BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.5//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:78@charm-eu.eu DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251112 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251113 DTSTAMP:20260707T131227Z URL:https://charm-eu.eu/news-events/events/charm-eu-annual-conference-2025 / SUMMARY:CHARM-EU Annual Conference 2025 DESCRIPTION:\nRegister now\n\n\n \;\n\ngeneral information\n\nEuropean Universities Alliances are emerging as a key higher‑education player in support of the EU Competitiveness Compass. Sixty‑five alliances now link more than 560 universities\, embedding joint degrees\, seamless mobility\ , shared research infrastructures and non-academic partnerships into singl e “inter‑operable campuses.”\n\nCHARM‑EU\, as one of the very firs t European university alliances\, offers a living demonstration of what is already possible. In six years\, the Alliance cleared cross‑border a ccreditation hurdles\, pioneered a challenge‑based learning model\, awar ded one of Europes first fully joint mater's degree by an Alliance\, and contributed evidence to the Council process through the European Degree pi lot ED‑AFFICHE.\n\nThe 2025 CHARM-EU Annual Conference will bring togeth er alliances\, universities leadership\, policymakers\, and societal actor s\, to present\, discuss and translate high‑level discussions into actio nable initiatives.\n\nSessions will cover topics such as:\n\n Professiona l development and Union of Skills\n Talent attraction and mobility\n Inc lusion and competitiveness\n Interoperability between European universiti es\n Transdisciplinarity\, internationalisation and regional development\ n\nVenue: Bar Beton\, Pythagoraslaan 101\, Utrecht\, NL.\n\nHow to arrive: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FJP2TZGLpVmfnYWU6\n\nFormat: On-site with partia l live streaming. The plenary sessions will be live streamed on the CHARM- EU YouTube Channel. On-site with plenary sessions live streamed on the CH ARM-EU YouTube Channel. The workshops and afternoon sessions are designed as on-site sessions.\n\nSpeech-to-Text Reporters provide real-time captio ning. Their expertise is essential to the Conference to cater to the great est level of attendees’ access and participation needs. Inclusion by des ign means designing the environment from the beginning to the greatest ext ent of users (preventive) rather than a retrospective approach (fixing the environment afterwards). The hybrid feature is in line with the core valu es of CHARM-EU. The Speech-to-Text can be followed here.\n\nHost of the CH ARM-EU Annual Conference 2025: Utrecht University\n\nContact email: charm -euoffice@ub.edu\n\nMaster of Ceremonies: Annet van der Riet\, Utrecht Uni versity\nProgramme\nMorning Sessions | Plenary sessions\n\n\n09:00–09:30 h | Registration and coffee\n\n09:30–09:45h | Opening\n\nWilco Hazeleger \, Rector of Utrecht University\n\n09:45–10:15h | Keynote Speech on Com petitiveness\, European University Alliances and Sustainability\n\nThomas Estermann\, Director for Governance\, Funding and Public Policy Developmen t\,\nEuropean University Association\n\n10:15–11:15h | How the European Universities Alliances can be a key Competitiveness Driver in delivering a n EU Union of Skills\n\nModerator: Doris Alexander\, Associate Director of European Engagement\, Trinity College Dublin\n\nSpeakers:\n\n Marcos Ros Sempere\, Member of the European Parliament\n Vanessa Debiais-Sainton\, Member of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President at European Commission\n Lu dovic Thilly\, Chair at Coimbra Group and Coordinator General of EC2U Alli ance\n Olga Wessels\, Head of ECIU Brussels Office and Coordinator at FO REU4ALL\n Meadhbh Costello\, Senior Policy Executive at IBEC\n\nIn this h igh-level dialogue\, experts will discuss the importance of the Union of S kills and the role that European Universities alliances can play to its de livery and creation of a competitive EU by helping to addressing skills ga ps\, facilitating the portability of skills\, creating stronger links betw een research\, education and innovation\, collaborating within and outside of the EU and working to attract and retaining talent through initiatives such as ‘Choose Europe’ whilst ensuring that all activities are set a gainst core principles of inclusion and diversity and sustainability.\n\n1 1:15–11:45h | Coffee and first poster session\n\n\n\n11:45–12:00h |  Energizer activity: “The Sound and Power of Collaboration“\n\n12:00– 12:50h | Competitiveness in the European Higher Education Ecosystem from t he Practitioners’ Perspectives: Daily Challenges and the Role of Allianc es\n\nModerator: Edwin Kanters\, EU Liasion Officer at the University of Utrecht\n\nSpeakers:\n\n Clare Hart\, Vice-President for International Af fairs and European Cooperation. Municipal Councillor for International Rel ations Montpellier\n Elena del Giorgio\, 4EU+ Secretary General\n Harrie t Klavus\, Head of International Cooperation and CHARM-EU manager at Åbo Akademi University\n Réka Judit Boros\, Chair of the CHARM-EU Student Co uncil\n Nadja Simons\, Local program coordinator\, Julius-Maximilians-Uni versity\nWürzburg\n\nThis session will bring together experienced profess ionals from diverse sectors to discuss the practical challenges and opport unities shaping Europe’s competitive landscape. Through an engaging dial ogue with each other and the audience\, the practitioners will explore key issues such as skills gaps in education\, barriers to international mobil ity\, and the evolving demands of the labor market\, providing insights gr ounded in daily realities\, highlighting how institutions and individuals navigate competitiveness pressures. The session underscores the critical r ole of cross-sector and cross-border alliances in addressing these challen ges\, fostering innovation\, and enhancing agility in a rapidly changing g lobal environment. Audience participation will enrich the exchange\, refle cting shared concerns and collaborative potential.\n\n12:50–13:00h | Gr oup picture\n\n13:00–14:00h | Lunch\n\nAfternoon Sessions | workshops\n\ n\n\nWorkshop 1\n\n\nWorkshop 2\n\n\nWorkshop 3\n\n\nWorkshop 4\n\n\nWorks hop 5\n\n\nWorkshop 6\n\n\nOpen Science in European University Alliances: Pathways to Competitiveness\n\nwith Ignasi Labastida (University of Barcel ona)\, Nataša Jakominić Marot (Rijeka’s Centre for Research and Innova tion)\, Hans de Jonge (Open Science NL) and Rubén Vicente-Saez (Aalto Uni versity)\n\nOpen Science (open access\, FAIR data\, citizen science and tr ansparent research workflows) has been a flagship of the European Research Area. Yet the EU’s renewed Competitiveness Agenda raises urgent questio ns. This workshop will showcase progress across European University Allian ces to illustrate the momentum already under way addressing questions such as: Can openness and market‑driven innovation reinforce each other? How can university alliances translate their Open Science policies and practi ces into concrete pathways to competitiveness for Europe?\n\nFrom Metrics to Merit: Reforming Research Assessment &\; Academic Careers to Power E urope’s Competitiveness\n\nwith Doris Fischer (University Würzburg)\, S tans de Haas  (Utrecht University)\, Aleid de Jong (Utrecht University) a nd Kirsten Hollaender (Utrecht University)\n\nEurope’s new Competitivene ss Deal positions world-class science and skilled talent as the Union’s next “engine room.” Yet traditional\, metric-driven research assessmen t often undervalues open science\, teamwork and societal impact— contrib utions the EU now needs. This workshop zooms in on how European Universit y Alliances can adopt— and scale— pilot actions for change to sharpen their competitive edge.\n\nUnlocking Potential: How Diversity\, Equity\, a nd Inclusion Drive Competitiveness in Higher Education\n\nwith Agnes Sarol ta Fazekas-Vinkovits (Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest)\, Andrea B ähr (Würzburg University) and Isabel Fraas (Würzburg University)\n\nIn a global race for talent\, research excellence\, and societal relevance\, Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion (DEI) are no longer optional—they are strategic essentials. For CHARM-EU\, inclusion is not just a value\; it ’s a pillar of its identity as an innovative\, transnational university model.\n\nThis interactive workshop explores how embedding DEI into strate gy\, governance\, and daily operations strengthens institutional performan ce and reinforces CHARM-EU’s leadership in the European Higher Education Area. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity (role-play) to co-c reate actionable strategies and leave with practical tools to advance DEI as a driver of excellence\, innovation\, and social impact. Join us to dis cover how inclusion\, when embedded by design\, becomes a competitive adva ntage in higher education.\n\nBuilding future-proof skills with alumni: st ories and strategies\n\nwith Jasper Ewals (Common City Development)\, Alis ia Gahabka (European Environment Agency)\, Lena Sauer (City Administration of Bornheim) and Jill Hoost (IN Group)\n\nIn an era of rapid transformati on and increasing complexity\, having future-proof skills—particularly i n sustainability—is more important than ever. This interactive workshop will bring together CHARM-EU alumni and conference participants to explore how graduates have transitioned from learning sustainability competencies in the classroom to applying and further developing these skills in their professional lives. The workshop is designed to be dynamic and engaging\, creating a space for dialogue\, peer learning\, and mutual inspiration. T hrough a combination of icebreakers\, speed-dating conversations\, and a W orld Café setup\, participants will gain firsthand insights into the real -world application of skills across diverse career paths. Alumni will shar e concrete examples of how they have utilized their CHARM-EU education in their jobs and have continued to build their professional toolkits.\n\nTra nsdisciplinarity in Innovation\, Internationalisation and Regional Develo pment (REGISTRATION CLOSED FOR THIS WORKSHOP)\n\nwith Marieke Schoots (Til burg University and ENGAGE.EU Network) and Ger Corbett (Sandyford Business District)\n\nThis interactive workshop explores how transdisciplinary col laboration between universities and local communities can strengthen terri torial attractiveness and contribute to sustainable development. Participa nts will engage with the core challenges—economic\, cultural\, environme ntal\, social\, and educational—facing local regions\, and examine how t o connect them through one of CHARM-EU’s key themes: Water\, Food\, Heal th\, or Energy.\n\nInteroperability in Higher Education\, Joining Forces b y connecting IT-Systems\n\nwith Channa van der Brug (Hochschulforum Digita lisierung for Stiftverband)\, Thomas Lipke (University of Duisburg-Essen a nd Aurora Alliance)\, Cecile Ohm (University of Bergen) and Mathew Birdsal l Abrams (INCF)\n\nCHARM’s IT-team has recently taken large steps forwar d by connecting its IT ecosystems through a\njoint platform\, developed by SURF\, the Dutch national organization for IT in education. Through this\ nplatform\, users from any of the CHARM institutions can log in with the c redentials of their home\ninstitution to make use of designated IT-service . In this break-out session\, several IT decision makers\nfrom the CHARM-E U partner universities will participate in a podium discussion about quest ions such\nas:\nHow can interoperability between IT systems make partnersh ips stronger? What limitations\nor challenges do we see? How has the Allia nce’s work helped the IT decision makers in their own\ninstitution?