The development of digital-based research in the context of French universities is favored by the existence of both national (huma-num, HAL) and European (DARIAH, CLARIN) infrastructures supporting archiving, access, good practices and connections between digital research projects. Still, each University can weigh in to define how to develop digital-based research in the Arts and Humanities, and develop their own institutional strategy. In this paper, we would like to show how Le Mans Université has been able to seize the opportunity of emerging digital-driven projects in the Humanities to conceive a TEI-based strategy that brings together research, teaching, training and innovation. The goal of this paper is to show how the decision to have all projects work with a TEI-based data model allows to develop a strong DH profile in the fields of textual studies and cultural heritage research. In a first step, we will present the way different projects have been brought together in terms of data modeling based on the TEI (Berlin Intellectuals, READ-IT, ECRIPER). In a second step, we will show how we have developed training modules on graduate level to gain a TEI fluency among a solid group of graduate students and PhD candidates to back the research projects. We will present the pivotal role played by the University Library in this concept. The end of the paper will be dedicated to the connecting options beyond the local university, on a regional, national and international level.