ERASMUS Guide

ERASMUS Directive

ERASMUS POLİCY STATEMENT

ERASMUS DECLARATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 2021-2027

DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT (DS)

What is the Diploma Supplement?

The Diploma Supplement (DS) is a complementary and explanatory document provided by Higher Education Institutions alongside the diploma. It serves to facilitate understanding of the diploma by countries other than where it is issued, providing comprehensive and explanatory information for an accurate assessment of the degree.

When completed, this document offers all the necessary information to ensure a correct evaluation of the received degree. The Diploma Supplement is issued in a widely spoken European language, free of charge, to every student following their graduation, delivered alongside their diploma.

Higher Education Institutions are obligated to widely publicize the purpose and content of the Diploma Supplement to their students, local institutions, employers, and other stakeholders. The European Commission encourages the integration of various transparency and recognition tools, including the Diploma Supplement.

Each Diploma Supplement begins with the Information Note provided below:

“This Diploma Supplement follows the model developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe and U N E S C O/C E P E S. The purpose of the supplement is to provide sufficient independent data to improve the international “transparency” and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates etc.). It is designed to provide a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were pursued and successfully completed by the individual named on the original qualification to which this supplement is appended. It should be free from any value-judgements, equivalence statements or suggestions about recognition. Information in all eight sections should be provided. Where information is not provided, an explanation should give the reason why.”

The Diploma Supplement consists of eight sections expressing the following elements:

1)Identity of the individual entitled to the Diploma Supplement.

2) Acquired competence that constitutes the basis for entitlement to the Diploma Supplement.

3)Level of the acquired competence leading to the issuance of the Diploma Supplement.

4)Content and outcomes of the acquired competence leading to the issuance of the Diploma Supplement.

5) Function of the acquired competence leading to the issuance of the Diploma Supplement.

6) Additional information.

7) Official authentication of the Diploma Supplement.

8)Official authentication of the Diploma Supplement.

Each of the eight sections must be completed. If any section is left blank, an explanation must be provided for the reason it is left empty. Institutions must apply the same authentication and legitimization processes to the Diploma Supplement as they do for the diploma itself. A description of the national higher education system to which the named individual belongs must be attached to the Diploma Supplement.

The Diploma Supplement has been developed by the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO/CEPES. The purpose of the Diploma Supplement is to provide international transparency and academic/professional recognition. It includes information about the individual who received the diploma, as well as details about the degree, its level, field of use, and the content of the completed program. The Diploma Supplement does not contain value judgments, equivalence statements, or opinions related to recognition. If there are sections left blank, the reason must be explained.

What the Diploma Supplement Is Not:

1) It is not a resume.

2) It is not a document replacing the institutional grade table.

3) It is not an automatic system guaranteeing institutional recognition.

The need for the Diploma Supplement (DS) arises from the continuous changes countries must make to their education structures due to the evolving world conditions. The increase in international labor mobility necessitates fair recognition of individuals' diplomas. Therefore, the standardized diploma document within the DS studies naturally eliminates the problem of recognition. At the same time, it provides international recognition of the level, context, content, and status of the studies completed by individuals.

Contribution of the Diploma Supplement to Students:

1) A easily comparable diploma abroad.

 2) A comprehensive description of competencies acquired during academic courses and study periods.

3)Objective judgment about achievements and competencies.

4) Easier access to job opportunities or further studies abroad.

Contribution of the Diploma Supplement to Higher Education Institutions:

1)Facilitation of academic and professional recognition.

2)Increased transparency.

3)Possession of a joint framework for diploma issuance accepted throughout Europe.

 4) Increased employability of graduates at the national and international levels.

Why is the Diploma Supplement Necessary?

Today, new forms of diplomas and certifications are developing worldwide, and countries are constantly changing their student success assessment styles and education systems in the face of rapidly changing economic, political, and technological developments. The growing number of mobile citizens demands a fair assessment of their competencies and skills. The non-recognition or incorrect or incomplete assessment of competencies and skills has become a global problem. Since the original diploma and other documents do not provide sufficient explanatory information on their own, proving the level and function of a diploma without providing detailed additional explanation has become extremely difficult.

The Diploma Supplement has been produced in response to the following challenges:

1) Provides transparency in higher education.

2) Enables the rapid consideration of educational documents such as diplomas.

 3) Facilitates mobility; makes lifelong education accessible.

4) Provides fair, reliable, and competent information about the possessed diploma and skills.