Charm-EU Annual Conference: European values at the heart of the debate

[Article] - Published on December 3, 2025 in CHARM-EU European University

On November 12, a delegation from UM was in Utrecht, the Netherlands, for the annual Charm-EU conference. This was an important moment for the nine European universities in the alliance and their partners. The program included inspiring and engaging discussions on the major challenges of sustainability and competitiveness in Europe, as well as the central role of European university alliances.

Nothing beats meeting in person to strengthen the sense of belonging to a common mission, regardless of academic or cultural differences. For the nine European universities that are members of the Charm-EU alliance and their partners, the annual Charm-EU 2025 conference was a special opportunity to highlight the structuring role of higher education in strengthening competitiveness, sustainability, and inclusion in Europe. More than a categorical statement, its theme sounded like an exploration: Boosting European competitiveness: university alliances as catalysts for innovation and sustainability.

A driving force in the ecological transition

School principals, national and European decision-makers, academics, and innovation specialists were among the many speakers who took part in this event, held on a sunny morning in the Netherlands. It was an opportunity to reflect on the role of university alliances in strengthening European leadership in the development of professional skills, talent attraction, mobility, internationalization, and regional development. This was the case for Thomas Estermann, Director of Governance, Funding, and Public Policy at the European University Association (EUA), who emphasized the need for universities to "play a leading role in the ecological transition" while remaining true to their founding academic values.

Charm-EU: a strategic contribution

By fostering lively discussions, this annual conference, steeped in interculturalism and shared European values, reaffirmed the strategic contribution of Charm-EU in responding to major global societal challenges, particularly the issue of sustainability. The plenary sessions highlighted the role of alliances as "laboratories for the future of Europe." The nine university presidents took the opportunity to reiterate that "European university alliances are much more than simple academic partnerships—they are driving forces for innovation, competitiveness, and the promotion of European values." Charm-EU is at the forefront of this transformation, staunchly defending European values in the quest for a sustainable and democratic world. Through collaborative, cross-border educational offerings based on science, research, and academic freedom, Charm-EU is working to redefine the future of higher education. "

The afternoon workshops helped translate the morning's strategic reflections into concrete applications with measurable impact, addressing different dimensions of competitiveness in European higher education: open science, research evaluation, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy strategy, IT system interoperability, etc. There was also a particularly interactive workshop on transdisciplinarity in innovation, internationalization, and regional development, led by members of the UM delegation.

An investment for the future

This event was an opportunity for the University of Montpellier to highlight its strong involvement in numerous alliance projects, whether in teaching (including the joint master's degree), mobility, academic partnerships, technological and pedagogical innovation, etc. It also highlighted the importance of interactions between the University and its local area, including its close collaboration with Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.

The day ended with the award for best poster at the annual conference, won by Anouk Ruijters, Bente Haukes, Galang G. Gibran, and Grace Fratello-Hakim for a transdisciplinary project carried out during their studies in Montpellier last spring as part of the joint master's program Global Challenges for Sustainable Development. Entitled A sinking city: Jakarta, a challenge for the Ciliwung River, this study project led to the creation of a collaborative action platform and a card game to raise awareness among younger generations. This proves that the future of European university alliances also depends on the commitment of their student communities.

Key words : Charm-eu, International