Various icons are used in DEQAR, each with their own meaning.
Glossary
Below you will find a list of special or technical terms/words and their definitions that are often used in DEQAR (and also on the rest of the EQAR website).
Underneath the glossary you will find an overview of the DEQAR icons and their meaning.
Please note that this is not an alphabetical list. The terminology follows an order of grouping certain expressions together (e.g. joined degrees, double degrees and joint programmes are listed below each other).
Higher education institution (HEI)
An entity that has full degree awarding powers at higher education level (i.e. EQF levels 5 to 8; QF-EHEA cycle first to third) recognised by at least one national authority.
Provider
Any actor that provides degree programmes, micro-credentials or other learning opportunities in terms of teaching, classes, learning materials, etc. This may include higher education institutions (public, private, academic, professional, preparatory, initial, continuing, adult, local, foreign, cross-border, European or international), as well as other providers, including employers, companies, social partners, NGOs, public authorities and others.
Other provider
An entity that provides learning opportunities at higher education level (i.e. EQF levels 5 to 8; QF-EHEA cycle short to third), but that does not have full (recognised) degree awarding powers themselves.
Awarder
The body that certifies the provision. The awarding body may differ from the provider, e.g. in the case of partnerships, franchise.
Programme
Learning provision that can lead to a full degree (traditional programmes offered by HEIs) or to another type of certificate (i.e. micro-credentials or other provisions offered by HEIs or other providers). Whenever there is a difference, the handbook points to “programme leading to full degree” and “programme not leading to a full degree” (e.g. micro-credentials).
Full (recognised) degree
A document awarded by a higher education institution that attests the successful completion of a programme at QF level (5), 6, 7 or 8 and that is officially recognised as part of the national system by at least one national authority in the EHEA.
Micro-credential
A certified small volume of learning (i.e. workload <60 ECTS), not leading to a full (recognised) degree. Micro-credentials may be provided through a cooperation of different providers.
Other provision
A larger volume of learning (i.e. workload ≥60 ECTS), not leading to a full (recognised) degree.
Joint programme
An integrated curriculum coordinated and offered jointly by different higher education institutions, and leading to double/multiple degrees or a joint degree.
Joint degree
A single document awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme attesting the successful completion of this programme and nationally acknowledged as the recognised award of the joint programme.
Double/multiple degrees
Separate degrees awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme attesting the successful completion of this programme (if two degrees are awarded by two institutions, this is a ‘double degree’).
QF-EHEA level
A cycle defined in the overarching Framework of Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA); when used for a programme, the indication of a level refers to the learning outcomes of the programme aligning with the generic learning outcomes as defined for the given cycle in the QF-EHEA.
* A review is of obligatory nature if the QA process/the report/the decision has any kind of official status in the higher education system where the institution is based/established. On the contrary, voluntary reviews are requested at the provider’s own initiative and serve enhancement purposes only”
