We increasingly work digitally: we communicate via Teams or chat and collaborate in shared documents. It’s efficient, but it also makes collaboration feel more distant. You know what your colleagues are working on, but less about who they are. The spontaneous chats disappear and it’s no longer a given you can put a face to a name. However, it’s precisely those informal connections that make the difference and create genuine connection. Meeting in person isn’t about nostalgia, it’s an investment in collaboration. Pintra spoke to a range of teams, from library staff and researchers to administrative teams. Everywhere, the message was the same: seeing each other pays off.
Every day, komida takes steps towards working more sustainably. One great example is its collaboration with a local quinoa producer: Kontichse Korrel. Their fields are located close to Campus Drie Eiken. We spoke to both Magali Hiel, coordinator at komida, and Diane Van Hul, owner of Kontichse Korrel.
In the section ‘The Feather’, a staff member puts a colleague in the spotlight. This time, Britt Van Beek, passes the compliment to Kevin Van Tichelen, teaching assistant at the Department of Veterinary Sciences.
Internationalisation doesn’t have to mean packing a suitcase for a semester abroad. At UAntwerp, internationalisation is taking shape this academic year through seven Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), spread across different faculties. Students and lecturers from different countries learn with and from each other.
That time of the month and no tampons or sanitary pads with you? Because no woman should have to experience stress over what is essentially a basic necessity, our university became the first in Flanders to provide free menstrual products in all toilet facilities. An initial evaluation shows that the project has been an overwhelming success. ‘Students sometimes literally tell us we saved their day.’
Researchers are increasingly asked to share their expertise in the media, sometimes in response to their own research, sometimes to provide context for current events. That visibility creates opportunities. It shows what UAntwerp stands for: sharing knowledge, bringing nuance and contributing to debates in society. In most cases, media interactions run smoothly: researchers are given the space to share their expertise and work with journalists who approach things carefully and accurately. But media attention also brings responsibility. And pressure.
What does a media appearance involve? How do researchers stay true to their scientific integrity? How do they deal with framing, pressure and reactions? Let’s take a look behind the scenes.
The Antwerp School of Education (ASoE) celebrated its anniversary at the beginning of May with a festive study afternoon. For the past 10 years, the academic expertise centre has been building bridges between research, education and practice. We spoke to four key figures about the evolution of the teaching profession and the power of collaboration. ‘When major changes in direction are made, we’re often involved in shaping them.’
It’s no coincidence that students and staff cycle in such large numbers. On 24 April, the University of Antwerp put cycling centre stage to thank them. With the Bicycle Festival and a special edition of the Critical Mass Bike Ride, the university showed how cycling is part of campus life and why cycling safety remains important.
One colleague prefers to work from home for a day in peace and quiet. Another thrives on campus dynamics, flexible hours or a different structure. Work-life balance at UAntwerp can’t be captured in a single formula. And that’s precisely where the challenge lies: how do we create a caring working environment that allows room for differences while remaining manageable for everyone?
In the section ‘The Feather’, a staff member puts a colleague in the spotlight. This time, Elio Berardocco, passes the compliment to Britt Van Beek, file manager at the Department of Veterinary Sciences.
Recently, we launched the Mision in Motion quiz to give colleagues a playful way to reflect on how our mission, vision and lines of strength already live in their daily work. Around 200 colleagues completed the quiz. While this is not representative of the entire university, their responses offer a valuable first insight into the strengths we share and the principles colleagues most naturally bring into practice.