\n\n1 4:00–15:30 | Parallel Workshops\n\nWorkshop 1: Open Science in European University Alliances: Pathways to Competitiveness\n\nWorkshop 2: From Met rics to Merit: Reforming Research Assessment &\; Academic Careers to Po wer Europe’s Competitiveness\n\nWorkshop 3: Unlocking Potential: How Div ersity\, Equity\, and Inclusion Drive Competitiveness in Higher Education\ n\nWorkshop 4: Building Future-Proof Skills with Alumni: Stories and Strat egies\n\nWorkshop 5: Transdisciplinarity in Innovation\, Internationalisat ion and Regional Development\n\nWorkshop 6: Interoperability in Higher Edu cation\, Joining Forces by connecting IT-Systems\n\n15:30h–16:00h | Coff ee and second poster session\n\n16:00h–16:15h | Interactive Quiz\n\n16:1 5h–16:45h | Concluding Plenary &\; Adoption of Key Messages\n\n\n16:4 5-18:00h | Farewell drinks\n\n09:00–09:30h | Registration and coffee\n\n 09:30–09:45h | Opening\n\nWilco Hazeleger\, Rector of Utrecht University \n\n09:45–10:15h | Keynote Speech on Competitiveness\, European Univers ity Alliances and Sustainability\n\nThomas Estermann\, Director for Govern ance\, Funding and Public Policy Development\,\nEuropean University Associ ation\n\n10:15–11:15h | How the European Universities Alliances can be a key Competitiveness Driver in delivering an EU Union of Skills\n\nModerat or: Doris Alexander\, Associate Director of European Engagement\, Trinity College Dublin\n\nSpeakers:\n\n Marcos Ros Sempere\, Member of the Europe an Parliament\n Vanessa Debiais-Sainton\, Member of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President at European Commission\n Ludovic Thilly\, Chair at Coimbra Group and Coordinator General of EC2U Alliance\n Olga Wessels\, Head of ECIU Brussels Office and Coordinator at FOREU4ALL\n Meadhbh Costello\, S enior Policy Executive at IBEC\n\nIn this high-level dialogue\, experts wi ll discuss the importance of the Union of Skills and the role that Europea n Universities alliances can play to its delivery and creation of a compet itive EU by helping to addressing skills gaps\, facilitating the portabili ty of skills\, creating stronger links between research\, education and in novation\, collaborating within and outside of the EU and working to attra ct and retaining talent through initiatives such as ‘Choose Europe’ wh ilst ensuring that all activities are set against core principles of inclu sion and diversity and sustainability.\n\n11:15–11:45h | Coffee and fir st poster session\n\n\n\n11:45–12:00h | Energizer activity: "The Sound and Power of Collaboration“\n\n12:00–12:50h | Competitiveness in the E uropean Higher Education Ecosystem from the Practitioners’ Perspectives: Daily Challenges and the Role of Alliances\n\nModerator: Edwin Kanters\, EU Liasion Officer at the University of Utrecht\n\nSpeakers:\n\n Clare H art\, Vice-President for International Affairs and European Cooperation. M unicipal Councillor for International Relations Montpellier\n Elena del G iorgio\, 4EU+ Secretary General\n Harriet Klavus\, Head of International Cooperation and CHARM-EU manager at Åbo Akademi University\n Réka Judit Boros\, Chair of the CHARM-EU Student Council\n Nadja Simons\, Local pro gram coordinator\, Julius-Maximilians-University\nWürzburg\n\nThis sessio n will bring together experienced professionals from diverse sectors to di scuss the practical challenges and opportunities shaping Europe’s compet itive landscape. Through an engaging dialogue with each other and the audi ence\, the practitioners will explore key issues such as skills gaps in ed ucation\, barriers to international mobility\, and the evolving demands of the labor market\, providing insights grounded in daily realities\, highl ighting how institutions and individuals navigate competitiveness pressure s. The session underscores the critical role of cross-sector and cross-bor der alliances in addressing these challenges\, fostering innovation\, and enhancing agility in a rapidly changing global environment. Audience parti cipation will enrich the exchange\, reflecting shared concerns and collabo rative potential.\n\n12:50–13:00h | Group picture\n\n13:00–14:00h | L unch\n\n\nWorkshop 1\n\n\nWorkshop 2\n\n\nWorkshop 3\n\n\nWorkshop 4\n\n\n Workshop 5\n\n\nWorkshop 6\n\n\nOpen Science in European University Allian ces: Pathways to Competitiveness\n\nwith Ignasi Labastida (University of B arcelona)\, Nataša Jakominić Marot (Rijeka’s Centre for Research and I nnovation)\, Hans de Jonge (Open Science NL) and Rubén Vicente-Saez (Aalt o University)\n\nOpen Science (open access\, FAIR data\, citizen science a nd transparent research workflows) has been a flagship of the European Res earch Area. Yet the EU’s renewed Competitiveness Agenda raises urgent qu estions. This workshop will showcase progress across European University A lliances to illustrate the momentum already under way addressing questions such as: Can openness and market‑driven innovation reinforce each other ? How can university alliances translate their Open Science policies and p ractices into concrete pathways to competitiveness for Europe?\n\nFrom Met rics to Merit: Reforming Research Assessment &\; Academic Careers to Po wer Europe’s Competitiveness\n\nwith Doris Fischer (University Würzburg )\, Stans de Haas  (Utrecht University)\, Aleid de Jong (Utrecht Universi ty) and Kirsten Hollaender (Utrecht University)\n\nEurope’s new Competit iveness Deal positions world-class science and skilled talent as the Union ’s next “engine room.” Yet traditional\, metric-driven research asse ssment often undervalues open science\, teamwork and societal impact— co ntributions the EU now needs. This workshop zooms in on how European Univ ersity Alliances can adopt— and scale— pilot actions for change to sha rpen their competitive edge.\n\nUnlocking Potential: How Diversity\, Equit y\, and Inclusion Drive Competitiveness in Higher Education\n\nwith Agnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits (Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest)\, Andr ea Bähr (Würzburg University) and Isabel Fraas (Würzburg University)\n\ nIn a global race for talent\, research excellence\, and societal relevanc e\, Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion (DEI) are no longer optional—they are strategic essentials. For CHARM-EU\, inclusion is not just a value\; it’s a pillar of its identity as an innovative\, transnational universit y model.\n\nThis interactive workshop explores how embedding DEI into stra tegy\, governance\, and daily operations strengthens institutional perform ance and reinforces CHARM-EU’s leadership in the European Higher Educati on Area. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity (role-play) to co -create actionable strategies and leave with practical tools to advance DE I as a driver of excellence\, innovation\, and social impact. Join us to d iscover how inclusion\, when embedded by design\, becomes a competitive ad vantage in higher education.\n\nBuilding future-proof skills with alumni: stories and strategies\n\nwith Jasper Ewals (Common City Development)\, Al isia Gahabka (European Environment Agency)\, Lena Sauer (City Administrati on of Bornheim) and Jill Hoost (IN Group)\n\nIn an era of rapid transforma tion and increasing complexity\, having future-proof skills—particularly in sustainability—is more important than ever. This interactive worksho p will bring together CHARM-EU alumni and conference participants to explo re how graduates have transitioned from learning sustainability competenci es in the classroom to applying and further developing these skills in the ir professional lives. The workshop is designed to be dynamic and engaging \, creating a space for dialogue\, peer learning\, and mutual inspiration. Through a combination of icebreakers\, speed-dating conversations\, and a World Café setup\, participants will gain firsthand insights into the re al-world application of skills across diverse career paths. Alumni will sh are concrete examples of how they have utilized their CHARM-EU education i n their jobs and have continued to build their professional toolkits.\n\nT ransdisciplinarity in Innovation\, Internationalisation and Regional Deve lopment (REGISTRATION CLOSED FOR THIS WORKSHOP)\n\nwith Marieke Schoots (T ilburg University and ENGAGE.EU Network) and Ger Corbett (Sandyford Busine ss District)\n\nThis interactive workshop explores how transdisciplinary c ollaboration between universities and local communities can strengthen ter ritorial attractiveness and contribute to sustainable development. Partici pants will engage with the core challenges—economic\, cultural\, environ mental\, social\, and educational—facing local regions\, and examine how to connect them through one of CHARM-EU’s key themes: Water\, Food\, He alth\, or Energy.\n\nInteroperability in Higher Education\, Joining Forces by connecting IT-Systems\n\nwith Channa van der Brug (Hochschulforum Digi talisierung for Stiftverband)\, Thomas Lipke (University of Duisburg-Essen and Aurora Alliance)\, Cecile Ohm (University of Bergen) and Mathew Birds all Abrams (INCF)\n\nCHARM’s IT-team has recently taken large steps forw ard by connecting its IT ecosystems through a\njoint platform\, developed by SURF\, the Dutch national organization for IT in education. Through thi s\nplatform\, users from any of the CHARM institutions can log in with the credentials of their home\ninstitution to make use of designated IT-servi ce. In this break-out session\, several IT decision makers\nfrom the CHARM -EU partner universities will participate in a podium discussion about que stions such\nas:\nHow can interoperability between IT systems make partner ships stronger? What limitations\nor challenges do we see? How has the All iance’s work helped the IT decision makers in their own\ninstitution?\n\ nOpen Science in European University Alliances: Pathways to Competitivenes s\n\nwith Ignasi Labastida (University of Barcelona)\, Nataša Jakominić Marot (Rijeka's Centre for Research and Innovation)\, Hans de Jonge (Open Science NL) and Rubén Vicente-Saez (Aalto University)\n\nOpen Science (op en access\, FAIR data\, citizen science and transparent research workflows ) has been a flagship of the European Research Area. Yet the EU’s renewe d Competitiveness Agenda raises urgent questions. This workshop will showc ase progress across European University Alliances to illustrate the moment um already under way addressing questions such as: Can openness and market ‑driven innovation reinforce each other? How can university alliances tr anslate their Open Science policies and practices into concrete pathways t o competitiveness for Europe?\n\nFrom Metrics to Merit: Reforming Research Assessment &\; Academic Careers to Power Europe's Competitiveness\n\nw ith Doris Fischer (University Würzburg)\, Stans de Haas  (Utrecht Univer sity)\, Aleid de Jong (Utrecht University) and Kirsten Hollaender (Utrecht University)\n\nEurope’s new Competitiveness Deal positions world-class science and skilled talent as the Union’s next “engine room.” Yet tr aditional\, metric-driven research assessment often undervalues open scien ce\, teamwork and societal impact— contributions the EU now needs. This workshop zooms in on how European University Alliances can adopt— and s cale— pilot actions for change to sharpen their competitive edge.\n\nUnl ocking Potential: How Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion Drive Competitive ness in Higher Education\n\nwith Agnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits (Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest)\, Andrea Bähr (Würzburg University) and Isabel Fraas (Würzburg University)\n\nIn a global race for talent\, rese arch excellence\, and societal relevance\, Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclus ion (DEI) are no longer optional—they are strategic essentials. For CHAR M-EU\, inclusion is not just a value\; it's a pillar of its identity as an innovative\, transnational university model.\n\nThis interactive workshop explores how embedding DEI into strategy\, governance\, and daily operati ons strengthens institutional performance and reinforces CHARM-EU’s lead ership in the European Higher Education Area. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity (role-play) to co-create actionable strategies and lea ve with practical tools to advance DEI as a driver of excellence\, innovat ion\, and social impact. Join us to discover how inclusion\, when embedded by design\, becomes a competitive advantage in higher education.\n\nBuild ing future-proof skills with alumni: stories and strategies\n\nwith Jasper Ewals (Common City Development)\, Alisia Gahabka (European Environment Ag ency)\, Lena Sauer (City Administration of Bornheim) and Jill Hoost (IN Gr oup)\n\nIn an era of rapid transformation and increasing complexity\, havi ng future-proof skills—particularly in sustainability—is more importan t than ever. This interactive workshop will bring together CHARM-EU alumni and conference participants to explore how graduates have transitioned fr om learning sustainability competencies in the classroom to applying and f urther developing these skills in their professional lives. The workshop i s designed to be dynamic and engaging\, creating a space for dialogue\, pe er learning\, and mutual inspiration. Through a combination of icebreakers \, speed-dating conversations\, and a World Café setup\, participants wil l gain firsthand insights into the real-world application of skills across diverse career paths. Alumni will share concrete examples of how they hav e utilized their CHARM-EU education in their jobs and have continued to bu ild their professional toolkits.