UiB welcomes first CHARM EU Master’s Students to Campus

"It is a great pleasure to welcome you as our first CHARM master’s students here on campus," said Heming Gujord, Vice Dean for Education and Internationalization at the Faculty of Humanities. He came to greet the new students as they gathered in the CHARM hybrid classroom for the official opening day.

Adressing global challenges together

"The University of Bergen is a proud member of the CHARM alliance, where we work together to address global challenges. When it comes to climate‑related issues, we know we cannot solve them alone — we must approach them together. I hope you enjoy your stay in Bergen and find a supportive and engaging environment for challenge‑based learning whilst studying here."

For the UiB CHARM-EU team, the welcome day marked the end of a long period of preparation. The team has been looking forward to this moment ever since UiB joined the CHARM alliance in 2023.

A milestone moment for UiB

Among the new arrivals is German student Lilly Unger, who has already begun exploring her new surroundings and shows a clear enthusiasm for her new hometown. "I am very happy to be here in Bergen. From what I have experienced, the city is a great place and the perfect combination of city and nature,”" she says.

Lilly chose the CHARM-EU Master’s degree for its mobility opportunities and international profile. “I love working with students from so many different backgrounds. I really enjoy meeting new people, and it’s great how everyone brings their own perspective when we’re solving problems or trying to understand a task. It just makes everything more interesting. And the mobility aspect of this master’s is really great, and the main reason why I chose this degree”.

 The Master’s in Global Challenges for Sustainability is a transdisciplinary, challenge-based joint degree where students collaborate with NGOs, industry, policymakers and civil society on real-world sustainability issues. Over two years, students move between up to four universities in the CHARM-EU alliance, combining hybrid teaching with hands-on project work aimed at building the skills needed for future change-makers.

Energy cities and climate

Dutch student Max van IJperen has also quickly settled into Bergen’s rhythm and is looking forward to starting the semester’s academic journey as well as making new friends. "I really enjoy the general vibe here, and I’m looking forward to exploring the course in Energy and Sustainable Cities," he says.

The modules in Energy and Sustainable Cities are offered by the Centre for the Study of Sciences and the Humanities together with partner universities in CHARM-EU. The classes take place in a hybrid learning environment that connects students on campus in Bergen with online participants from Åbo Akademi University in Finland, creating a shared and interactive learning experience across locations.

The three modules offer a holistic look at how sustainable, resilient and climate-smart cities can be developed. During the semester the students will examine historical and future energy systems, the role of renewables, emerging technologies, sustainable urban planning, resource management and the policy frameworks shaping tomorrow’s climate-resilient cities.

"My understanding is that this will be a complex, interesting and also quite demanding semester," van IJperen says. He is still considering whether his future lies in academia or in the political sphere. For now, he is focusing on finishing his degree. He is also excited to discover what Bergen offers beyond the classroom and has already signed up for the Bergen City Marathon in April.

Embracing Bergen beyond the classroom

"The nature is so beautiful here. I’ve seen some running tracks that look perfect for training. I love that the mountains and outdoor experiences are so close to the city," he says enthusiastically.

He has even convinced two fellow students to join him in the marathon. A trip to Finse is also on his wish list. "I’ve never tried skiing before, but I would be interested in trying! If not, I want to just go hiking and do the Norwegian walk called ‘cottage to cottage’."

We are looking forward to following their journey as the semester unfolds!