The CHARM-EU Cafeteria Table is a monthly event designed to showcase the CHARM-EU Alliance, stimulate collaborative integration across it, and create networking opportunities within it. To organize the event successfully, it is thus important to set clear goals: raising awareness about the home institution’s involvement in CHARM-EU, engaging new participants through informal discussions, and encouraging casual language practice by facilitating a low-barrier-to-entry setting for conversations in English – the lingua franca necessary for CHARM-EU participation.

In HRW’s case, the event is aimed at teaching and administrative staff, who can learn more about CHARM-EU’s exchange opportunities, as well as students who might benefit from its international programs. Held in the central university canteen, the Cafeteria Table runs for about an hour and is linked to cultural holidays or international days, which provide thematic anchors for the discussions. But the session remains flexible, with the visitors’ questions and interests guiding the conversation.

To attract participants, past experience shows that promotion is key. One option is advertising the event on campus displays such as digital screens and posters, and through internal platforms like email, newsletters, and websites; another is generating positive word-of-mouth among staff and students. Reserving a central spot in the cafeteria might prove crucial for visibility, and materials like flyers, banners, QR codes, and CHARM-EU merchandise can help draw attention to the table. Having local or visiting CHARM-EU representatives present, then, will ensure that discussions remain focused and informative.

It is also crucial to make the event inclusive and accessible. This can be achieved by offering a diverse diet of food options, allowing conversations in the local language when participants struggle with English, and selecting a cafeteria location that is physically easy for all potential attendees to reach.

All in all, hosting a CHARM-EU Cafeteria Table provides an excellent opportunity for universities to encourage engagement, promote CHARM-EU activities, and create a welcoming space for language practice and informal networking.

Poster – Building Communities in CHARM-EU

HRW Advert Example

For ideas to your own community building activities, see examples from HRW

• Infor Sheet example
• Signage example
• Postcard example
• Icebreaker example 1
• Icebreaker example 2