Developed in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the "One Health" EU illustrates UNamur's commitment to promoting active, interdisciplinary education. As Annick Castiaux, Rector of the University, pointed out, "Health must be considered as a sustainable development issue. The crucial question to ask is: What must become of health training to meet these challenges?"

This new unit also aims to reinforce the university's three fundamental missions: teaching, research and service to society. Indeed, the "One Health" EU is part of the drive to provide better training to innovate, by promoting interdisciplinarity and partnerships, which are essential if we are to have a real impact on today's public health challenges. The Rector also supports excellence in health research at UNamur, via the Narilis Research Institute, which does its utmost to conduct high-quality basic research via innovative, collaborative and multidisciplinary health research. Finally, the "One Health" philosophy also intends to consider health as a common good and thus act in the service of society via sustainable, sustainable policies.

At the inauguration, Yves Coppieters, Minister of Health, Environment, Solidarity, Social Economy, Equal Opportunities and Women's Rights, emphasized the importance of a global, connected approach. "We need to think of healthcare as an orchestra with different instruments that ultimately become one. The Covid-19 health crisis reminded us that everything interacts, everything is connected. Today, however, we lack a global vision. We need to operationalize it, and I thank the University of Namur for having succeeded in setting up such a teaching unit ", shares the Minister.

Yves Coppieters also stressed the need for concrete action to rethink prevention. "To prevent better, we mustn't believe in simply changing individual behavior. Rather, we need to transform the environments in which they evolve and thus truly promote health." The Minister also spoke of the major challenges we face, and for which he is committed to implementing concrete initiatives: "We have been confronted with a good number of cases that have generated large-scale consequences. Take the problem of antibiotic resistance, which poses risks to human and animal health. Or PFAS, which also have major consequences for ecosystems. Hence, once again, the interest in acting for a single health," explains Yves Coppieters.

From this inauguration, we will remember that to make "One Health" a reality, it was necessary to integrate three fundamental principles:

1. Interdisciplinarity: bringing together experts from different disciplines for a comprehensive approach.
2. Operationalization: translating concepts into concrete action.
3. A systemic and global vision: not limiting health to a restricted framework, but embedding it in a global dynamic.

Grégoire Wiëers, Director of the Department of Medicine, insisted on the need to integrate the link between environment and health right from university training.

The teaching unit will draw on the expertise of numerous teacher-researchers from different disciplines, including Frédéric Silvestre, Nathalie Kirschvink and Caroline Canon. It will also encourage students to work together on environmental health issues, producing concrete materials (posters, videos, articles) to raise awareness of these challenges. In addition, the "One Health" EU aims to respond to the various sustainable development goals by constantly making links between the various climatic and environmental events and the themes addressed within the different SDGs.

The establishment of such an EU is not without its challenges. Amélie Lachapelle, professor at the Faculty of Law, highlighted the difficulties associated with the Belgian legal framework. "Decompartmentalizing disciplines and linking their dimensions is not simple in a federal state like Belgium, where competences are divided between different levels of power. But we need to find solutions to make progress towards a meaningful evolution," explains the professor.

Jean-Michel Dogné, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, moreover reiterated the importance of post-Covid interdisciplinary collaboration. "Since the health crisis, we've been talking about a 'world after'. This world must be one of cooperation between disciplines. This is the very essence of 'One Health' and of this new teaching unit", concludes the Dean.

Today, issues relating to global health, the environment and sustainable development are at the heart of societal concerns. The "One Health" EU is a concrete response to these challenges. Its ultimate aim is clear: to enable students to develop cross-disciplinary skills to identify the causes and consequences of environmental alterations on health, and to be in a position to take concrete action for better prevention.

With this initiative, UNamur is fully committed to a dynamic of educational and societal innovation, helping to shape tomorrow's healthcare players, capable of embedding their practice in an interconnected and sustainable vision of the world.

