Collaboration with Impact: Highlights from the CHARM-EU Sprint Meeting 2025 in Germany

23 June 2025

The CHARM-EU community convened last on June 17–18 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, for its SPRINT Meeting 2025. Hosted by Hochschule Ruhr West (HRW), the two-day gathering brought together key contributors from across the alliance to assess progress and strategies for impact, and strengthen collaboration within the transformative European University initiative.

The fifth Edition of CHARM-EU Sprint Meeting opened on Tuesday 17 of June with a warm welcome at the HRW Campus Mülheim, where Prof. Dr. Oliver Koch, Vice-Rector of HRW, set the tone for an engaging and productive event. Afterwards, Meritxell Chaves, Secretary General of CHARM-EU, addressed alliance-level timing and next strategic steps to keep increasing the transformative impact of the alliance.

After a coffee break, participants dove into CHARM-EU’s value propositions. Silvia Gallagher led a session focused on data collection and evidence-building to strengthen the foundation of the alliance’s value-driven approach.

In the afternoon, participants broke into working groups for the first segment of the interactive workshop, “How to Raise Impact.” Teams representing different alliance working areas shared brief updates, brainstormed innovative ideas, and used the SCRUM methodology to create tangible action plans. Each group designed a unique artifact—complete with a timeline and concrete deliverables—preparing for the Gallery Walk that followed.

Afterwards, participants reconvened for the second workshop phase. During the Gallery Walk, each group showcased its outputs, sparking dynamic dialogue around enhancing impact across CHARM-EU’s diverse activities.

Wednesday began with a cultural visit to the Camera Obscura, the world’s largest walk-in camera, nestled in a historic water tower. The visit blended history and innovation, echoing CHARM-EU’s own ethos. The agenda then shifted to the third workshop session—a BarCamp format that invited participants to initiate and engage in spontaneous discussions around emerging themes from the meeting. With three parallel “speaker corners,” this session encouraged creativity, inclusivity, and adaptability.

The morning wrapped up on a high note with a heartfelt welcome from HRW President Prof. Dr. Susanne Staude.

The summer SPRINT Meeting 2025 not only strengthened collaboration across partner institutions but also reaffirmed CHARM-EU’s commitment to building a bold, inclusive, and impactful European University. With clear action items and renewed energy, the alliance is well-positioned to move confidently into its next phase.