\n\nTransdisciplinarity in Innovation\, In ternationalisation and Regional Development (REGISTRATION CLOSED FOR THIS WORKSHOP)\n\nwith Marieke Schoots (Tilburg University and ENGAGE.EU Netwo rk) and Ger Corbett (Sandyford Business District)\n\nThis interactive work shop explores how transdisciplinary collaboration between universities and local communities can strengthen territorial attractiveness and contribut e to sustainable development. Participants will engage with the core chall enges—economic\, cultural\, environmental\, social\, and educational—f acing local regions\, and examine how to connect them through one of CHARM -EU’s key themes: Water\, Food\, Health\, or Energy.\n\nInteroperability in Higher Education\, Joining Forces by connecting IT-Systems\n\nwith Cha nna van der Brug (Hochschulforum Digitalisierung for Stiftverband)\, Thoma s Lipke (University of Duisburg-Essen and Aurora Alliance)\, Cecile Ohm (U niversity of Bergen) and Mathew Birdsall Abrams (INCF)\n\nCHARM’s IT-tea m has recently taken large steps forward by connecting its IT ecosystems t hrough a\njoint platform\, developed by SURF\, the Dutch national organiza tion for IT in education. Through this\nplatform\, users from any of the C HARM institutions can log in with the credentials of their home\ninstituti on to make use of designated IT-service. In this break-out session\, sever al IT decision makers\nfrom the CHARM-EU partner universities will partici pate in a podium discussion about questions such\nas:\nHow can interoperab ility between IT systems make partnerships stronger? What limitations\nor challenges do we see? How has the Alliance’s work helped the IT decision makers in their own\ninstitution?\n\n14:00–15:30 | Parallel Workshops\n \nWorkshop 1: Open Science in European University Alliances: Pathways to C ompetitiveness\n\nWorkshop 2: From Metrics to Merit: Reforming Research A ssessment &\; Academic Careers to Power Europe's Competitiveness\n\nWor kshop 3: Unlocking Potential: How Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion Drive Competitiveness in Higher Education\n\nWorkshop 4: Building Future-Proof Skills with Alumni: Stories and Strategies\n\nWorkshop 5: Transdisciplinar ity in Innovation\, Internationalisation and Regional Development\n\nWorks hop 6: Interoperability in Higher Education\, Joining Forces by connecting IT-Systems\n\n15:30h–16:00h | Coffee and second poster session\n\n16:00 h–16:15h | Interactive Quiz\n\n16:15h–16:45h | Concluding Plenary & \; Adoption of Key Messages\n\n\n16:45-18:00h | Farewell drinks\nSpeakers and Panelists\n\nWilco Hazeleger\n\n\nThomas Estermann\n\n\nVanessa Debiai s-Sainton\n\n\nMarcos Ros Sempere\n\n\nLudovic Thilly\n\n\nMeritxell Chave s\n\n\nDoris Alexander\n\n\nElena Del Giorgio\n\n\nOlga Wessels\n\n\nHarri et Klåvus\n\n\nMeadhbh Costello\n\n\nEdwin Kanters\n\n\nAnnet van der Rie t\n\n\nClare Hart\n\n\nNadja Simons\n\n\nIgnasi Labastida\n\n\nNataša Jak ominić Marot\n\n\nHans de Jonge\n\n\nDoris Fischer\n\n\nStans de Haas\n\n \nAgnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits\n\n\nIsabel Fraas\n\n\nAndrea Bähr\n\n\ nMarieke Schoots\n\n\nGer Corbett\n\n\nRéka Judit Boros\n\n\nChanna van d er Brug\n\n\nThomas Lipke\n\n\nCecilie Ohm\n\n\nJasper Ewals\n\n\nKirsten Hollaender\n\n\nAleid de Jong\n\n\nMathew Birdsall Abrams\n\n\nRubén Vice nte-Saez\n\n\nLena Sauer\n\n\nAlisia Gahabka\n\n\nJill Hoost\n\nWilco Haze leger\nRector Magnificus\, Utrecht University\nWilco Hazeleger is Rector M agnificus of Utrecht University since 26 March 2025 and professor of Clima te System Science. As rector\, he is responsible for research\, education and student affairs at UU. His mission is to make the university open and accessible to society. He does this by stimulating scientific disciplines\ , connecting them and actively collaborating with societal actors. For him \, an accessible university means that everyone can be given the space to study and research at the university.\n\nHazeleger studied meteorology at Wageningen University and Reading University (UK). He obtained his PhD in physical oceanography at Utrecht University in 1999. He then worked at Col umbia University (New York) and at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological In stitute (KNMI). He was also professor of Climate Dynamics at Wageningen Un iversity. From 2014 to 2019\, he was director of the Netherlands eScience Center\, focusing on the application of digital technology and data scienc e in all scientific domains.\n\nHazeleger was dean of the Faculty of Geosc iences from 1 July 2019 to 1 March 2025. There\, Hazeleger was closely inv olved in promoting diversity and inclusivity and in inter- and transdiscip linary research focused on sustainability transitions. His research focuse s on climate research and applications of AI and data science in it.\n\n\n Thomas Estermann\, Director for Governance\, Funding and Public Policy Dev elopment\, European University Association (EUA)\nThomas Estermann is Dire ctor for Governance\, Funding and Public Policy Development at the Europea n University Association (EUA) with responsibilities for EUA’s work aime d at strengthening universities’ autonomy\, governance\, leadership\, ma nagement and their financial sustainability.\n\nHe is actively involved in various European and national committees\, expert groups\, editorial boar ds\, and advisory boards\, including those of European university alliance s. He regularly contributes to higher education management programs and re cently developed the EUA Leadership Development Programme to equip senior university leaders with the leadership tools to drive transformation in hi gher education. He has provided guidance in multiple national higher educa tion reform processes in Europe and beyond and has authored publications o n university funding\, governance\, leadership\, and management.\n\nPrior to joining EUA in 2007\, he held the position of Deputy University Directo r at the University of Music and Performing Arts\, Vienna. During this tim e\, he served as a member of the university’s senate and was involved in several significant higher education reforms in Austria. Before entering the University\, he pursued a career as a lawyer. He holds a master’s de gree in law from the University of Vienna.\n\n\nVanessa Debiais-Sainton\nM ember of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President at European Commission\, Soci al rights and skills\, quality jobs and preparedness\nVanessa Debiais-Sain ton is a member of cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu at the European Commission\, where she is responsible for all levels of educa tion &\; training\, Union of Skills\, digital education and Erasmus+.\n \nPreviously\, she acted as Head of Unit in Higher Education\, shaping Eur opean policies and programme to reform and transform higher education. Amo ng her responsibilities were the co-creation\, launch and supervision of t he European Universities initiative\, paving the way towards the universit ies of the future. Responsible for the higher education dimension of the E uropean Education Area\, including the European Degree\, the European Appr oach to Micro-credentials\, the automatic recognition of higher education qualifications and learning periods abroad\, the EU Student Card initiativ e and the higher education strand of Erasmus+.\n\nBefore moving to the Eur opean Commission\, Vanessa spent eight years working for several companies . She studied Chemical Engineering in France (Institut National Polytechni que de Lorraine).\n\n\nMarcos Ros Sempere\nMember of the European Parliame nt\nMarcos Ros Sempere has been a Spanish Member of the European Parliamen t since February 2020. He is the shadow rapporteur for the EPBD on the Env ironment\, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committee which is respons ible for giving its opinion to the leading committee (ITRE). He is also a member of Industry\, Research &\; Energy (ITRE)\, Culture and Education (CULT) and Regional Development (REGI) committees.\n\nOn the CULT committ ee\, he is the co-rapporteur for the own initiative report on the New Euro pean Bauhaus which brings together interdisciplinary solutions including t he decarbonisation of buildings for integrating the green transition into the lives of EU citizens.\n\nPrior to his role in the European Parliament\ , Mr. Ros Sempere spent eleven years as a Professor of Urban Planning at t he School of Architecture of Cartagena. He has a PhD in architecture\, spe cialise in urban planning issues and a long experience in the rehabilitati on of the architectural heritage.\n\n\nLudovic Thilly\nCoordinator General of the EC2U European University Alliance and co-coordinator of FOREU4ALL\ nLudovic Thilly is a Full Professor of Physics at the University of Poitie rs and\, since 2012\, has served as Vice-Rector in charge of European Stra tegy and the EC2U Alliance. A member of the Coimbra Group Executive Board since 2015\, he was elected Chair in June 2017 and has been re-elected twi ce since. His current mandate runs until 2028.\n\nProfessor Thilly is the Coordinator General of the EC2U European University Alliance and co-coordi nator of FOREU4ALL\, the community of practice bringing together the 65 se lected European University Alliances. He continues to teach and supervise PhD candidates.\n\nHis research focuses on the deformation mechanisms of ( nano- )materials. He has co-authored more than 80 publications in internat ional peer-reviewed journals\, including four book chapters\, and has deli vered over 60 invited lectures at international conferences and institutio ns.\n\n\nMeritxell Chaves\n\nSecretary General of European University of C HARM-EU\nMeritxell Chaves has more than thirty years of experience in the higher education sector\, in four universities of the Catalan university system\, in different functional areas of the University such as academic management\, strategic planning\, quality and accreditation\, and internat ional relations in different organisational cultures.\n\nAs Secretary Gene ral of European University of CHARM-EU since the start of the initiative i n 2019 she has been leading CHARM-EU team.\n\n\nDoris Alexander\n\nAssocia te Director of European Engagement\, Trinity College Dublin\nDoris Alexand er has worked in Research Management Administration since 1994\, taking up her current post as Associate Director of European Engagement in 2019 and is responsible for the development of strategies of engagement\, working to get early insight on new EU policy/initiatives so as to maximise the op portunity space for Trinity. She is currently engaged in the implementatio n of aspects of the ERA policy agenda.\n\nShe has been involved in several EC stakeholder groups including the co-creation of the European Universit ies initiative\, is the co-director of CHARM-EU alliance in Trinity Colleg e and a member of the Executive Board. She was Chair of the R&\;I subgr oup of the FOREU1 network (the network of the 17 European Universities all iances funded through the first Erasmus+ pilot call) and is currently chai r of the R&\;I Topical Group (part of FOREU4ALL) for all alliances.\n\n Doris holds a BA in Mathematical Science and an MSc in Computer Science (H ealth informatics) from Trinity College Dublin.\n\n\nElena Del Giorgio\n4E U+ Secretary GeneraL\nPrior to this appointment as Secretary General of 4E U+ Alliance\, Elena Del Giorgio has served as 4EU+ Policy Officer and as P olicy Officer at the University of Milan supporting the university’s Eur opean and international institutional partnerships such as LERU and U7+.\n \nWith the University of Milan becoming a member of the 4EU+ Alliance in N ovember 2018\, she was involved in 4EU+ almost since its creation. In her role as seconded 4EU+ Policy Officer\, she worked on the development of th e new 4EU+ strategy 2025- 2035.\n\nShe has most recently served as Interim Secretary General\, playing a key role in overseeing the establishment of the 4EU+ Secretariat in Brussels and relocating the Alliance’s legal en tity to Belgium. She holds a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute in Florence\, Italy.\n\nEarly in her career \, she served as a research fellow in the framework of several EU-funded p rojects.\n\n\nOLGA WESSELS\nHead of eciu brussels office and foreu4all coo rdinator\nOlga Wessels is the Head of Brussels’ Office of the European C onsortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). In this position\, Wessels co ntributes to setting the agenda of ECIU at the European level\, increasing the organisation’s visibility as a potential and reliable partner for E uropean institutions in debates on policy and programme developments.