Every year, we look forward to Unifiesta, the UAntwerp staff party. This year’s edition – the seventh one – didn’t disappoint. With more than 1800 enthusiastic employees, it was a lively party full of music, socialising and tradition — a true celebration of who we are as a university: connected, open and full of energy.

At UAntwerp, we believe that health isn’t a sprint – it’s a choice you make every day. Exercising doesn’t need to be intense or time-consuming to enhance your well-being. From active commuting to short walking breaks, from running in the park to taking the stairs at work – every step counts. Colleagues share their experiences, tips and small habits that bring more energy, focus and balance to their workdays. Be inspired by how they stay active – both literally and figuratively.

How can you respond as a witness to inappropriate behaviour without putting yourself in a difficult position? That question is at the heart of a new bystander training programme now available at UAntwerp. The initiative is timely, as Lien Smets, training officer at HR (DP&O), explains why the training is more important than ever.

This year's Antwerp 10 Miles was more popular than ever: all tickets sold out in less than two days. Thanks to a collaboration with Golazo, UAntwerpen secured 625 tickets exclusively for AUHA students — and these were snapped up even before the regular sale began.

Design is about more than shiny lifestyle products or aesthetic objects. Design is essentially a way of thinking, a methodical approach to solving complex problems. This is the point of departure for the new postgraduate programme Leading Change by Design, developed by UAntwerp in cooperation with a network of experts. It’s a transdisciplinary programme that prepares students and professionals to take an active role in social transitions through design.

More and more students are facing financial difficulties. That’s why our university launched the ‘Students in Need’ initiative – to ensure that financial worries never become a barrier to earning a degree. Every year, the project provides a much-needed financial boost to numerous students. “For me, it made a world of difference,” says master’s student Rafal Mahan.