The students of the third cohort of the master’s degree, coming from 17 countries, have recently met at the University of Barcelona to present their capstone projects and conclude the programme. In addition, CHARM-EU, has created a new edition of the master’s degree with interesting novelties, such as the extension of the number of universities, more mobility opportunities as well as a brand new itinerary focused on energy and smart cities.

The master’s degree consists of three compulsory phases. In the preparatory phase, the emphasis is on the acquisition of general skills, especially in the fields of sustainability, social innovation and transdisciplinary research. Then, in the flexible phase, students select a specific track on one of the existing subjects. Finally, in the capstone phase, students develop a project on a real sustainability challenge in collaboration with a company or organisation. CHARM-EU also aims to work on other aspects beyond knowledge. In particular, it has promoted training in interculturality.

According to Valérie Borrell from the University of Montpellier and teacher of the master’s degree: ‘CHARM-EU, and especially the teachers, have provided me with a wider range of pedagogical tools that are well adapted to the needs of each student, whether cultural or cognitive’. This cultural exchange is also one of the most hightlighted aspects by the students.

The Grand Finale: innovative solutions

In the capstone phase, students develop a solution by means of a final product they present during the Grand Finale, held at the University of Barcelona, in front of their peers, professors and representatives of the participating organisations.It is also an opportunity to develop personal competences (soft skills) that go beyond technical knowledge.

As an example, one of the capstone projects was presented by the Barcelona-based NGO Innoceana. The challenge they set themselves, explain the students in this group, was to find a strategy to increase their visibility and look for new funding opportunities.

We talked to companies in the sector in Barcelona and we designed a ‘blue package’ to offer companies linked to the marine sector, workshops, specialists who can talk about the marine environment to tourists who come to do some water activities, videos…

Innoceana, values this experience very positively. ‘The solution seemed ideal to me because the challenge was to connect people to the sea, which is the main problem. Now we would love to follow the contacts that they have started and little by little begin to implement it, to make a test, to see how it works’ explains Berta Felipe, General Director of the NGO in Spain.

In relation to learning process, Annisa Triyanti, head of the capstones at CHARM-EU, emphasises the capacity for collaboration required by the projects, as well as the ability to listen and understand the problem posed by the company or organisation. It is also necessary to know how to seek out and contact other institutions in the sector in order to be able to implement innovative solutions.

New edition of the master’s degree with more opportunities for students

‘The new edition of the master’s degree – which is now open – offers more opportunities for students. One of the main new features is that there are 9 universities involved and we are adding a fourth semester for internships in companies. Therefore, students will have even more possibilities to get to know other countries and cultures’, says Meritxell Chaves, Secretary General of CHARM-EU.

Other new features are that the master’s degree has increased from 90 to 120 ECTS and will last for two years instead of one and a half. Moreover, a new track on energy and sustainable cities is added to the existing ones: water, food and life&health.

CHARM-EU alumni Itziar Salazar says about her time in the master’s programme: ‘I graduated with a solid network of professional contacts, from colleagues and professors to industrial and institutional partners. After graduating, I received job offers in sustainability from various sectors, in public institutions, private companies and academia’.

More information on the Master’s Programme