\n\nW essels also coordinates FOREU4ALL\, bringing together all 73 European Univ ersity alliances in a cohesive structure to foster collaboration and share best practices.\n\nBefore joining ECIU\, Wessels represented the Dutch un iversities (including Utrecht University) in Brussels\, focussing on highe r education and Open Science policies\, and worked for the Dutch National Students’ Union (LSVb)\, focusing on flexible education and quality assu rance.\n\n\nHarriet Klåvus\nHead of International Cooperation and CHARM-E U manager at Åbo Akademi University\, Finland\nHarriet Klåvus is Head o f International Cooperation and CHARM-EU manager at Åbo Akademi Universit y\, Finland\, and Lead of WP6 Mobility for CHARM8. Furthermore\, she is th e Institutional Erasmus Coordinator as well as the Coimbra Group represent ative at Åbo Akademi University. She has been working at the Internationa l Affairs since 1995. She is also a representative in both national and re gional committees and has been the founding member of both the Nordlys Stu dent Exchange Network and the Coimbra Group Student Exchange Network. Both of them are multidisciplinary student exchange networks\, today functioni ng under the Erasmus programme.\n\nShe has been participating in several E rasmus projects and has acted as a consultant on student exchange for both the Finnish National Agency and the Nordic Council of Ministers. She has also been the Secretary General for the Nordic Association of University A dministrators (NUAS).\n\n\nMeadhbh Costello\nsenior policy executive at Ib ec\nMeadhbh Costello is a senior policy executive at Ibec\, the group repr esenting employers and business in Ireland. In this role she acts as a str ategic advisor and support for businesses across Ireland on issues related to education\, skills\, innovation and social policy.\n\nHer role include s skills research\, the development of tools and guidelines\, lobbying and developing policy positions at a national and European level. Previously\ , Meadhbh served as a policy specialist working for public\, private and N GO organisations in Ireland and Europe.\n\n\nEdwin Kanters\nEU Liaison Off icer\, University of Utrecht\nEdwin Kanters is the EU Liaison Officer at U trecht University\, bringing a wealth of experience in research management and administration to his role. With a background that spans from researc her to administrator\, Edwin has held key positions in grant advising and research support at prestigious institutions. He served as a grant advisor at Amsterdam University Medical Centre and as interim head of the Grants Office at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam before joining Utrecht University i n November 2021.\n\nEdwin’s expertise encompasses EU grants\, research p olicy\, and education\, with a particular talent for building bridges and connecting people to facilitate impactful research initiatives. He current ly serves as a Board Member of EARMA (European Association of Research Man agers and Administrators)\, contributing to the advancement of research ma nagement as a profession.\n\n\nAnnet van der Riet\nlead Professional Devel opment CHARM-EU\nAnnet van der Riet is an educational scientist and works within the European alliance CHARM-EU\, where she is responsible for the p rofessional development of lecturers.\n\nKey themes include challenge-base d learning\, transdisciplinary education\, hybrid education\, and programm atic assessment. In previous roles at Utrecht University\, Annet worked at the Centre for Academic Teaching as Teacher Development Coordinator. In t his role\, she focused on the continuous development and improvement of th e training programs for lecturers at Utrecht University.\n\nAnnet gained e xperience in educational innovation at Educate-it. In this role\, she was responsible for the professional development programs in the area of blend ed learning and focused on teaching support for lecturers.\n\n\nClare Hart \n\nVice-President for International Affairs and\nEuropean Cooperation. Mu nicipal Councillor for International Relations Montpellier\, France\nA soc ial change maker and expert in Corporate Social Responsibility\, London-bo rn Clare Hart now lives with her family in Montpellier\, in southern Fran ce. She is passionate about gender equality and social inclusion through g rassroots mobilization\, and a fervent charity activist.\n\nAfter her Univ ersity years in European Studies and Geopolitics (Nottingham and Cambridge ) and a year spent in an NGO in India (New Delhi\, Calcutta\, Mumbai)\, sh e founded a professional training company in 1993\, and since she has coun seled and trained multiple executives on cross-cultural management and com munication. She also joined the French Chamber of Commerce and the Foundat ion of Action for Social Inclusion.\n\nIn 2020\, se was elected to Montpel lier City and Metropolitan Council as Vice-President for International Aff airs and European Cooperation.\n\n\nNadja Simons\nPROFESSOR AND Local prog ram coordinator\, Julius- maximilians-University Würzburg\nNadja Simons i s a professor for Applied Biodiversity Sciences at the Biology department of JMU Würzburg and local program coordinator for the Master program “G lobal Challenges for Sustainability”. Her role in CHARM involves coordin ating teaching activities and content with the eight partner universities. Her own teaching activities for the program include lectures and workshop s on research design and co-supervision of student teams in the final seme ster.\n\nIn her research\, she focuses on ecological sustainability\, in p articular how land use practices affect biodiversity and ecosystem functio ning. On the one hand\, she is interested in how management decisions affe ct biological communities and how this translates into changes in the prov ision of ecosystem functions. On the other hand\, she investigates how bio diversity and ecosystem services are considered in management decisions an d planning\, and how they can be integrated into decision-making processes .\n\nBefore starting her professorship in Würzburg\, she has worked in in ter- and transdisciplinary research projects related to sustainable habita t management at TU Darmstadt and TU Munich.\n\n\niGNASI lABASTIDA\nRECTOR' s delegate FOR SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND OPEN SCIENCE\, UNIVERSITY OF BARCEL ONA\nIgnasi Labastida is the Rector’s Delegate for Scientific Publicatio ns and Open Science at the University of Barcelona where he is also the he ad of the research support in the library Currently he chairs the Board of SPARC Europe and the working policy group on Information and Open Access at League of European Research Universities (LERU).\n\nHe has participated in the elaboration of the Catalan Strategic Plan on Open Science and the Spanish National Strategy on Open Science He has been working on copyright and openness since his involvement in introducing Creative Commons licens es in Spain in 2003.\n\n\nNataša Jakominić Marot\nHead of the University of Rijeka’s Centre for Research and Innovation\nNataša Jakominić Maro t is Head of the University of Rijeka’s Centre for Research and Innovati on and a senior executive with 20+ years’ experience advancing innovatio n\, research\, and sustainability in higher education.\n\nShe leads instit utional reforms in research(er) assessment aligned with CoARA\, serving in two CoARA working groups and helping embed narrative CVs\, qualitative in dicators\, and open-science incentives across UNIRI policies. She has mana ged a portfolio of 50+ projects exceeding €50 million\, with expertise i n project cycle management\, strategic planning\, training\, consulting\, and peer review/external assessment.\n\nAn active member of EARMA and the YERUN Policy Platform\, she is a trainer in EU funding and R&\;I leader ship. She holds an MBA (MODUL University Vienna) and completed executive p rogramme Innovation for Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School\n\n \nhans de jonge\ndirector open science nl\nHans de Jonge is director of Op en Science NL. He has worked at NWO since 2018. As a programme leader\, he was responsible for various aspects of NWO’s open science policy.\nHans was closely involved in the development of Plan S of coalitions and repre sented NWO in the National Platform Open Science.\n\nHe was\nalso actively involved with recognition and rewards for open science practices. Before joining NWO\, Hans worked as a programme leader at the academic affairs De partment of Utrecht University and at the association of universities in t he Netherlands (UNL). Hans is a historian of\nscience by training.\n\n\nDo ris Fischer\nVice-President for internationalisation at würzburg universi ty\nDoris Fischer is Vice President for Internationalisation and Alumni at the Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg (JMU)\, represents the JMU as a director on the Executive Board of CHARM-EU and within the Coimbra G roup\, and holds the chair for China Business and Economics at JMU.\nAn Ec onomist and Sinologist with more than 30 years of experience in academic r esearch\,\nteaching\, and consultancy on China’s economy.\n\nDoris Fisch er has done extensive research on\ncompetition\, regulation\, and industri al policies in various sectors\, focusing on the rationale of\nChinese eco nomic policies\, the resulting incentive structures of economic actors and the impact\nof China’s economic rise on the global economy\n\n\nstans d e haas\ndirector of operations of social sciences department at utrecht un iversity\nStans de Haas is Director of Operations of the department Social Sciences (which consists of the sections: Cultural Anthropology\, Sociolo gy\, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences\, and Methods and Statistics).\n\nS he is aldo appointed as expert of the theme Recognition and Rewards in the Open Science programme at UU. “\n\n\nAgnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits\na ssistant professor at the Eötvös Loránd\nUniversity in Budapest\, Hunga ry\nAgnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits (she/her) is an assistant professor at the Eötvös Loránd\nUniversity Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Need s in Budapest\, Hungary.\n\nSince 2019\, Agnes has been the leader of the work package on inclusiveness in the CHARM-EU 2019-2022 project and has co ntinued the work as Lead of the CHARM-EU DEI Office (from 2023- ) of the C HARM-EU Alliance.\n\nIn 2024\, CHARM-EU’s inclusion and diversity work w as a ZeroProject Awardee.\n\n\nisabel fraas\nhead of diversity management at würzburg university\nIsabel Fraas is head of the Diversity Management and the Anti-Discrimination Contact Point at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (JMU). She is furthermore responsible for gender and diversit y consulting for DFG-funded research networks at the University.\n\nShe ad vises and supports research projects in the planning and implementation of equity measures and is currently co-spokesperson for the Germany-wide Gen der and Diversity Consulting Network. Isabel Fraas coordinates personnel d evelopment programs for female scientists under the umbrella of the Gender Equality Academy JMU.\n\nShe has been the university’s Aanti-Semitism O fficer since July 2024. Isabel Fraas holds a doctorate in German studies. After working for many years in teaching and research at the Institute of German Philology at JMU\, she moved into science management\, where she wa s responsible for training JMU tutors and continuing education in universi ty teaching as part of the BMBF-funded Quality Pact for Teaching program.\ n\nAs a freelance trainer\, she has been offering trainings for academics on topics such as unconscious bias\, diversity\, empowerment\, and leaders hip for many years.\n\n\nAndrea Bähr\nWomen's representative office at W ürzburg university\nAndrea Bähr runs the women’s representative office at the University of Würzburg. Her area of expertise is designing and ap plying processes and tools to promote gender equality in academic contexts . Coming from an academic background in cultural studies she is committed to studying societal norms and challenging them wherever they create inequ ality.\n\n\nMarieke Schoots\, Program Director for Academic Collaboration Centers within the Programma Brede Welvaart at Tilburg University\nMarieke Schoots is Program Director for Academic Collaboration Centers within the Programma Brede Welvaart at Tilburg University\, where she develops and l eads initiatives that strengthen the university’s societal impact and fo ster collaboration with both (inter) national and regional partners.