No, and it's less and less so. And for a variety of reasons. Firstly, a major step was taken in 2014 towards a judicial system that excludes rather than includes, with, on the one hand, the passing of the so-called "potpourri" laws that modified civil and criminal procedure. These included, for example, the abolition of certain legal remedies. And secondly, the switch to 21% VAT on bailiffs' and lawyers' fees, which further increased legal costs. Real financial and procedural barriers to access to justice have thus been erected in recent years. Moreover, the austerity and lack of resources affecting the justice system also make it less inclusive. In every courthouse, people are absent or ill and are not replaced, or are replaced by people with no status. The justice system therefore excludes valuable profiles and committed people in its own workings.

Yes, on quality and quantity. For example, the King's prosecutors denounce the fact that public prosecutors' offices and police forces no longer have the human and material resources to carry out complicated investigations. As a result, "easy" cases are more easily assigned to hearings where vulnerable people are more exposed. The combination of all these factors, to which we must necessarily add the threat of the algorithmization of justice, i.e. the use of artificial intelligence in decision-making procedures, leads to the downgrading of the most vulnerable. For example, an algorithm can decide who, among welfare recipients, should be subject to more stringent fraud checks. This begs the question: on the basis of what criteria (racial, cultural, etc.), what data, what causal link, etc.? In my opinion, this so-called decision-making aid represents an increased risk of exclusion, not to mention the digital divide. Justice is in big trouble!

Mediation. The legislator has allowed it in civil matters since December 2023, and it's a path that many magistrates are taking. This choice is voluntary: personally, I do it twice a month. Mediation is even a process of re-inclusion, reintegrating people into their dispute. There's no more black and white: everyone does their part, and everyone is committed to resolving the conflict to the benefit of both parties. In addition to this positive effect, it's a less costly alternative mode, and within a few months you can resolve a case "from the top down", reinjecting respect and dignity for everyone, including in the eyes of your adversary.

Alongside theory and practice, I'm always careful to pass on the fundamentals; in other words, a form of savoir-être in relation to the litigant in a perspective of absolute respect. The only vulnerable person in a courtroom is the defendant. He alone can see his life turned upside down in a hearing, and it is he who comes to defend a part of his life, a part of his person. For the lawyer, the only risk is losing the case. These are fundamentals that also help to make justice more inclusive. And what reassures me is that the students I work with are very receptive to these fundamentals. It's a ray of hope!

Of course, but with all due precautions. The principle of alert, and freedom of expression are vital levers of action. So yes, I recommend expressing oneself, but with arguments. And to argue, you first have to study your subject in depth, comparing opinions and knowledge. With these precautions in mind, I call on the younger generation of jurists to get involved, to act, because there is no lost cause. It's a source of hope.

Manuela Cadelli is a judge at the Namur court of first instance and former president of the Association syndicale des magistrats (2013-2019). She has published several books and is completing an essay entitled "AI and Justice: a critical inquiry".

After tackling childhood and migration in 2022-2023, then harassment in 2023-2024, this year the Faculty is dedicating its Fil Rouge to a fundamental topic: inclusion. With the slogan "Let's live inclusion!", the 2024-2025 edition aims to raise everyone's awareness of the importance of a society where everyone finds their place, whatever their race, gender, social class, age, physical or mental abilities, or sexual orientation.

The launch evening, organized in September 2024, made a lasting impression thanks to the speech by Serge Van Brakel, who shared his life experience as a person with a disability with a touch of humor and a great deal of humanity. Since then, numerous activities have punctuated this first four-month period, offering moments rich in reflection and exchange.

Among the highlights, the mock trial, held on November 19, 2024, tackled a landmark case: a murder with homophobic and racist motivations, based on a tragedy that occurred in 2020. "This case raises major issues of inclusion, which fits perfectly with the theme of our Fil Rouge. Criminal law provides for harsher penalties for crimes motivated by forms of discrimination, such as homophobia and racism," explains Emma Bourcelet, assistant at the Faculty of Law and co-organizer of the event.

