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The Réseau international francophone de recherche en éducation et formation (REF), founded in 1989, brings together every two years in one of the four founding countries (France, Belgium, Quebec, Switzerland) researchers in education sciences and didactics. The meetings are usually held over two days and take the form of parallel symposia on different educational research themes, linked by a common thread. They took place at UNamur last July. A look back at a successful edition.

Since the pandemic, this cry of alarm from the Nobel Prize in Economics, Jean Tirole, seems more relevant than ever. On 19 and 20 May 2022, the second Summit of the Common Good, organised in Toulouse, mobilised hundreds of thousands of internet users. On 24 May 2022, in Brussels, the Night of the Common Good raised over half a million euros in donations. And next year, the Our Lady of Peace Chair at UNamur will be dedicated to the common good. But what is this 'common good' that belongs to everyone and to no one? Four researchers from UNamur share their thoughts with us to stimulate our own.

The two UNamur professors were appointed for a four-year term. The academic members of the Central Economic Council (CEC) are chosen in order to inform the debates of the social partners (employers and trade unions) present at the council with their expertise.

An international team of researchers, including Prof Frederik De Laender, from the University of Namur, publish in Nature Communications. The editor highlights that the authors use theoretical models and field data to show how eco-evolutionary processes can force species to develop more similar characteristic traits in more species-rich communities to avoid competition. Which goes against what we intuitively perceive.

How to recruit new young talents? This challenge is that of many companies, but it is now also that of the students of the master in management sciences of the Faculty of economics, social sciences and management of UNamur. IBM, an international company at the forefront of technological development, comes to ask them to find a solution to the problem of the “war for talents”.

In the course of 2021, 42% of Belgian companies suffered a cyber attack. Those targeting citizens are no less numerous: more than 4.5 million suspicious messages have been sent to Safeonweb, the government body responsible for informing Belgian citizens about computer security. More than ever, at a time when the geopolitical context reinforces the threat of a cyberwar, how can we cope? Jean-Noël Colin, cybersecurity expert, professor at the Faculty of Computer Science of UNamur and member of the NaDI Institute, gives us an explanation.

At a time when around a fifth of Europe's 200,000 species are threatened with extinction, researchers from the University of Namur are taking part in a pan-European consortium to act fast and together to generate high-quality genome resources on a large scale.

Professors, lecturers, assistants and pedagogical experts from UNamur took part in a workshop to evaluate and critique the use of ChatGPT in university courses. Numerous examples of practices including AI in teaching were carried out in the courses offered at UNamur this term. A survey was also carried out among Block 1 students on their use and knowledge of artificial intelligence.

Since 2015, the University of Namur, in partnership with the Hénallux teaching department, has launched a number of initiatives to help migrants. They are part of a Local Integration Initiative (LII) project recognised by the Walloon Region. As well as organising intercultural activities, a French language course is offered for levels B1, B2 and C1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This year, around 15 students took part. Here's a look back at this rewarding experience, in the service of a more inclusive society.

Custodian of an exceptional heritage of books and documents, the Moretus Plantin University Library (BUMP) benefits from the expertise of the Centre de Recherches Pratiques Médiévales de l'écrit (PraME) to study and valorize its medieval manuscripts. To find out more about this new research project, we meet members of the PraME center, including Nicolas Michel, the first researcher involved in the project.

A study of the University of Namur's image among prospective and new students confirms the institution's reputation for proximity and quality of teaching. UNamur also stands out for its inclusive and international approach, which is now well known to the public. Quality rather than quantity: this is a clear commitment that is more convincing than ever.

In January 2023, an international symposium on organic chemistry was held at UNamur in honour of the 80th birthday of Professor Emeritus Alain Krief. A scientific day with six renowned speakers, including Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Interview.