\n\nSh e also serves as work package leader for Societal Outreach in the European University Network ENGAGE.EU. In this role she initiated the Expedition W eeks\, a challenge-based learning format in which students apply design th inking to real-life societal and economic challenges\, gaining valuable in terdisciplinary and intercultural skills.\n\nShe has played a key role in advancing projects that connect universities with local communities\, poli cymakers\, and businesses\, thereby contributing to sustainable regional d evelopment and broad prosperity. Her expertise spans stakeholder engagemen t\, transdisciplinary collaboration\, and impact-driven education\, with a strong track record in designing innovative formats that link education\, research\, and practice.\n\n\nGer corbett\nCEO of Sandyford Business Dist rict\nGer Corbett is CEO of Sandyford Business District\, Ireland’s larg est business improvement district\,\nhome to many important companies.\nGe r commenced his tenure with Sandyford Business District as Commercial Mana ger in June 2021 before assuming the role of CEO in 2022. Throughout his l eadership\, he has spearheaded the association’s initiatives to assist t he district’s 1\,000 companies\, 26\,000 employees\, and 6\,000\nresiden ts in overcoming pandemic-related challenges and adapting to the evolving economic\nlandscape.\n\nUnder his guidance\, Sandyford Business District h as continued to foster meaningful\ncollaborations with the district’s co -founder and local council\, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County\nCouncil\, as well as esteemed academic institutions including Trinity College Dublin\, Nova UCD\,\nDún Laoghaire Institute of Art\, Design and Technology (IADT) and the Irish Management Institute (IMI).\n\nDemonstrating a steadfast co mmitment to advancing the district’s sustainability efforts\, Ger has pl ayed a pivotal role in the inception of Project Green\, SBID’s ambitious environmental agenda.\nHe has successfully secured funding for various ci rcular economy initiatives\, shared mobility\nschemes\, and climate resili ence projects at local\, national\, and European levels.\n\nGer’s leader ship in the district’s European ventures has fostered collaborations wit h partner cities including Istanbul\, Berlin\, Helsinki\, Guimarães\, Cit y Network Sweden\, City Network Slovenia\, and London.\n\n\nRéka judit bo ros\nChair of the CHARM-EU Student Council\nRéka Judit Boros is currently serving as Chair of the CHARM-EU Student Council and is a student at Eöt vös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest\, Hungary.\n\nShe has been acti vely involved in student representation for the past four years\, with a p articular focus on international affairs and cross-border academic coopera tion. Within the university context\, she works to strengthen the voice of students in decision-making processes and advocates for inclusive\, trans parent governance in higher education.\n\nAt this conference\, she contrib utes a student perspective to the discussion\, emphasizing the importance of meaningful participation\, diversity\, and co-creation in higher educat ion policy and practice.\n\n\nChanna van der Brug\nInternational Affairs P rogramme Manager\, Hochschulforum Digitalisierung for Stifterverband\,\nGe rmany\nChanna van der Brug connects universities\, policymakers\, and tech nology experts to drive\ninnovative approaches in digital learning interna tionally. She champions the creation and\nimplementation of learning and t eaching environments that improve student engagement\nand institutional ef fectiveness.\n\nChanna contributes her expertise in two flagship initiativ es at the Stifterverband (founded in 1920\, the Stifterverband is a joint initiative of German\ncompanies and foundations dedicated to improving edu cation\, science\, and innovation): The “Hochschulforum Digitalisierung ” – Germany’s national platform for advancing higher education in th e digital age\, and the European Digital Education Hub.\n\n\nThomas lipke\ nADVISOR Digital Transformation and Academic Controlling at the University \nof Duisburg-Essen\, aurora alliance\nThomas Lipke works at the Universit y of Duisburg-Essen in Germany\, a member of the AURORA Alliance. He is re sponsible for the digital transformation of the university’s administrat ion\, driving innovation and efficiency in processes. In addition\, he ove rsees technical interoperability in the field of cooperation\, ensuring th at the university’s systems can connect smoothly with partner universiti es.\n\nA key part of his work is within the AURORA European University Net work\, where they explore solutions that can also apply to other German an d international collaborations. Thomas is committed to developing sustaina ble standards and ecosystems that give students and universities real digi tal sovereignty.\n\n\nCECILE OHM\, Deputy Director of IT Department &\; head digital products and business services AT UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN\nCeci lie Ohm has worked in higher education in Norway since 1993. She has a for mal background as a computer scientist and meteorologist. She also has a m aster’s degree in university management and has worked with university a dministrative tasks throughout her professional career.\n\nCecilie has hel d management leadership positions at the University of Bergen\, the Bergen Academy of Art and Design\, and as a joint project manager for the four u niversities in Bergen\, Oslo\, Trondheim and Tromsø. IT solutions for adm inistrative processes have always been a focus in Cecilie’s work\, and t he importance of enterprise architecture\, interoperability and source dat a is always high on the agenda.\n\nShe is currently Deputy Director of the IT Department at the University of Bergen\, where she heads the section f or digital products and business services.\n\n\nJasper Ewals\, COMMUNITY D EVELOPER\nJasper Ewals is half German\, half Dutch. He studied at CHARM-EU from 2023 – 2025\, following the track Life &\; Health. After his st udies\, he found a job as a Community Developer for Common City Developmen t\, an organisation that creates and aids co-housing initiatives. Aside fr om that\, he makes music and organises events. Both of these roles allow h im to connect with people and bring them together\, something he find a lo t of joy in.\n\n\nKirsten Hollaender\nPROJECT MANAGER EUROPEAN COLLABORATI ON AT UTRECHT UNIVERSITY\nWith a PhD in sociology\, Kirsten Hollaender ear ly on specialized in inter- and transdisciplinary research\, covering the full range from initiating\, supporting and doing through promoting\, fund ing\, improving and evaluating.\n\nNext to her work as European research p olicy advisor\, she coordinates the Research Assessment procedures at the University of Utrecht and contributes to the Research and Innovation Dimen sion of CHARM-EU.\n\n\naleid de jong\npolicy adviser RESEARCH AND OPEN SCI ENCE at utrecht university\nAleid de Jong is a strategic policy adviser fo r Open Science at Utrecht University. In this role\, she coordinates and m onitors activities related to the five pillars of Open Science within the university: Open Access\, FAIR data and software\, Public Engagement\, Ope n Education\, and Recognition &\; Rewards. To achieve this\, she collab orates with and connects experts across different levels of the university \, with the goal of advancing and embedding the Open Science way of workin g within the institution.\n\nIn addition to her work at Utrecht University \, she focuses on promoting Open Science in national and international con texts—for example\, through the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessm ent (CoARA).\n\n\nMathew Birdsall abrams\ndirector of science and training at incf\nMathew Birdsall Abrams\, PhD\, MPH is Director of Science and Tr aining at the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF)\ , a global organization dedicated to open\, FAIR\, and citable neuroscienc e.\n\nMathew is a neuroscientist with over 25 years of experience in both experimental neuroscience and clinical psychiatry\, as well as 12 years of experience in community coordination\, community building\, and product d evelopment in neuroinformatics. Mathew has worked with the infrastructure developers of the world’s large scale brain initiatives (BRAIN Initiativ e in US\, Human Brain Project in Europe\, Canadian Open Neuroscience Platf orm\, and Brain/MINDS in Japan). He also holds Positions of Trust in many neuroscience societies (e.g. SfN\, FUN\, FENS\, and IBRO).\n\nMathew condu cted his doctoral thesis research at Tulane University and Karolinska Inst itutet\, obtained his MPH in Health Systems Management at Tulane Universit y School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine\, and completed his underg raduate education at the University of Richmond.\n\n\nRubén Vicente-Saez\ nResearcher and Research Manager at Aalto University\nRubén Vicente-Saez is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Manager at Aalto Universi ty’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management\, in Finland. H is research and teaching focus on open science policy\, leadership and man agement\, science and innovation policy\, and university governance.\n\nSi nce 2021\, Rubén has led the Open Science and Innovation Community of the European University Alliance Unite!. The team develops evidence-based pol icy tools\, guidelines\, and recommendations to support university manager s\, policymakers\, funders and researchers in mainstreaming open science a nd innovation practices across European\nuniversities.\n\nRubén earned a double PhD in the topic Open Science in the digital era from Aalto Univers ity and the University of Valencia (2021).  He has also worked as an Inno vation Project Specialist for Peacekeeping Missions in the Technology Deve lopment Unit of the United Nations\, Project Manager at the University of Valencia Science Park\, and served as a Policy Officer within the Blue Boo k programme\, focusing on ICT and Education at the European Commission.\n\ nThrough his work at Aalto and Unite!\, Rubén helps translate open scienc e principles into practical policy\, governance models\, and infrastructur e that empower researchers\, students\, institutions\, and decision-makers .\n\n\nlena sauer\nclimate adaptation manager for the city\nadministration of Bornheim\, Germany\nLena Sauer is a graduate of CHARM-EU and was part of the first group of students to complete this master’s program. At the time\, she chose to focus on food systems. During and after her studies\, she completed several internships\, including at GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation) and the European Environment Agency in Copenhag en (Bluebook traineeship).\n\nCurrently\, she works as a climate adaptatio n manager for the city administration of Bornheim in Germany (between Colo gne and Bonn). In this role\, she supports efforts to prepare the city for changing climate patterns and increase resilience to extreme weather even ts such as heat\, drought\, heavy rain\, and flooding in order to protect the population through preventive measures.\n\nHer field of work is very b road\, ranging from strategic planning and implementation of concrete meas ures to the involvement of stakeholders (citizens\, politicians\, business es\, farmers\, universities) to awareness campaigns\, press relations\, an d fundraising\n\n\nAlisia Gahabka\nBluebook Traineeship at the European\nE nvironment Agency\nAlisia Gahabka has been a student with the CHARM-EU Mas ter’s programme in Global Challenges for Sustainability with stations at Trinity College Dublin\, Universitat de Barcelona and Utrecht University from 2023 to 2025.\n\nAfter graduation\, she completed the Bluebook Traine eship with the European Environment Agency in the Climate Risk and Resilie nce Unit. She will start her upcoming role as a public sector consultant i n Germany soon.\n\n\nJill Hoost\nCSR Officer at IN Groupe\nJill Hoost is a n alumna of the CHARM-EU Master’s programme in Global Challenges for Sus tainability from 2021 to 2023 with stations at Universitat de Barcelona an d Université de Montpellier. Before her Master’s programme\, she had a background in Human Resources. After graduating\, she completed a trainees hip and has worked as an ESG project manager and sustainability auditor. N ow\, she is working as a CSR Officer at IN Groupe\, located in the Nether lands.\n\n\nWilco Hazeleger\nRector Magnificus\, Utrecht University\nWilco Hazeleger is Rector Magnificus of Utrecht University since 26 March 2025 and professor of Climate System Science. As rector\, he is responsible for research\, education and student affairs at UU. His mission is to make th e university open and accessible to society. He does this by stimulating s cientific disciplines\, connecting them and actively collaborating with so cietal actors. For him\, an accessible university means that everyone can be given the space to study and research at the university.