Charm EU Master's programme extended to two years

Created in 2019, Charm EU is a European university network originally involving the University of Barcelona, Trinity College Dublin, Utrecht University, Eötvös Loránd University, and the University of Montpellier. Utrecht University is one of the founding partners of Charm EU. Its Master’s programme focuses on innovation and transdisciplinary research in the field of sustainability. Using hybrid classrooms, students on campus are linked and interact with one another both online and in the physical classroom. Four universities are joining the Master’s Programme, namely the University of Würzburg, the University of Bergen, the University of Applied Sciences Ruhr West, and Abo Akademi University.

The extension of the Master’s programme from 1.5 to two years will be done by adding an internship to the curriculum. This allows students to gain experience (with research or otherwise) in a professional working environment, as well as develop their networks and receive on-the-job training. Students will be exposed to working in the field with societal stakeholders, including partners from business, and other higher education institutions.

Montpellier is an example of a university that prefers a Master’s programme to last two years because that’s necessary to enter a doctoral programme afterwards, explains Associate Professor Marjanneke Vijge, the Academic Director of UU’s Charm EU team. 

Commenting on the struggles encountered with such big changes, Vijge affirms that “it's challenging to get it accredited in all the countries and all the partners as each has their own system. To do this, we need the approval of each university first. That's quite some bureaucracy to work through. In addition, the timeline is pretty tight since the funding comes from the European Commission and we need to get things done within a certain time frame. Partners are ready to start teaching”.

Vijge ensures that the admission process will not change drastically. A system has been developed that looks at academic excellence, general and personal competencies and inclusion. Students from different backgrounds can apply. That's a conscious choice, as the programme strives to be interdisciplinary. Students will be selected based on their motivation letters and essays, focusing on whether they understand the programme's content and what it entails.