Are you a PhD student, early-career researcher, or postdoc interested in reflecting on your position as a researcher in academia and broader society? Are you ready to take a critical look at your own role? Then this interuniversity Doctoral School course is for you!

It will include dynamic sessions, expert speakers, and hands-on workshops.

The doctoral school will be organized across three days spread over three weeks in May 2026, in Brussels (May 6th), Antwerp (May 13th) and Ghent (May 20th).

Some topics include:

• Citizen science and participatory research:

Sara Dewachter (Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp) invites us to reflect on our research practices with a keynote sharing her insights from collaborative projects in Tanzania and Palestine.

• The impacts of AI and other tech developments:

A session on open science and alternatives to Big Tech infrastructures helps researchers think critically about platforms and data practices.

Dr. Olivia Guest (Radboud University, The Netherlands) joins for a talk on generative AI in academic systems, challenging us to reflect on AI adoption and its implications for higher education.

• The place of care in academia and your research:

The final day features a public keynote and a reflective workshop on mapping care throughout the doctoral journey.

Between keynotes, group reflections and creative methodologies, this course offers a rare space for self-reflection, peer exchange, and personal growth. Expect not only to listen to keynote speakers, but also to critically reflect on your own impact.

A detailed program and more information on registration can be found on the course website. 

We explicitly welcome researchers from all fields and faculties, including not only social sciences and humanities but also sciences, engineering and medicine. 

PhD students can obtain credits from the doctoral training programs of UGent, UAntwerp, VUB, KU Leuven, ULB, and UHasselt, but we also welcome postdoctoral researchers and other university staff.

Feel free to spread the message and hopefully see you soon!