\n\nHazeleger s tudied meteorology at Wageningen University and Reading University (UK). H e obtained his PhD in physical oceanography at Utrecht University in 1999. He then worked at Columbia University (New York) and at the Royal Netherl ands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). He was also professor of Climate Dyn amics at Wageningen University. From 2014 to 2019\, he was director of the Netherlands eScience Center\, focusing on the application of digital tech nology and data science in all scientific domains.\n\nHazeleger was dean o f the Faculty of Geosciences from 1 July 2019 to 1 March 2025. There\, Haz eleger was closely involved in promoting diversity and inclusivity and in inter- and transdisciplinary research focused on sustainability transition s. His research focuses on climate research and applications of AI and dat a science in it.\n\n\nThomas Estermann\, Director for Governance\, Funding and Public Policy Development\, European University Association (EUA)\nTh omas Estermann is Director for Governance\, Funding and Public Policy Deve lopment at the European University Association (EUA) with responsibilities for EUA’s work aimed at strengthening universities’ autonomy\, govern ance\, leadership\, management and their financial sustainability.\n\nHe i s actively involved in various European and national committees\, expert g roups\, editorial boards\, and advisory boards\, including those of Europe an university alliances. He regularly contributes to higher education mana gement programs and recently developed the EUA Leadership Development Prog ramme to equip senior university leaders with the leadership tools to driv e transformation in higher education. He has provided guidance in multiple national higher education reform processes in Europe and beyond and has a uthored publications on university funding\, governance\, leadership\, and management.\n\nPrior to joining EUA in 2007\, he held the position of Dep uty University Director at the University of Music and Performing Arts\, V ienna. During this time\, he served as a member of the university's senate and was involved in several significant higher education reforms in Austr ia. Before entering the University\, he pursued a career as a lawyer. He h olds a master’s degree in law from the University of Vienna.\n\n\nVaness a Debiais-Sainton\nMember of Cabinet of Executive Vice-President at Europe an Commission\, Social rights and skills\, quality jobs and preparedness\n Vanessa Debiais-Sainton is a member of cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu at the European Commission\, where she is responsible for all levels of education &\; training\, Union of Skills\, digital educa tion and Erasmus+.\n\nPreviously\, she acted as Head of Unit in Higher Edu cation\, shaping European policies and programme to reform and transform h igher education. Among her responsibilities were the co-creation\, launch and supervision of the European Universities initiative\, paving the way t owards the universities of the future. Responsible for the higher educatio n dimension of the European Education Area\, including the European Degree \, the European Approach to Micro-credentials\, the automatic recognition of higher education qualifications and learning periods abroad\, the EU St udent Card initiative and the higher education strand of Erasmus+.\n\nBefo re moving to the European Commission\, Vanessa spent eight years working f or several companies. She studied Chemical Engineering in France (Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine).\n\n\nMarcos Ros Sempere\nMember of t he European Parliament\nMarcos Ros Sempere has been a Spanish Member of th e European Parliament since February 2020. He is the shadow rapporteur for the EPBD on the Environment\, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) commit tee which is responsible for giving its opinion to the leading committee ( ITRE). He is also a member of Industry\, Research &\; Energy (ITRE)\, C ulture and Education (CULT) and Regional Development (REGI) committees.\n\ nOn the CULT committee\, he is the co-rapporteur for the own initiative re port on the New European Bauhaus which brings together interdisciplinary s olutions including the decarbonisation of buildings for integrating the gr een transition into the lives of EU citizens.\n\nPrior to his role in the European Parliament\, Mr. Ros Sempere spent eleven years as a Professor of Urban Planning at the School of Architecture of Cartagena. He has a PhD i n architecture\, specialise in urban planning issues and a long experience in the rehabilitation of the architectural heritage.\n\n\nLudovic Thilly\ nCoordinator General of the EC2U European University Alliance and co-coord inator of FOREU4ALL\nLudovic Thilly is a Full Professor of Physics at the University of Poitiers and\, since 2012\, has served as Vice-Rector in cha rge of European Strategy and the EC2U Alliance. A member of the Coimbra Gr oup Executive Board since 2015\, he was elected Chair in June 2017 and has been re-elected twice since. His current mandate runs until 2028.\n\nProf essor Thilly is the Coordinator General of the EC2U European University Al liance and co-coordinator of FOREU4ALL\, the community of practice bringin g together the 65 selected European University Alliances. He continues to teach and supervise PhD candidates.\n\nHis research focuses on the deforma tion mechanisms of (nano- )materials. He has co-authored more than 80 publ ications in international peer-reviewed journals\, including four book cha pters\, and has delivered over 60 invited lectures at international confer ences and institutions.\n\n\nMeritxell Chaves\n\nSecretary General of Euro pean University of CHARM-EU\nMeritxell Chaves has more than thirty years of experience in the higher education sector\, in four universities of the Catalan university system\, in different functional areas of the Universi ty such as academic management\, strategic planning\, quality and accredit ation\, and international relations in different organisational cultures.\ n\nAs Secretary General of European University of CHARM-EU since the start of the initiative in 2019 she has been leading CHARM-EU team.\n\n\nDoris Alexander\n\nAssociate Director of European Engagement\, Trinity College D ublin\nDoris Alexander has worked in Research Management Administration si nce 1994\, taking up her current post as Associate Director of European En gagement in 2019 and is responsible for the development of strategies of e ngagement\, working to get early insight on new EU policy/initiatives so a s to maximise the opportunity space for Trinity. She is currently engaged in the implementation of aspects of the ERA policy agenda.\n\nShe has been involved in several EC stakeholder groups including the co-creation of th e European Universities initiative\, is the co-director of CHARM-EU allian ce in Trinity College and a member of the Executive Board. She was Chair o f the R&\;I subgroup of the FOREU1 network (the network of the 17 Europ ean Universities alliances funded through the first Erasmus+ pilot call) a nd is currently chair of the R&\;I Topical Group (part of FOREU4ALL) fo r all alliances.\n\nDoris holds a BA in Mathematical Science and an MSc in Computer Science (Health informatics) from Trinity College Dublin.\n\n\nE lena Del Giorgio\n4EU+ Secretary GeneraL\nPrior to this appointment as Sec retary General of 4EU+ Alliance\, Elena Del Giorgio has served as 4EU+ Pol icy Officer and as Policy Officer at the University of Milan supporting th e university’s European and international institutional partnerships suc h as LERU and U7+.\n\nWith the University of Milan becoming a member of th e 4EU+ Alliance in November 2018\, she was involved in 4EU+ almost since i ts creation. In her role as seconded 4EU+ Policy Officer\, she worked on t he development of the new 4EU+ strategy 2025- 2035.\n\nShe has most recent ly served as Interim Secretary General\, playing a key role in overseeing the establishment of the 4EU+ Secretariat in Brussels and relocating the A lliance's legal entity to Belgium. She holds a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute in Florence\, Italy.\n\nE arly in her career\, she served as a research fellow in the framework of s everal EU-funded projects.\n\n\nOLGA WESSELS\nHead of eciu brussels office and foreu4all coordinator\nOlga Wessels is the Head of Brussels’ Office of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). In this pos ition\, Wessels contributes to setting the agenda of ECIU at the European level\, increasing the organisation’s visibility as a potential and reli able partner for European institutions in debates on policy and programme developments.\n\nWessels also coordinates FOREU4ALL\, bringing together al l 73 European University alliances in a cohesive structure to foster colla boration and share best practices.\n\nBefore joining ECIU\, Wessels repres ented the Dutch universities (including Utrecht University) in Brussels\, focussing on higher education and Open Science policies\, and worked for t he Dutch National Students’ Union (LSVb)\, focusing on flexible educatio n and quality assurance.\n\n\nHarriet Klåvus\nHead of International Coope ration and CHARM-EU manager at Åbo Akademi University\, Finland\nHarriet Klåvus is Head of International Cooperation and CHARM-EU manager at Åbo Akademi University\, Finland\, and Lead of WP6 Mobility for CHARM8. Furth ermore\, she is the Institutional Erasmus Coordinator as well as the Coimb ra Group representative at Åbo Akademi University. She has been working a t the International Affairs since 1995. She is also a representative in bo th national and regional committees and has been the founding member of bo th the Nordlys Student Exchange Network and the Coimbra Group Student Exch ange Network. Both of them are multidisciplinary student exchange networks \, today functioning under the Erasmus programme.\n\nShe has been particip ating in several Erasmus projects and has acted as a consultant on student exchange for both the Finnish National Agency and the Nordic Council of M inisters. She has also been the Secretary General for the Nordic Associati on of University Administrators (NUAS).\n\n\nMeadhbh Costello\nsenior poli cy executive at Ibec\nMeadhbh Costello is a senior policy executive at Ibe c\, the group representing employers and business in Ireland. In this role she acts as a strategic advisor and support for businesses across Ireland on issues related to education\, skills\, innovation and social policy.\n \nHer role includes skills research\, the development of tools and guideli nes\, lobbying and developing policy positions at a national and European level. Previously\, Meadhbh served as a policy specialist working for publ ic\, private and NGO organisations in Ireland and Europe.\n\n\nEdwin Kante rs\nEU Liaison Officer\, University of Utrecht\nEdwin Kanters is the EU Li aison Officer at Utrecht University\, bringing a wealth of experience in r esearch management and administration to his role. With a background that spans from researcher to administrator\, Edwin has held key positions in g rant advising and research support at prestigious institutions. He served as a grant advisor at Amsterdam University Medical Centre and as interim h ead of the Grants Office at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam before joining Ut recht University in November 2021.\n\nEdwin's expertise encompasses EU gra nts\, research policy\, and education\, with a particular talent for build ing bridges and connecting people to facilitate impactful research initiat ives. He currently serves as a Board Member of EARMA (European Association of Research Managers and Administrators)\, contributing to the advancemen t of research management as a profession.\n\n\nAnnet van der Riet\nlead Pr ofessional Development CHARM-EU\nAnnet van der Riet is an educational scie ntist and works within the European alliance CHARM-EU\, where she is respo nsible for the professional development of lecturers.\n\nKey themes includ e challenge-based learning\, transdisciplinary education\, hybrid educatio n\, and programmatic assessment. In previous roles at Utrecht University\, Annet worked at the Centre for Academic Teaching as Teacher Development C oordinator. In this role\, she focused on the continuous development and i mprovement of the training programs for lecturers at Utrecht University.