Transforming European Higher Education: New Perspectives on Policy, Practice, and Mobility
23 December 2025 | From UNICA - From our Members - European Universities
We are pleased to share insights from Alexandru-Mihai Carți‘s doctoral research project, which addresses some of the most significant transformations currently shaping European higher education. A long-standing collaborator of UNICA, Alexandru-Mihai Carți successfully defended his doctoral thesis in mid-December, officially earning the title of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The doctoral research was supervised by Prof. Romita Iucu, Coordinator of the EduLAB working group.
The doctoral thesis, entitled “Transforming Higher Education: Policy, Practice, and Reflection on Micro-Credentials, the European Degree, and Embedded Mobility in a Transnational Context”, explores how higher education in Europe is evolving through the interaction of three key layers of transformation: policy frameworks, institutional practices, and the academic community. These layers are analysed through three emerging and interconnected dimensions: micro-credentials, the European Degree, and embedded mobility.
The research is based on nine independent studies, eight of which have already been published, and is brought together through an integrative discussion that reflects on how these developments interact and reinforce one another across different levels of the higher education ecosystem. Together, the studies offer a comprehensive view of how European initiatives translate into institutional change and academic practice.
Once published, the doctoral thesis is intended to be made available in open access. An extended summary of the thesis, together with the published studies, is currently available for consultation.
List of the published independent studies that support the thesis:
- Study I: Carțiș, A., Leoste, J., Iucu, R., Kikkas, K., Tammemäe, K., Männik, K. (2023). Conceptualising Micro-credentials in the Higher Education Research Landscape. A Literature Review. In M. Dascalu, P. Marti, & F. Pozzi (Eds.), Polyphonic Construction of Smart Learning Ecosystems. SLERD 2022. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol. 908 (pp. 191-203). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5240-1_13
- Study II: Iucu, R., & Carțiș, A. (2023). D4.1. An analysis of the existing options that can help in building open and flexible learning paths. New building blocks of the Bologna Process: fundamental values – NewFAV project. UEFISCDI Publishing. https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/resource-866568-d4.1_an-analysis-of-existing-options.pdf
- Study III: Iucu, R., & Carțiș, A. (2024). D4.3. A grid for programme design. New building blocks of the Bologna Process: fundamental values – NewFAV project. UEFISCDI Publishing. https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/resource-869039-D4.3_A-grid-for-programme-design.pdf
- Study IV: Iucu, R., & Carțiș, A. (2024). D4.4. Piloting reports on programme design grid. New building blocks of the Bologna Process: fundamental values – NewFAV project. UEFISCDI Publishing. https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/resource-864867-D4.4_Piloting-report-of-the-programme-design-grid.pdf%20
- Study V: Iucu, O., & Carțiș, A. (2025). Competency Profiles in Administrative Sciences. An Analysis of the Students’ Perceptions and Possible Curricular Reshapes Through Micro-Credentials. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 21(74), 5-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.24193/tras.74E.1
- Study VI: Iucu, R., Iftimescu, S., Gunnesch-Luca, G., Carţiş, A.-M., Fernández de Pinedo, N., Papaioannou, S., Melley, A., & Capelli, M. (2024). Exploring Degrees of Connection: Challenges and Acceptance of the European Degree Label Towards Shaping the Future of Higher Education. In A. Curaj, C. M. Hâj & R. Pricopie (Eds.). European Higher Education Area 2030: Bridging Realities for Tomorrow’s Higher Education (pp. 647-667). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-75140-0_32
- Study VII: Iucu, R., Iftimescu, S., Carțiș, A., Fernández de Pinedo, Mitrano, M., & Capelli, M. (2024). Final recommendations of the SMARTT project. CIVIS, Europe’s Civic University Alliance. SMARTT project. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10899434
- Study VIII: Carțiș, A. & Iucu, R. (2025). Empowering micro-credentials through European Universities Alliances and learning flexibilisation for sustainable development. Journal of Pedagogy, 2025(2), 141-176. https://doi.org/10.26755/RevPed/2025.2/141
- Study IX (not yet published and not available for dissemination): Carțiș, A. & Iucu, R. The Attractiveness of Embedded Mobility in Higher Education. Students’ Perspective.
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Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.