Berlin, 19 June 2025 – The first HEInnovate Train-the-Trainer (TtT) workshop of 2025 took place on 18–19 June at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, bringing together 24 participants from +15 countries, including members of European University Alliances and institutions across Europe and its neighbourhood. With a focus on embedding innovation and entrepreneurship into institutional strategies, the workshop equipped emerging HEInnovate ambassadors with the tools, insights, and peer support to lead transformative change in their universities. 

Led by moderators Frank Ziegele and Verena Heinzel from the CHE Centre for Higher Education, the highly interactive two-day programme featured contributions from HEInnovate experts Jean-Michel Viola (France), María José Herrero Villa (Spain), and Gero Federkeil (Germany). 

Titled “Understanding HEInnovate, using its strategic potentials, and creating impact at Higher Education Institutions”, the workshop marked a key milestone in HEInnovate’s mission to build a community of practice across Europe. Participants included academics, policy advisors, and innovation leaders from +15 countries, many representing European University Alliances. 

Hands-On Learning to Drive Institutional Impact 

The Berlin TtT was designed around a series of practical sessions, including stakeholder mapping, the strategic use of HEInnovate’s eight dimensions, and interactive work with Action Cards. Participants shared their self-assessment results, explored institutional strengths and weaknesses patterns, and collaborated on designing tailored HEInnovate interventions for their home institutions. 

Session highlights included: 

• A “walk & talk” peer-learning exercise that fostered candid exchange and built trust among participants.
• Deep dives into using Action Cards for institutional planning and engagement.
• A fishbowl dialogue that identified key ingredients of successful innovation interventions, from inclusive stakeholder engagement to acknowledging and learning from failure. 

Participants left with a concrete 30-60-90 day action plan and a network of peers ready to support implementation efforts. 

Key Takeaways 

Throughout the workshop, several common themes emerged: 

• Terminology as bridge: “Entrepreneurship” and “transfer” mean different things across HEIs. Used as boundary objects, these terms opened up constructive dialogue across national and institutional contexts.
• Peer learning is powerful: Sharing not just successes but also failures helped participants reflect and connect on a deeper level.
• HEInnovate is practical and strategic: When embedded in long-term planning, the tool becomes a driver for institutional transformation.
• Training the trainers works: Equipping a core group of engaged individuals multiplies impact within and across institutions. 

A follow-up online session will take place in October, allowing participants to report on actions taken, challenges faced, and early outcomes achieved at their institutions. 

The outcomes of the Berlin Train-the-Trainer session will inform the next steps in strengthening HEInnovate’s reach and community engagement throughout 2025. 

📸 Browse the full photo album from the Berlin session here:  
🔗 HEInnovate Train-the-Trainer Berlin June 2025 Flickr Album  

🟢 Institutions and individuals interested in HEInnovate are encouraged to explore the platform and follow updates using the hashtag #BeAnHEInnovator.