\n \nAnnet gained experience in educational innovation at Educate-it. In this role\, she was responsible for the professional development programs in t he area of blended learning and focused on teaching support for lecturers. \n\n\nClare Hart\n\nVice-President for International Affairs and\nEuropean Cooperation. Municipal Councillor for International Relations Montpellier \, France\nA social change maker and expert in Corporate Social Responsibi lity\, London-born Clare Hart now lives with her family in Montpellier\, in southern France. She is passionate about gender equality and social inc lusion through grassroots mobilization\, and a fervent charity activist.\n \nAfter her University years in European Studies and Geopolitics (Nottingh am and Cambridge) and a year spent in an NGO in India (New Delhi\, Calcutt a\, Mumbai)\, she founded a professional training company in 1993\, and si nce she has counseled and trained multiple executives on cross-cultural ma nagement and communication. She also joined the French Chamber of Commerce and the Foundation of Action for Social Inclusion.\n\nIn 2020\, se was el ected to Montpellier City and Metropolitan Council as Vice-President for I nternational Affairs and European Cooperation.\n\n\nNadja Simons\nPROFESSO R AND Local program coordinator\, Julius- maximilians-University Würzburg \nNadja Simons is a professor for Applied Biodiversity Sciences at the Bio logy department of JMU Würzburg and local program coordinator for the Mas ter program “Global Challenges for Sustainability”. Her role in CHARM involves coordinating teaching activities and content with the eight partn er universities. Her own teaching activities for the program include lectu res and workshops on research design and co-supervision of student teams i n the final semester.\n\nIn her research\, she focuses on ecological susta inability\, in particular how land use practices affect biodiversity and e cosystem functioning. On the one hand\, she is interested in how managemen t decisions affect biological communities and how this translates into cha nges in the provision of ecosystem functions. On the other hand\, she inve stigates how biodiversity and ecosystem services are considered in managem ent decisions and planning\, and how they can be integrated into decision- making processes.\n\nBefore starting her professorship in Würzburg\, she has worked in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects related to su stainable habitat management at TU Darmstadt and TU Munich.\n\n\niGNASI lA BASTIDA\nRECTOR's delegate FOR SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND OPEN SCIENCE\, UNIV ERSITY OF BARCELONA\nIgnasi Labastida is the Rector’s Delegate for Scien tific Publications and Open Science at the University of Barcelona where h e is also the head of the research support in the library Currently he cha irs the Board of SPARC Europe and the working policy group on Information and Open Access at League of European Research Universities (LERU).\n\nHe has participated in the elaboration of the Catalan Strategic Plan on Open Science and the Spanish National Strategy on Open Science He has been work ing on copyright and openness since his involvement in introducing Creativ e Commons licenses in Spain in 2003.\n\n\nNataša Jakominić Marot\nHead o f the University of Rijeka’s Centre for Research and Innovation\nNataša Jakominić Marot is Head of the University of Rijeka’s Centre for Resea rch and Innovation and a senior executive with 20+ years’ experience adv ancing innovation\, research\, and sustainability in higher education.\n\n She leads institutional reforms in research(er) assessment aligned with Co ARA\, serving in two CoARA working groups and helping embed narrative CVs\ , qualitative indicators\, and open-science incentives across UNIRI polici es. She has managed a portfolio of 50+ projects exceeding €50 million\, with expertise in project cycle management\, strategic planning\, training \, consulting\, and peer review/external assessment.\n\nAn active member o f EARMA and the YERUN Policy Platform\, she is a trainer in EU funding and R&\;I leadership. She holds an MBA (MODUL University Vienna) and compl eted executive programme Innovation for Economic Development at Harvard Ke nnedy School\n\n\nhans de jonge\ndirector open science nl\nHans de Jonge i s director of Open Science NL. He has worked at NWO since 2018. As a progr amme leader\, he was responsible for various aspects of NWO's open science policy.\nHans was closely involved in the development of Plan S of coalit ions and represented NWO in the National Platform Open Science.\n\nHe was\ nalso actively involved with recognition and rewards for open science prac tices. Before joining NWO\, Hans worked as a programme leader at the acade mic affairs Department of Utrecht University and at the association of uni versities in the Netherlands (UNL). Hans is a historian of\nscience by tra ining.\n\n\nDoris Fischer\nVice-President for internationalisation at wür zburg university\nDoris Fischer is Vice President for Internationalisation and Alumni at the Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg (JMU)\, repr esents the JMU as a director on the Executive Board of CHARM-EU and within the Coimbra Group\, and holds the chair for China Business and Economics at JMU.\nAn Economist and Sinologist with more than 30 years of experience in academic research\,\nteaching\, and consultancy on China’s economy.\ n\nDoris Fischer has done extensive research on\ncompetition\, regulation\ , and industrial policies in various sectors\, focusing on the rationale o f\nChinese economic policies\, the resulting incentive structures of econo mic actors and the impact\nof China’s economic rise on the global econom y\n\n\nstans de haas\ndirector of operations of social sciences department at utrecht university\nStans de Haas is Director of Operations of the dep artment Social Sciences (which consists of the sections: Cultural Anthropo logy\, Sociology\, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences\, and Methods and Sta tistics).\n\nShe is aldo appointed as expert of the theme Recognition and Rewards in the Open Science programme at UU. “\n\n\nAgnes Sarolta Fazeka s-Vinkovits\nassistant professor at the Eötvös Loránd\nUniversity in Bu dapest\, Hungary\nAgnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits (she/her) is an assistan t professor at the Eötvös Loránd\nUniversity Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty o f Special Needs in Budapest\, Hungary.\n\nSince 2019\, Agnes has been the leader of the work package on inclusiveness in the CHARM-EU 2019-2022 proj ect and has continued the work as Lead of the CHARM-EU DEI Office (from 20 23- ) of the CHARM-EU Alliance.\n\nIn 2024\, CHARM-EU's inclusion and dive rsity work was a ZeroProject Awardee.\n\n\nisabel fraas\nhead of diversity management at würzburg university\nIsabel Fraas is head of the Diversity Management and the Anti-Discrimination Contact Point at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (JMU). She is furthermore responsible for gender and diversity consulting for DFG-funded research networks at the Universit y.\n\nShe advises and supports research projects in the planning and imple mentation of equity measures and is currently co-spokesperson for the Germ any-wide Gender and Diversity Consulting Network. Isabel Fraas coordinates personnel development programs for female scientists under the umbrella o f the Gender Equality Academy JMU.\n\nShe has been the university's Aanti- Semitism Officer since July 2024. Isabel Fraas holds a doctorate in German studies. After working for many years in teaching and research at the Ins titute of German Philology at JMU\, she moved into science management\, wh ere she was responsible for training JMU tutors and continuing education i n university teaching as part of the BMBF-funded Quality Pact for Teaching program.\n\nAs a freelance trainer\, she has been offering trainings for academics on topics such as unconscious bias\, diversity\, empowerment\, a nd leadership for many years.\n\n\nAndrea Bähr\nWomen's representative of fice at Würzburg university\nAndrea Bähr runs the women’s representati ve office at the University of Würzburg. Her area of expertise is designi ng and applying processes and tools to promote gender equality in academic contexts. Coming from an academic background in cultural studies she is c ommitted to studying societal norms and challenging them wherever they cre ate inequality.\n\n\nMarieke Schoots\, Program Director for Academic Colla boration Centers within the Programma Brede Welvaart at Tilburg University \nMarieke Schoots is Program Director for Academic Collaboration Centers w ithin the Programma Brede Welvaart at Tilburg University\, where she devel ops and leads initiatives that strengthen the university’s societal impa ct and foster collaboration with both (inter) national and regional partne rs.\n\nShe also serves as work package leader for Societal Outreach in the European University Network ENGAGE.EU. In this role she initiated the Exp edition Weeks\, a challenge-based learning format in which students apply design thinking to real-life societal and economic challenges\, gaining va luable interdisciplinary and intercultural skills.\n\nShe has played a key role in advancing projects that connect universities with local communiti es\, policymakers\, and businesses\, thereby contributing to sustainable r egional development and broad prosperity. Her expertise spans stakeholder engagement\, transdisciplinary collaboration\, and impact-driven education \, with a strong track record in designing innovative formats that link ed ucation\, research\, and practice.\n\n\nGer corbett\nCEO of Sandyford Busi ness District\nGer Corbett is CEO of Sandyford Business District\, Ireland ’s largest business improvement district\,\nhome to many important compa nies.\nGer commenced his tenure with Sandyford Business District as Commer cial Manager in June 2021 before assuming the role of CEO in 2022. Through out his leadership\, he has spearheaded the association's initiatives to a ssist the district's 1\,000 companies\, 26\,000 employees\, and 6\,000\nre sidents in overcoming pandemic-related challenges and adapting to the evol ving economic\nlandscape.\n\nUnder his guidance\, Sandyford Business Distr ict has continued to foster meaningful\ncollaborations with the district ’s co-founder and local council\, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County\nCounci l\, as well as esteemed academic institutions including Trinity College Du blin\, Nova UCD\,\nDún Laoghaire Institute of Art\, Design and Technology (IADT) and the Irish Management Institute (IMI).\n\nDemonstrating a stead fast commitment to advancing the district's sustainability efforts\, Ger h as played a pivotal role in the inception of Project Green\, SBID's ambiti ous environmental agenda.\nHe has successfully secured funding for various circular economy initiatives\, shared mobility\nschemes\, and climate res ilience projects at local\, national\, and European levels.\n\nGer's leade rship in the district's European ventures has fostered collaborations with partner cities including Istanbul\, Berlin\, Helsinki\, Guimarães\, City Network Sweden\, City Network Slovenia\, and London.\n\n\nRéka judit bor os\nChair of the CHARM-EU Student Council\nRéka Judit Boros is currently serving as Chair of the CHARM-EU Student Council and is a student at Eötv ös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest\, Hungary.\n\nShe has been activ ely involved in student representation for the past four years\, with a pa rticular focus on international affairs and cross-border academic cooperat ion. Within the university context\, she works to strengthen the voice of students in decision-making processes and advocates for inclusive\, transp arent governance in higher education.\n\nAt this conference\, she contribu tes a student perspective to the discussion\, emphasizing the importance o f meaningful participation\, diversity\, and co-creation in higher educati on policy and practice.\n\n\nChanna van der Brug\nInternational Affairs Pr ogramme Manager\, Hochschulforum Digitalisierung for Stifterverband\,\nGer many\nChanna van der Brug connects universities\, policymakers\, and techn ology experts to drive\ninnovative approaches in digital learning internat ionally. She champions the creation and\nimplementation of learning and te aching environments that improve student engagement\nand institutional eff ectiveness.\n\nChanna contributes her expertise in two flagship initiative s at the Stifterverband (founded in 1920\, the Stifterverband is a joint i nitiative of German\ncompanies and foundations dedicated to improving educ ation\, science\, and innovation): The "Hochschulforum Digitalisierung" - Germany’s national platform for advancing higher education in the digita l age\, and the European Digital Education Hub.