Seven students (Emmanuël Falzone, Justine Voss, Gwen-Gaël Gabrielli, Arsène Banza, Guillaume Warnon, Jean-Marc Seka and Victoria De Gregorio) took part in this ambitious project. Each took on a specific role and prepared his or her contribution carefully. "This year, we benefited from the support of Amani, a student in his final year of the Master's program, as well as third-year students from ELSA Namur (European Law Students' Association). Their speech coaching and past mock trial experience were invaluable. There's a great team behind this adventure! ", emphasizes Emma Bourcelet. Solène, from ELSA Namur who coached the students shares, "It was extremely rewarding. Accompanying the students in their preparation enabled me to see their involvement and their progress. I was impressed by their ability to assimilate the advice given, whether on the substance or on the more practical aspects, such as oral argumentation and posture. It was a great opportunity to exchange with them and contribute to their future professional development."

Beyond a professionalizing exercise, the mock trial is a real human adventure. "The magical thing is to see the evolution of the participants between their selection and D-day. They surpass themselves, both individually and collectively. It's a challenge that brings people together and welds them ", adds Emma Bourcelet. The result: the students brilliantly rose to the challenge and impressed the jury with the quality of their performances. Participating student Victoria De Gregorio agrees: "The mock trial was a great experience. We felt a bit (a lot) of stress, both in terms of substance (writing a trial argument, working on a real case) and form (speaking in front of an audience). I loved learning about the case and immersing myself in my role as defense lawyer. When it came time to open the Pedro's doors, I rehearsed my text one last time in my head, drank at least a liter of water (terrified for some reason of having a coughing fit) and set off. The result of a month's preparation was a magnificent evening! This kind of experience in the field of law is an opportunity to make the studies we've chosen more concrete, to step out of the theoretical world for a moment and come down to earth. Not all the data we need is always to be found in the syllabus..."

At the end of the mock trial, the audience had the privilege of attending a presentation by Aline Fery, a criminal lawyer involved in this case in defense of one of the two protagonists. Her intervention highlighted the practical challenges associated with this type of case and offered an enriching professional insight for participants and audience alike.

The mock trial is a perfect illustration of the Faculty of Law's desire to decompartmentalize subjects and offer a cross-disciplinary pedagogy. "The experience sent shivers down the spine of the entire Pedro Arrupe: between the extraordinary pleadings of the participating students (daytime and staggered schedules), the Court's impressive verdict and Maître Aline Fery's impassioned sharing on the practice of law, there was enough to have stars in the eyes and hearts... What joy and happiness to witness this evolution and collective momentum, in the service of the law and its role in society. I would like to reiterate my congratulations and thanks to everyone who helped make this event another happy memory in the history of the Faculty of Law. I remain convinced that this type of project is more than just a formative and necessary part of a student's career. They challenge codes, bring out the best in our students and inspire an ideal of justice for which we must all strive. We can't wait for the next one!", concludes Emma Bourcelet.

On November 7, three members of the Ihsane Jarfi Foundation were invited to take part in Professor Jean-Michel Longneaux's Foundations of Ethics course. Committed to the fight against discrimination linked to religion, gender and love preferences, the Foundation gave students the opportunity to discuss these sensitive issues. Hassan Jarfi, its founder, gave a moving account of his experience as the father of a young man tortured and killed in 2012 for his sexual preferences, and invited students to reflect on the place we give to everyone and the right to be oneself, while Danaé Kakudji, the Foundation's coordinator, presented a reflection on disobedience and the quest for a more inclusive world, echoing the organization's core values.

On November 27, Simon Gronowski, a survivor of Nazism during the Second World War, spoke as part of the Clinical and Criminological Approaches course. The lecture, led by Bertrand Renard and Johan Kalonji, both professors of criminology at UNamur and UCLouvain, gave Simon Gronowski the opportunity to share his life story and convey a message of optimism for the future. This poignant testimony offered the students, who had previously viewed the film American History X about the rise of Nazism in the United States, a unique opportunity to explore this ideology while making enriching links with their criminology course.

