Study on the Diploma Supplement as seen by its users - naric

- How do we ensure that the Diploma Supplement is being produced as a tool of international
communication? The drafting of the Diploma Supplement is a difficult exercise. Terminology,
difficulties in explaining national specificities in another language and a lack of implicit
knowledge by readers are all problems faced by the authors of this document. There is no
simple answer to an issue that is the essence of intercultural and international
communication. One can only warn the writers of Diploma Supplements that their documents
will be read in various situations by all possible readers.
Strengthening the link between quality assurance and academic recognition
Finally, this study calls for the development of regular relationships between the members of
ENQA and the ENIC-NARIC.
Internal and external quality assurance mechanisms should be included in the criteria of the
ENIC-NARIC in their assessment of foreign qualifications in the same way that quality
assurance agencies should take into account the problems encountered in describing study
programmes. Quality assurance agencies should look into internationalising study routes and
providing a clear statement on the quality of the course so that credential evaluators will have
all the necessary information available to them.
If at first glance this report seems to deliver information on a purely technical level, the proof
remains that stronger ties need to be built between quality assurance activities and academic
recognition. This study should motivate each national quality assurance agency and national
ENIC-NARIC centre to work closer together in their daily activities in order to harmonise
national practices and finally those of the European Higher Education Area.
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