\n\n\nThomas lipke\nADVISOR Digital Transformation and Academic Controlling at the University\nof Dui sburg-Essen\, aurora alliance\nThomas Lipke works at the University of Dui sburg-Essen in Germany\, a member of the AURORA Alliance. He is responsibl e for the digital transformation of the university’s administration\, dr iving innovation and efficiency in processes. In addition\, he oversees te chnical interoperability in the field of cooperation\, ensuring that the u niversity’s systems can connect smoothly with partner universities.\n\nA key part of his work is within the AURORA European University Network\, w here they explore solutions that can also apply to other German and intern ational collaborations. Thomas is committed to developing sustainable stan dards and ecosystems that give students and universities real digital sove reignty.\n\n\nCECILE OHM\, Deputy Director of IT Department &\; head di gital products and business services AT UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN\nCecilie Ohm has worked in higher education in Norway since 1993. She has a formal back ground as a computer scientist and meteorologist. She also has a master's degree in university management and has worked with university administrat ive tasks throughout her professional career.\n\nCecilie has held manageme nt leadership positions at the University of Bergen\, the Bergen Academy o f Art and Design\, and as a joint project manager for the four universitie s in Bergen\, Oslo\, Trondheim and Tromsø. IT solutions for administrativ e processes have always been a focus in Cecilie's work\, and the importanc e of enterprise architecture\, interoperability and source data is always high on the agenda.\n\nShe is currently Deputy Director of the IT Departme nt at the University of Bergen\, where she heads the section for digital p roducts and business services.\n\n\nJasper Ewals\, COMMUNITY DEVELOPER\nJa sper Ewals is half German\, half Dutch. He studied at CHARM-EU from 2023 - 2025\, following the track Life &\; Health. After his studies\, he fou nd a job as a Community Developer for Common City Development\, an organis ation that creates and aids co-housing initiatives. Aside from that\, he m akes music and organises events. Both of these roles allow him to connect with people and bring them together\, something he find a lot of joy in.\n \n\nKirsten Hollaender\nPROJECT MANAGER EUROPEAN COLLABORATION AT UTRECHT UNIVERSITY\nWith a PhD in sociology\, Kirsten Hollaender early on speciali zed in inter- and transdisciplinary research\, covering the full range fro m initiating\, supporting and doing through promoting\, funding\, improvin g and evaluating.\n\nNext to her work as European research policy advisor\ , she coordinates the Research Assessment procedures at the University of Utrecht and contributes to the Research and Innovation Dimension of CHARM- EU.\n\n\naleid de jong\npolicy adviser RESEARCH AND OPEN SCIENCE at utrech t university\nAleid de Jong is a strategic policy adviser for Open Science at Utrecht University. In this role\, she coordinates and monitors activi ties related to the five pillars of Open Science within the university: Op en Access\, FAIR data and software\, Public Engagement\, Open Education\, and Recognition &\; Rewards. To achieve this\, she collaborates with an d connects experts across different levels of the university\, with the go al of advancing and embedding the Open Science way of working within the i nstitution.\n\nIn addition to her work at Utrecht University\, she focuses on promoting Open Science in national and international contexts—for ex ample\, through the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).\n \n\nMathew Birdsall abrams\ndirector of science and training at incf\nMath ew Birdsall Abrams\, PhD\, MPH is Director of Science and Training at the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF)\, a global org anization dedicated to open\, FAIR\, and citable neuroscience.\n\nMathew i s a neuroscientist with over 25 years of experience in both experimental n euroscience and clinical psychiatry\, as well as 12 years of experience in community coordination\, community building\, and product development in neuroinformatics. Mathew has worked with the infrastructure developers of the world’s large scale brain initiatives (BRAIN Initiative in US\, Huma n Brain Project in Europe\, Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform\, and Brai n/MINDS in Japan). He also holds Positions of Trust in many neuroscience s ocieties (e.g. SfN\, FUN\, FENS\, and IBRO).\n\nMathew conducted his docto ral thesis research at Tulane University and Karolinska Institutet\, obtai ned his MPH in Health Systems Management at Tulane University School of Pu blic Health and Tropical Medicine\, and completed his undergraduate educat ion at the University of Richmond.\n\n\nRubén Vicente-Saez\nResearcher an d Research Manager at Aalto University\nRubén Vicente-Saez is a Senior Po stdoctoral Researcher and Research Manager at Aalto University’s Departm ent of Industrial Engineering and Management\, in Finland. His research an d teaching focus on open science policy\, leadership and management\, scie nce and innovation policy\, and university governance.\n\nSince 2021\, Rub én has led the Open Science and Innovation Community of the European Univ ersity Alliance Unite!. The team develops evidence-based policy tools\, gu idelines\, and recommendations to support university managers\, policymake rs\, funders and researchers in mainstreaming open science and innovation practices across European\nuniversities.\n\nRubén earned a double PhD in the topic Open Science in the digital era from Aalto University and the Un iversity of Valencia (2021).  He has also worked as an Innovation Project Specialist for Peacekeeping Missions in the Technology Development Unit o f the United Nations\, Project Manager at the University of Valencia Scien ce Park\, and served as a Policy Officer within the Blue Book programme\, focusing on ICT and Education at the European Commission.\n\nThrough his w ork at Aalto and Unite!\, Rubén helps translate open science principles i nto practical policy\, governance models\, and infrastructure that empower researchers\, students\, institutions\, and decision-makers.\n\n\nlena sa uer\nclimate adaptation manager for the city\nadministration of Bornheim\, Germany\nLena Sauer is a graduate of CHARM-EU and was part of the first g roup of students to complete this master's program. At the time\, she chos e to focus on food systems. During and after her studies\, she completed s everal internships\, including at GIZ (German Society for International Co operation) and the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen (Bluebook tra ineeship).\n\nCurrently\, she works as a climate adaptation manager for th e city administration of Bornheim in Germany (between Cologne and Bonn). I n this role\, she supports efforts to prepare the city for changing climat e patterns and increase resilience to extreme weather events such as heat\ , drought\, heavy rain\, and flooding in order to protect the population t hrough preventive measures.\n\nHer field of work is very broad\, ranging f rom strategic planning and implementation of concrete measures to the invo lvement of stakeholders (citizens\, politicians\, businesses\, farmers\, u niversities) to awareness campaigns\, press relations\, and fundraising\n\ n\nAlisia Gahabka\nBluebook Traineeship at the European\nEnvironment Agenc y\nAlisia Gahabka has been a student with the CHARM-EU Master’s programm e in Global Challenges for Sustainability with stations at Trinity College Dublin\, Universitat de Barcelona and Utrecht University from 2023 to 202 5.\n\nAfter graduation\, she completed the Bluebook Traineeship with the E uropean Environment Agency in the Climate Risk and Resilience Unit. She wi ll start her upcoming role as a public sector consultant in Germany soon.\ n\n\nJill Hoost\nCSR Officer at IN Groupe\nJill Hoost is an alumna of the CHARM-EU Master’s programme in Global Challenges for Sustainability from 2021 to 2023 with stations at Universitat de Barcelona and Université de Montpellier. Before her Master’s programme\, she had a background in Hu man Resources. After graduating\, she completed a traineeship and has work ed as an ESG project manager and sustainability auditor. Now\, she is work ing as a CSR Officer at IN Groupe\, located in the Netherlands.\n\n\nCall for posters (closed)\nThe poster session will be a space where members of European University Alliances\, university staff\, students and external stakeholders can exchange ideas and discuss practical cases.\n\n When? 12 November 2025 from 11:15 to 11:45H and 15:15 to 16:00H \n Where? Bar Be ton\, Pythagoraslaan 101\, Utrecht\, NL. (how to arrive: https://maps.app. goo.gl/FJP2TZGLpVmfnYWU6)\n\nHave you developed\, researched\, implemented or benefitted from an initiative that has strengthened European competiti veness? Share your experience at the CHARM-EU Annual Conference.\n\nWe are inviting poster submissions for the CHARM-EU Annual Conference “Boostin g European Competitiveness: European University Alliances as Catalysts for Innovation and Sustainability in Higher Education”. The poster presenta tion session offers you an opportunity to share your ideas and gather feed back from CHARM-EU conference participants.\n\nWe are taking a broad view of European competitiveness and welcome a diversity of poster presentation s. These can be research based\, practitioner case studies\, policy or pro cedure examples\, collaborative initiatives\, emerging ideas\, or personal narratives on an initiative.\n\nPosters should align with at least some o f these topics:\n\n Higher education institutions\, alliances or external stakeholders contributing to general European competitiveness.\n Educati onal curricula supporting skills for key competitiveness areas (e.g. digit al and green transitions).\n Research contributing to European societal o r economic competitiveness.\n Micro-credentials or lifelong learning init iatives that enhance talent.\n Creating environments for innovation\, ent repreneurship\, and start-up support.\n Policies or practices that have i mpacted on competitiveness.\n Personal narratives on activities or challe nges related to competitiveness.\n Increasing employability\, boosting Eu ropean careers\, transdisciplinary collaboration\, intercultural competenc ies\, transversal skills\, personal impact\, DEI as an enabler.\n Open Sc ience policies and practices enhancing competitiveness for Europe.\n Stud ents and researchers’ mobility in European higher education area contrib uting to a competitive Europe.\n\n \n\nWho should submit?\nWe welcome sub missions from academic and administrative staff\, external stakeholders\, students\, alumni and professionals involved in European University Allian ce projects\, cross-border cooperation\, and strategic education and resea rch initiatives.\n\nHow do I submit a poster proposal?\nPlease submit your poster abstract including title\, authors\, author affiliations\, previou s connection with CHARM-EU if any by the 12th of September.\n\nAll submiss ions will be reviewed to ensure their alignment with the goals of the conf erence. Successful proposers will be notified of their acceptance by the 1 9th of September. A poster template will be sent to all successful propose rs. The final poster should be submitted by the 31st of October for final review.\n\nWhen will I present my poster if it is successful?\n\nThe poste r presentation will be held on the 12th of November in Utrecht\, during th e CHARM-EU Annual Conference 2025. You are expected to attend in person.\n \nWill the poster be published?\nPosters and abstracts will be shared on t he CHARM-EU resource centre post-conference.\n\nWho can I contact for more information about posters?\nIf you have any questions\, please contact Si lvia Gallagher gallags6@tcd.ie.\n\nWill I receive any recognition for my s ubmission?\nAn award for best poster will be presented at the end of the c onference. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://charm-eu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/S QUARE-POST-scaled.png CATEGORIES:CHARM-EU event,Sustainability LOCATION:Ruhr West University of Applied Science\, Campus Parkstadt\, Wisso llstraße 19\, Mülheim is an der Ruhr\, 45478\, X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Campus Parkstadt\, Wissolls traße 19\, Mülheim is an der Ruhr\, 45478\, ;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE= Ruhr West University of Applied Science:geo:0,0 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR