The landscape of higher education across Europe is diverse, with each country offering a unique approach to course catalogues (CCs), shaped by its educational priorities and policies. From Hungary to Spain, Portugal to Greece, Estonia to Slovenia, and Czechia, the variety in how institutions present their academic offerings reflects not only their national educational frameworks but also the challenges and opportunities in supporting student mobility and internationalisation.
The DACEM consortium report offers a comprehensive exploration of these course catalogues, analysing their structures and identifying key trends that can shape future practices in course information dissemination. What emerges is a landscape where academic mobility, student accessibility, and institutional collaboration are at the forefront of discussions.
A Fragmented Landscape
Across the diverse institutions examined, the differences in course catalogue presentation are evident. In some countries, like France, custom-built IT solutions, such as the AMETYS Campus platform, are used, while in others, such as Slovenia, course catalogues may only exist in PDF form, with no uniformity across departments. Even within countries, universities face varying levels of support and resources, which creates discrepancies in how accessible and user-friendly these catalogues are.
Despite these challenges, certain institutions have set an example for best practices. For instance, the University of Montpellier in France and the University of Crete in Greece have developed highly accessible and detailed course catalogues, catering specifically to the needs of international students. These institutions stand out due to their comprehensive content, user-friendly designs, and the integration of course information with other institutional processes.
Barriers to Standardisation and Technological Gaps
A major takeaway from the report is the gap in technological sophistication. While some universities have embraced dynamic, searchable course catalogues with filters, others still rely on outdated, static documents. In many cases, departments within the same university hold significant control over their individual course listings, making it difficult to create a unified, easily accessible system. This decentralised approach is a major barrier to creating an efficient and cohesive system for sharing course information across Europe.
There is also a notable lack of multilingual support and mobile accessibility in many systems. In an increasingly globalised and mobile world, these limitations hinder students’ ability to access essential information about their courses, particularly those coming from abroad.
Recommendations
To enhance the overall student experience, the report stresses the importance of developing standardised guidelines for course catalogues. These guidelines would ensure consistency in format, structure, and content, making it easier for students and faculty alike to navigate academic offerings.
The key to success lies in collaboration. Universities across Europe need to work together, sharing best practices and technological innovations, to create a more cohesive approach to course catalogue management. By doing so, they can foster a more accessible, student-centered system that supports academic mobility and meets the evolving needs of students and educators alike.
While the challenges are clear, the opportunities to improve the management and dissemination of course catalogues are vast. The findings of this report provide a roadmap for universities to enhance their systems, making them more efficient, user-friendly, and accessible for all.
To dive deeper into the nuances of these findings and explore the full recommendations, we encourage you to download the full report.
Improving the accessibility and quality of course catalogues is essential for enhancing academic mobility across Europe. The DACEM project is working to make course information more effective for exchange students, and we need your input to ensure we’re heading in the right direction. If you’re involved in preparing or managing Course Catalogues or handling Erasmus+ documents, please take a moment to complete our short (5-minute) survey.