Utrecht University: CHARM-EU welcomes three new partners
During the CHARM-EU Rector’s Assembly that took place on 14 January 2022, CHARM-EU approved the integration of three new alliance partners: Åbo Akademi University from Finland and Würzburg University from Germany, and the upgrade of Hochschule Ruhr West from Germany which was already an associate partner.
University of the future
CHARM-EU is a European alliance of universities, co-funded by the Erasmus + programme. The three new partners strengthen the alliance founded by the University of Barcelona (coordinator), Trinity College Dublin, Eötvös Loránd University, the University of Montpellier and Utrecht University.
Åbo Akademi University, Würzburg University and Hochschule Ruhr West
CHARM-EU develops joint education and research programmes. With the master programme Global Challenges for Sustainablity, CHARM-EU is designing a model for the university of the future: a challenge-driven university with flexible, student-centred educational programmes. The common goal is a sustainable and inclusive society. The different educational systems of the CHARM-EU partners and the various regional, cultural, economic and historical perspectives contribute to the foundation of the university of the future.
Three new partners
The three new partnerships strengthen the diversity of the alliance. Åbo Akademi University external linkand Würzburg University external linkshare with the existing CHARM-EU partners a similar profile and membership in the Coimbra Group. The Hochschule Ruhr West external link, until now an associate partner, increases the diversity within the alliance. Because of its different profile and size, Hochschule Ruhr West will join gradually and will participate in a selective set of the CHARM-EU activities.
European Commission invests in alliances
In January 2022, the European Commission published a European strategy for universities. The commission aims for more cooperation between European higher education institutions and is investing 1.1 billion in European Universities. With the expansion to eight partners, CHARM-EU is in line with the ambitions of the European Commission. The European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, when announcing the European Strategy for Universities, stressed that “European university alliances are paving the way: by mid 2024, the European budget will support 60 alliances consisting of more than 500 European universities.”