A leading figure in paleontology, Colombian scientist Carlos Jaramillo specializes in the evolution of Amazonian-Andean ecosystems over the past 120 million years. The researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has, in particular, shed light on the origins of the region’s rich biodiversity.
The University of Montpellier and the CHARM-EU Alliance Since 2019, the University of Montpellier has been a member of the European CHARM-EU Alliance, alongside eight partner universities across Europe. Together, they are building an innovative university model to enhance the quality, appeal, and competitiveness of higher education in Europe. As part of this initiative, CHARM-EU has developed a project called CHARM-eight, funded by the Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), which supports cooperation and innovation initiatives among institutions. What is a European university? European Universities are alliances funded by the European Union and supported at the national level. Their objectives: To develop new forms of learning To strengthen research and innovation To promote international cooperation Launched in 2018 with 41 alliances, the initiative now includes 65 as of 2025. CHARM-EU stands out for the diversity of its member universities, which come from different countries, cultures, and academic traditions. This diversity enables a collaborative, innovative approach focused on addressing major contemporary challenges. CHARM-EU’s vision: to reconcile humanity with the planet CHARM-EU Teams, November 2025 CHARM-EU aims to strengthen cooperation among universities, promote mobility, and develop a common European identity to address major contemporary challenges. The alliance’s objectives: To offer courses grounded in mobility and inclusion, designed by intercultural and interdisciplinary teams. To offer innovative, student-centered education that can serve as a model for all universities in Europe. To develop a joint scientific program based on the principles of responsible research and innovation, gender-responsive innovation, equality and inclusion, transdisciplinarity, and open science. To encourage the professional development of staff. To strengthen links between teaching, research, and external partners. Constantly evolving, CHARM-EU regularly offers new activities for students, academic and administrative staff, as well as external partners. CHARM-EU’s Key Initiatives CHARM-EU offers innovative educational and mobility programs for students and academic staff: Transnational Online Learning (TOL): TOL is a catalog of online courses offered by partner universities. These courses are open to students at all levels at the alliance’s universities and may be eligible for ECTS credit recognition by the home university. Discover TOL and its course catalog here. Blended Intensive Programs (BIP): BIPs are short, hybrid courses that combine an online learning phase with a short-term in-person mobility period at a partner university. Students work in international and interdisciplinary teams on real-world challenges, often related to sustainability or societal issues. This educational format fosters collaboration and the development of intercultural skills. Discover the BIP offerings of the CHARM-EU network. Are you a faculty member interested in organizing a BIP within the CHARM-EU network? Contact us via . Micro-certificates (MC): CHARM-EU supports and promotes continuing education and professional development. To this end, the alliance highlights the micro-certificates (MC) offered by its member universities, which are accessible through a shared catalog. It also encourages collaboration among institutions to create MCs involving multiple instructors from different universities and enables learners to receive a CHARM badge upon completion of their training.More information on micro-certificates. CHARM-ED: CHARM-EU also promotes short-term educational initiatives among the alliance’s universities (creating a collaborative MC, submitting a course to the TOL, collaborative educational projects, implementing CHARM principles in existing courses, etc.) through CHARM-ED calls for proposals, which provide funding ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 euros and feature the selected projects on the website. More information on CHARM-ED. Networking events: Designed as collaborative and participatory formats, these events bring together academic and administrative staff as well as students around common themes to foster the development of new collaborations at the European level. Structured around interactive workshops, agile methods, and collective reflection sessions, these events help strengthen ties between partners, share best practices, and generate concrete projects. As part of a continuous improvement process, they actively contribute to building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative CHARM-EU community. Peek-App: CHARM-EU also uses interactive digital tools such as the Peek-App to offer hands-on educational activities. This app allows students to follow geolocated routes and complete various missions or observations related to the program’s themes.Discover the alliance’s Peek-Apps. SPARK: The SPARK platform is dedicated to internships for alliance students. It centralizes internship opportunities offered by partner universities and their networks, enabling students to develop their professional skills and expand their international network. Discover the alliance’s internship opportunities. Master’s in “Global Challenges for Sustainable Development”: The program is offered jointly in a hybrid format across five CHARM-EU universities, and students benefit from mobility opportunities. International Mobility: Numerous mobility opportunities are available at the alliance’s universities for both students and staff. For more information, contact the international relations office at your institution. Access the CHARM-EU network’s mobility opportunities for staff. Class of 2023/2024 of the Joint CHARM-EU Master’s Program Educational Resources and Tools Online Toolkit: resources developed by CHARM-EU on the teaching model, governance, mobility, inclusion, etc. Knowledge Creating Teams: interdisciplinary teams to exchange ideas and create joint projects. Support for “CHARMifying” your programs: internationalization, competency-based learning, and inclusion with the help of an instructional designer, as part of PédagoNUM. Interested in getting involved in an innovative European experience? Students, faculty, staff, or external partners: many opportunities await you in the CHARM-EU network! If you have any questions, please contact us at Join CHARM-EU!