Pablo Giesdorf
Academic freedom and democracy. University in danger?
The notion of "academic freedom" is often evoked in public debates, but is it really known in its singularity? Where does it come from? What is its history? What decisive role does it play in our democracies and the defense of the university's role as a counter-power? To what extent is it threatened today, particularly by the reforms announced?This morning of reflection, open to all, will explore these questions from a variety of perspectives. Historians, philosophers and jurists will shed light on the subject. Institutional leaders will share their concrete experience and their analysis of the threats that reforms could pose to this essential principle.An organization of the Philosophy Department, the History Department, the ESPHIN Institute in collaboration with the Centre d'Action Laïque Namur.The speakers- Anne-Emmanuelle Bourgaux, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Mons- Nicolas Offenstadt, Professor of History at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne- Quentin Landenne, Qualified Researcher at the FRS-FNRS at the UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels, scientific leader of the ERC BildungLearning project- Susanna Zellini, Research Fellow at the FRS-FNRS at UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels- Annick Castiaux, Rector of UNamur- Edouard Delruelle, Professor of political philosophy at ULiège; Chargé de mission by the Rectrice of ULiège on "ULiège facing global conflicts".PracticalitiesThéâtre Jardin Passion 39, rue Marie Henriette - 5000 Namur.Free admission - Welcome from 9amAn organization of the Departments of Philosophy and History of the University of Namur and the ESPHIN Institute in collaboration with the Centre d'Action Laïque Namur with the support of the ERC BildungLearning project.
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The ERC BildungLearning project is funded by the European Union (n° 101043433). The views and opinions expressed, however, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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The role of women in the Resistance: a memory to be reclaimed
On April 8, the Histoire, Sons et Images research center (HiSI, a member of the Institut Patrimoines, Transmissions et Héritages - PaTHs) organized, in collaboration with the "Coalition 8 mai" association, a colloquium on the theme of the relationship between women and the extreme right. Bénédicte Rochet and Axel Tixhon, professors in the History Department, explored this theme from the angle of women active in the Resistance during the 40-45 war. Their approach is fully in line with the research center's vision, which studies audio and/or visual documents as historical sources, but also history as a way of understanding the present.
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Certificate of teaching aptitude appropriate for higher education (CAPAES)
FaSEF provides theoretical and practical training in preparation for the CAPAES (Certificate of Aptitude for Teaching in Higher Education) for teachers employed under contract in a university or in higher education for social advancement outside the teaching categories.
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Master's degree specializing in professional coaching (MAPEMASS)
The Master's degree specializing in coaching professionals in education, management, health, and social work (MAPEMASS) offers unique training and aims to provide trainers, team leaders, advisors, HR managers, and others with training in coaching teams and the professionals who comprise them.
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Master of Specialization in University Teaching (MSPU)
This specialization master's program is designed for higher education teachers working either in university teaching (assistants and professors) or in higher education outside universities (Hautes écoles). It aims to carry out applied research, in the professional field of the program's students.
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University and democracy: a living, sometimes threatened, link
Trust of traditional political institutions and elected representatives, rise of authoritarian logics, definition of public services... Democracy today seems to be going through a turbulent zone. What role does the university play in this context? To shed light on this question, we interviewed four researchers from different disciplines: educationalist Sephora Boucenna, philosopher Louis Carré, political scientist Vincent Jacquet and legal scholar Aline Nardi. Their contrasting views sketch out the contours of an issue that is more topical than ever: thinking about and defending the link between university and democracy.
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William Lejeune: a first step between two shores of the Atlantic
The result of the historic twinning between the cities of Namur and Lafayette, the collaboration between UNamur and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has taken on a new academic dimension in recent years. Formalized in 2022 with the signing of a framework agreement, this partnership has given rise to a mobility program aimed at strengthening the use of French and Francophonie within both universities. In 2026, this cooperation took concrete form with the arrival in Namur of William Lejeune, a second-year speech therapy student and the first Cajun student to benefit from this program, supported in particular by a grant from the Lafayette Foundation. Between cultural discovery, linguistic challenges, and academic ambitions, he recounts his experience on the other side of the Atlantic.
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Medicine and literature: when words can also heal
On February 21, the University of Namur hosted the symposium "Medicine and Literature," organized by the History of Medicine and Health Sciences Group, with the support of the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium. Nearly 70 participants gathered at the Faculty of Medicine for a particularly open and stimulating day of reflection, devoted to the deep and ancient links between medical practices and literary creation.
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