By Kathrin Albrecht, Georgeta Auktor and Cara Knott (TUM International GmbH)
The Accelerate Future HEI project held its second virtual Impact Workshop this quarter, expertly organised and facilitated by the team at TUM International. This event took place in the framework of the 4th Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM). It brought together the project’s testing partners and was a critical checkpoint in monitoring and evaluating their progress in driving institutional change to foster entrepreneurship.
Focus on Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
The workshop began with a refresher session on the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) tool, a comprehensive framework developed by TUM International to help partner institutions track their entrepreneurship development efforts. This tool is crucial for the project as it enables higher education institutions (HEIs) to monitor their journey towards enhancing entrepreneurial culture and capacity within their institutions. By measuring progress against predefined benchmarks, the tool ensures accountability and provides clear insights into the effectiveness of their strategies.
Progress Showcases & Peer Learning
After the refresher session, each testing partner had the opportunity to present their progress in implementing the M&E tool and how it has helped them track their efforts in promoting entrepreneurship. The workshop facilitated an intense and productive exchange of ideas, with lively discussions around best practices and peer recommendations. This collaborative environment allowed all partners to learn from each other’s successes and challenges, enriching the overall experience and creating a strong support network for ongoing development.
A Board of Distinguished Entrepreneurship Experts
TUM International has taken further steps to support the testing partners in their journey towards institutional transformation. We have successfully established a Board of distinguished entrepreneurship experts who will guide the testing partners. This Board will play a vital role over the coming years, offering strategic recommendations on the institutions’ M&E progress and helping to refine their approaches.
The first meeting of this Board of Experts took place in December 2024, marking another milestone for the Monitoring & Evaluation work package within the project. Its members include Natascha Eckert, Enno Masurel, Daniela Marzavan, Richard Tuffs, and Adrian Solomon.
With their expert insights and mentorship, the Board is expected to greatly enhance the capacity of the testing partners to implement sustainable and impactful changes in their institutions.
As the project continues to evolve, the contributions from both the testing partners and the Board of Experts will be instrumental in achieving the project’s ambitious goal: fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities within European higher education institutions.
Keep following our progress for exciting developments within the Accelerate Future HEI project and the work of TUM International.
