Our Story
Crossfields Europa was founded in 2017 by Charlotte von Bülow as a European subsidiary within the Crossfields Institute Group (UK). What follows is a brief account of how the work developed — and how it continues today.
Where it began
The journey began in 2004, when Charlotte von Bülow responded to a growing need for creative, bespoke approaches to quality assurance and accreditation within alternative and innovative education. At the time, she was working in the UK as an academic administrator and quality assurance officer.
This led to the initiation of a complex and ambitious process: the creation of a state-recognised awarding organisation in the UK. What started as a professional initiative soon became an international action research project, supported by a small group of committed collaborators.
In 2008, this work formally became Crossfields Institute, registered as a UK company and charity.
Growth and diversification
As interest in the work grew, Crossfields Institute developed into an organisation with three interrelated areas of activity:
Qualification development and awarding
Education and research
Consulting and coaching
As one of the few recognised awarding organisations specialising in innovative and integrative approaches to education and development, Crossfields attracted an international network of educators, researchers, and organisational change practitioners.
Education, research, and partnerships
Over the following years, Crossfields Institute and its centres developed a wide range of qualifications and programmes — work that continues in different forms today.
Between 2009 and 2022, the Institute also offered higher education programmes in partnership with universities and collaborators, including master’s programmes and postgraduate diplomas.
As part of a vibrant research community, Crossfields Institute hosted a series of international research conferences between 2009 and 2018. These were organised by Fergus Anderson in close collaboration with colleagues from Alanus University and other partners.
European recognition and Erasmus+
In 2015, Crossfields Institute was appointed awarding organisation for a major Erasmus+ funded development project, significantly increasing its visibility and recognition across the UK, Scandinavia, and Finland.
This period marked an important turning point.
The birth of Crossfields Europa
Crossfields Europa was conceived during this time and officially registered in Denmark in 2017.
Early milestones included:
Securing Ministerial approval in Denmark for a bespoke qualifying teacher education programme
Designing a programme specifically for Steiner Waldorf Upper School (college) teachers
Establishing a partnership with the University of Southern Denmark
This programme was offered to teachers from the UK, Scandinavia, and Finland until 2022.
Watch a short film about Crossfields Institute (2019)
(link to film)
Today
In 2023, Crossfields Europa and Crossfields Institute formally separated as organisations, while continuing to share vision, values, and respect for the work developed together.
Today, Crossfields Europa is run by its core team as an activity within Luna Associates ApS, carrying forward the consulting, coaching, educational, and research-oriented dimensions of the work.