The so-called ‘short-cycle’ tertiary education (level 5 of the International Standard Classification of Education ISCED 2011) is an area of education which has been inadequately researched, where a number of questions remain regarding its true definition and uneven social recognition across Europe. Although it has gain visibility in recent decades, it is perhaps too early to affirm that its has an established position within Higher Education. This paper aims to contribute to improving its image and, ultimately, offer a perspective of Higher Education as a broad range of programs effectively integrating university studies and other options. Using a mixed paradigm, the study evaluates the opinions of students and university administrators regarding the integration of university studies and short-cycle programs (Advanced Vocational Education and Training, VET) into the same university campuses. The sample consists of all Spanish universities which impart on the same campus, the University Degree in Pre-Primary Education and Advanced Vocational Education and Training in Pre-Primary Education. Results suggest that the offer of short-cycle and university degree programs in the same space presents an opportunity for university institutions, in line with the European Strategy for Universities (2022), with excellence and inclusion as a distinctive feature of European higher education. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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