In the world of higher education, there are moments that mark a true shift — a redefinition of standards, ambitions, and long-term vision. For NAD – Nuova Accademia del Design, the launch of the on-going accreditation process with EABHES (European Accreditation Board of Higher Education Schools) represents precisely that: a turning point in its path toward international growth and academic alignment.
As of June 2025, three of NAD’s flagship programs – Interior Design, Fashion Design (both three-year programs), and Graphic Design (two-year program) – have officially entered the evaluation phase with EABHES, the European body recognized for ensuring that academic programs meet the quality benchmarks set by the Bologna Process.
A strategic step forward
This is more than just a formal recognition. The EABHES accreditation is a rigorous and structured process that requires institutions to re-examine and strengthen every aspect of their educational framework: from program structure to the definition of learning outcomes, from faculty qualifications to administrative organization, all the way to transparency in credit management.
For NAD, it means fully embracing a European methodology and measuring itself against objective quality standards applied throughout the European Higher Education Area.
The meaning of ECTS: beyond national borders
At the core of the EABHES model lies the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), already used by Italian universities as an equivalent to CFUs. For design schools and professional institutes, however, fully adopting ECTS means much more: it means offering clear, comparable, and internationally recognizable pathways that speak the same academic language across Europe.
Each academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits, for a total of 180 ECTS for three-year programs and 120 ECTS for two-year ones. This format defines the structure of a European first-cycle Bachelor’s degree (EQF level 6) and facilitates access to postgraduate studies, international internships, public competitions, or global career paths where academic recognition is key.
Moreover, the ECTS structure actively supports international student mobility. Through the EABHES network, students gain access to a growing community of institutions and academies that recognize 180 ECTS as a full Bachelor’s path, enabling smooth transitions and academic continuity across countries.
Why NAD chose to accredit these programs
The selection of the three programs for this first accreditation phase is the result of a strategic evaluation. These are mature, well-established courses with strong academic identities and high international potential, both for the subjects they cover and the way they are structured to respond to evolving market needs.
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The Interior Design program, active in Verona, Milan, and in blended mode, combines technical and design skills, cultural and theoretical foundations, professional software use, innovative materials, and hands-on collaboration with industry partners.
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The Fashion Design program, also offered in Verona, Milan, and online, aims to train professionals who can combine stylistic creativity with management expertise. It provides a comprehensive view of the fashion system, integrating collection development, product culture, branding, and sustainability.
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The Graphic Design program, available in all NAD campuses and in hybrid mode, focuses on contemporary visual communication. Students develop skills in branding, publishing, digital media, advertising, and art direction through a market-driven and cross-disciplinary approach.
Accrediting these three programs has a clear and ambitious goal: to strengthen the internal quality of the courses through structured alignment with European standards, and to offer students a more recognizable, transferable, and competitive education in both academic and professional contexts.
Built on years of growth: NAD looks to Europe with EABHES
The start of the accreditation journey with EABHES is not an isolated event. It is the natural result of years of investment in academic quality, program expansion, professional partnerships, and local presence.
In recent years, NAD has consolidated its Verona headquarters, expanded its offering in Milan, launched new blended formats, and opened a Contact Point in Varese—a hybrid space between showroom, lab, and networking hub. Its network of over 150 partners includes brands, design firms, agencies, and professionals across the fields of interior, fashion, product, and communication design.
NAD’s graduate employment rate, monitored annually, exceeds 80% within the first six months, thanks to a strong alignment between academic training and real-world industry needs.
The stages of the process
The EABHES accreditation process is structured in several key phases. Following the approval by the Pedagogical Committee on June 26, 2025, the three programs officially entered the on-going accreditation status, which includes:
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submission and validation of study plans and institutional documentation;
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analysis of learning objectives and evaluation systems;
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external audit (on-site or online) by an EABHES commission;
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implementation of any recommendations within set deadlines.
Only at the end of this process, and upon receipt of the official Accreditation Letter, will it be possible to publicly declare the programs as accredited and issue diplomas with officially recognized ECTS credits.
What it means to invest in accreditation today
For a private educational institution, choosing to pursue European accreditation is a commitment to quality, transparency, and long-term vision. It requires investment, self-assessment, and openness to external evaluation.
But it also means offering students the reassurance that what they learn has certified value—measurable, comparable, and recognized beyond national borders. And it tells companies that the talents trained by NAD operate within a project culture that is deeply rooted, yet fully European in scope.
The process has begun. The coming months will be dedicated to working closely with EABHES, gathering data, refining methodologies, and aligning systems. NAD embraces this challenge with enthusiasm and responsibility, aware that every step toward excellence is, above all, a commitment to those who study to shape the world through design.