• February 19 - Law School eloquence tournament
• February 2025 - Intervention by Josef Schovanec, philosopher-saltimbanque of autism and difference, as part of Professor Elise Degrave's Sources and Principles of Law course
• February 27, 2025 - Benjamin Gisaro's show entitled "Évidemment, c'est fâcheux" tackling racist discourse, as part of Thibault de Meyer's logic and argumentation course in collaboration with DELTA
• Intervention by Sophie Pirson, author and parent of a victim of the 2016 Brussels attacks, as part of Professor Nathalie Colette-Basecqz's criminal law course
• Until March 15, 2025: Video capsule competition open to UNamur students and staff on the theme "Live inclusion! ". Learn more
• April 16 - Fil rouge closing party at an improvisation match pitting two teams of jousters against each other to benefit the Ihsane Jarfi Foundation

This list, created by Stanford University and published in August 2024 is compiled in collaboration with Elsevier's ICST lab from Scopus data, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's best scientists and recognizing those scientists who have had a significant impact on their respective fields.

While this list has been adopted by many institutions as a reliable measure of research impact, it is not the only way to evaluate research. Based strictly on bibliometric data, it is also subject to criticism.

Since September 2023, the University of Namur has been strengthening its commitment to the implementation of research assessment reform with the signing of the "Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) "agreement.

This agreement commits the institution to a series of principles, including taking into account career diversity and emphasizing qualitative research criteria rather than relying solely on bibliometric (and therefore quantitative) data.

• Charlotte Beaudart - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
• Benoît Champagne - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
• Alain Decrop - EMCP Faculty, NaDi-CRIDS Institute
• Olivier Deparis - Science Faculty, NISM Institute and PaTHs Institute
• Jonathan Douxfils - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
• Patrick Kestemont - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
• Alexandre Mayer - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute and Institut naXys
• Carine Michiels - Faculty of Science, Institut Narilis
• Antoinette Rouvroy - Faculty of Law, ESPHIN Institutes and NaDi-CRIDS Institute
• Frédéric Silvestre - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
• Bao-Lian Su - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
• Johan Wouters - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute

The list is updated every year, with data on the whole career and impacts on a single year, for the sake of transparency and relevance.

A variety of bibliometric measures are taken into account to ensure a fair and balanced representation of researchers' work.

• The C-score: this composite score is based on various bibliometric factors, including the total number of citations.
• The h-index: this impact indicator takes into account the number of a researcher's publications as well as the number of their citations.
• The percentiles of fields and subfields : scientists are classified into 22 major fields and 176 subfields. Only those who rank in the top 2% of their subfield are taken into account.
• Career-wide or single-year impact: rankings are available for both career-wide impact and single-year performance, providing a better understanding of long-term contribution and recent achievements.

Figuring among this top 2% of scientists is therefore a prestigious recognition of an individual's contribution to science and demonstrates the excellence of their research, enhancing their reputation in academia and industry.

The ranking offers visibility across all disciplines, drawing attention to work that might otherwise remain in a niche or be under-appreciated. It also serves as a benchmark for institutions and governments to assess the influence of their research programs.

Many institutions use the ranking to measure the success of their faculty, or other entity, which can also enhance credibility within the academic community.

This list encourages scientists to focus on producing high-quality, impactful research rather than chasing quantity.

By compiling data from all scientific fields and offering a fair, metrics-based approach, this ranking not only celebrates individual achievements, but also highlights the importance of impactful research in advancing knowledge. However, it must be qualified, as it only takes into account quantitative data, which are not necessarily representative of the full diversity of research.

According to another database, that of UNESCO, the number of researchers in the world is increasing by 300,000 per year, reaching 9 million today. The Top 2% comprises 200,000 names, including twelve researchers from the University of Namur.

Congratulations to them for their excellent research and for this prestigious worldwide recognition!