How can European university alliances help shape the future of a more competitive Europe?
As a founding member of the European university alliance Charm-EU, the University of Montpellier is actively participating in its annual conference, to be held on November 12, 2025, in Utrecht and online. This is an opportunity to highlight the pivotal role of higher education in strengthening competitiveness, sustainability, and inclusion in Europe to address major global societal challenges.
The conference in a nutshell
Held in Utrecht (Netherlands), the annual Charm-EU 2025 conference will bring together thought leaders, European policymakers, university officials, innovation professionals, Professors researchers, and students. Together, they will discuss the role of university alliances in strengthening European leadership in the areas of professional skills development, talent attraction, mobility, internationalization, and regional development. Through plenary sessions and interactive workshops, the event will explore the potential of these alliances to become a strategic driver of competitiveness for Europe.
“European university alliances are much more than mere academic partnerships—they are driving forces behind innovation, competitiveness, and the promotion of European values. Charm-EU is at the forefront of this transformation, steadfastly championing European values in the pursuit of a sustainable and democratic world. Through collaborative, cross-border educational programs grounded in science, research, and academic freedom, Charm-EU is working to redefine the future of higher education,” declare all the heads of institutions within the Charm-EU alliance.
Securing Europe's academic future
European university alliances play a strategic role in a rapidly evolving academic landscape. Supported by the European Commission, the European Universities Initiative now comprises 73 alliances, representing nearly 650 higher education institutions across the continent. They embody an ambitious and transformative vision for Europe’s academic future.
Against a backdrop marked by numerous challenges, increased global competition for talent, and the dual digital and ecological transitions, the annual Charm-EU 2025 conference sends a clear message: universities are not merely places of learning, but strategic catalysts for a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient Europe. This dynamic underscores the strategic role of the European Universities Initiative: a visionary endeavor that must be sustained to secure Europe’s academic future.
Practical information:
- Date: November 12, 2025
- Location: Bar Beton, Pythagoraslaan 101, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Full program: here
- Registration: here
- Press release in English: here
- More information about CHARM-EU: here
About CHARM-EU
Founded in 2019, CHARM-EU is an innovative European university alliance supported by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ program. It brings together nine renowned higher education institutions: the University of Barcelona (Spain), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), Utrecht University (Netherlands), Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary), the University of Montpellier (France), Åbo Akademi University (Finland), Hochschule Ruhr West (Germany), the University of Würzburg (Germany), and the University of Bergen (Norway). As a pioneering alliance, CHARM-EU plays a leading role in transnational cooperation in higher education. Among its major achievements are the first joint master’s degree offered by an alliance of European universities, challenge-based pedagogical models, and the promotion of open science and inclusive education. CHARM-EU has also actively contributed to the pilot project for the European Degree Label (ED-AFFICHE).