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CHARM-EU celebrates Democracy, Collaboration, and Resilience 

CHARM-EU celebrates Democracy, Collaboration, and Resilience 

In an era of accelerating geopolitical, technological, and environmental crises, what is the anchor that prevents our societies from drifting apart? As we face disruptions that test our social fabric, we recognize that true resilience depends on foundational values: democracy, trust, and inclusion.  

Illustration of two students with academic symbols and a university tower, representing European university alliances.

Today, September 15, on the International Day of Democracy, CHARM-EU celebrates the power of collaboration, participation, and shared values. Inclusive participation, dialogue, and trusted cooperation shape resilient societies, and these values are at the heart of CHARM-EU.  

European university alliances have a vital role to play in strengthening democratic resilience. This year’s CHARM-EU Annual Conference highlights the role of European university alliances and will offer a space for educators, researchers, students and staff from all partners to raise a crucial question: What role can European University alliances play in safeguarding democratic values and societal resilience?

Join the CHARM-EU Annual Conference on October 14 

On the International Day of Democracy, we invite you to join the conversation at the CHARM-EU Annual Conference: European Universities alliances, Democratic Values and Societal Resilience.

European University Alliances are uniquely positioned to protect these values by serving as long-term, systemic spaces for democratic learning and practice. By integrating innovative governance, transdisciplinary research, and deep engagement with our cities and regions, we are moving beyond traditional education to build sustainable welfare societies. At the conference, we will gather to explore how our transnational cooperation can act as a platform for co-creation, ensuring a resilient future for Europe and beyond. 

Join us onsite at the CHARM-EU Annual Conference to explore how alliances can help build a more inclusive, engaged, and resilient future. 

📅October 14  

📍Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland 

View the full details and register!

Can’t make it to Finland? Join us online! 

If you cannot attend onsite but want to discover how European University Alliances drive democratic resilience, tune in to our dedicated live panel session: 

Promotional graphic for a CHARM‑EU Annual Conference 2026 online session on the role of European University Alliances in democratic resilience.

✨From Mobility to Democratic Resilience: The Role of European University Alliances 

📅9:00 AM – 10:45 AM EEST (Finland Time) / 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM CEST 

🔗 Watch live on the CHARM-EU YouTube channel  

Featured High-Level Speakers: 

  • Moderator: Doris Alexander (Associate Director of European Engagement and Director of CHARM-EU, Trinity College Dublin; Chair, Research & Innovation Topical Group, FOREU4ALL) 
  • Panelists: 
  • Anders Adlercreutz (Finland’s Minister of Education) 
  • Maria Kelo (European University Association, EUA) 
  • Karl Stoeckel (CIVIS Executive Director) 
  • Rapporteur: Lena Wassermann (Advisor to the Vice President for Internationalisation at the University of Würzburg) 

Find out more!