Who we are

We are an European University alliance, co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme, between the University of Barcelona (coordinator), Trinity College DublinUtrecht University, the University of Montpellier,  Eötvös Loránd University BudapestÅbo Akademi UniversityJulius-Maximilians-University WürzburgRuhr West University of Applied Sciences and the University of Bergen. At CHARM-EU we work together to design and create a new university model to become a world example of good practice to increase the quality, international competitiveness and attractiveness of the European Higher Education landscape. 

Check out our intro video! 

The diversity of educational systems and the differing geographical, regional, cultural, lingual, economic and historical perspectives/challenges of the members of CHARM-EU contribute to consolidating the university of the future revealing our common goals on the path towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

CHARM-EU represents a Challenge-Driven, Accessible, Research-based and Mobile model for the co-creation of a European University aligned with the European Values, the European Green Deal and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

Background

In December 2017, the European Council decided to stimulate new networks of European Universities that aim to improve the international competitiveness of higher education institutions and to strengthen the feeling of European membership.

The CHARM European University Alliance was born in January 2019 between the University of Barcelona (coordinator), Trinity College DublinUtrecht University, the University of Montpellier and Eötvös Loránd University Budapest and its project application was accepted by the European Union in June 2019.

The initiative, co-funded by the Erasmus+ project, is designed to strengthen mobility of students and staff, and foster the quality, inclusiveness and competitiveness of European higher education. Developed together with Member States, higher education institutions and student organisations, the concept of the European Universities attracted applications from 54 alliances involving more than 300 higher education institutions from 28 Member States and other Erasmus+ Programme Countries. Out of these 54 proposals submitted in the first call, 17 were accepted, including CHARM-EU.

In 2020, the results of a second call have been published: with the new winners, 41 alliances involving 279 higher education institutions were working to test different models of the concept of European Universities while examining its potential to transform higher education.

In June 2022, CHARM-EU has won a new grant in the 2022 Erasmus+ European Universities Call. Alongside three new partners joining the Alliance, the Åbo Akademi University, the University of Würzburg and the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences, CHARM-EU will continue to deepen and expand the existing cooperation to advance the higher education transformation process towards full “European Universities”. Including CHARM-EU, 16 existing European Universities will continue to receive support, and four new alliances will be able to start their cooperation resulting in a total of 44 European Universities now involving 340 higher education institutions.

CHARM-EU will continue to engage in creating a transformative and sustainable European educational and research experience and to contribute positively to shaping the role of Europe in the world as it undergoes a deep transformation to reconcile humanity with the planet.