Internationalisation. During the opening session, Iglesias highlighted the importance of sharing real experiences and lessons learned over the years. “We want to share our experience with other universities so that they can learn from the obstacles we have encountered and the solutions we have adopted,” she said.
SEA-EU is currently working on the development and implementation of joint programmes across all three university levels: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. These include the Joint Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Blue Economy and the Master’s Degree in Port Logistics Management, both coordinated by the University of Cádiz; a master’s programme focused on sustainability and organisational resilience coordinated by the Université de Bretagne Occidentale; and a doctoral programme developed jointly with the University of Split. According to Marcela Iglesias, the accreditation process for these international programmes has also become a learning experience for both universities and quality assurance agencies, particularly through the use of the European Approach and evaluation by international review panels.
Throughout the programme, participants have explored topics related to curriculum design, the preparation of joint programme documentation, the management of international students, mobility strategies, and the co-teaching, co-assessment and co-governance models developed within SEA-EU. The sessions have also provided an opportunity to share some of the key lessons learned over recent years, including the need to adapt traditional university structures to an increasingly European, collaborative and interconnected academic environment.
The programme, which continues throughout the week, features contributions from Fernando Pérez Peña, Laura Howard, María de Andrés, Mercedes Ruiz, Manuel Moreno, Francisco Pérez Cutiño, Nadine Schon and Laura Cubillana, alongside sessions delivered by Marcela Iglesias and Manuel Arcila. Thanks to the experience accumulated in this field, SEA-EU has become one of Europe’s leading alliances in the implementation of international joint degrees, an area that many European universities are only now beginning to develop as part of the transformation promoted by the European Commission’s European Universities Initiative.
