On the move to learn: mobility transforms learning at UNamur

At UNamur, didactic trips integrated into bachelor's degrees are more than just excursions: they're a fundamental pillar of training.

Designed in close connection with courses, these trips enable students to confront theory with reality. "Seeing things in real life helps to anchor theory", stresses Laurence Mettewie, head of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. She stresses the importance of direct contact with the objects of study. Whether it's admiring works evoked in class, visiting cultural institutions or conducting linguistic surveys in the field, every trip is thought of as an immersive, formative experience.

« Pour devenir spécialiste d’une langue ou d’une culture, il faut aller sur le terrain », ajoute Laurence Mettewie. « Ces expériences, souvent citées comme les moments les plus marquants de leur parcours par les étudiants, favorisent aussi la cohésion du groupe et l’engagement personnel. Des liens forts se créent, avant, pendant et après le voyage », ajoute-t-elle. Grâce à une équipe investie et une organisation souple, l’UNamur propose une offre d’activités riche et unique, qui donne du sens à l’apprentissage. 

In art history and archaeology, from the 2nd year of the bachelor's degree, students take part in two annual didactic trips, designed as concrete extensions of their training.

• The first, a three-day intensive citytrip, offers a dense program of cultural visits: museums, churches, architecture.
• The second, lasting around ten days, is based on upstream preparation: each student chooses a building or theme to explore, prepares it and then confronts his or her research with reality. Students then submit a report illustrated with their own photos. These trips are not only educational, they also contribute to scientific research.

"These are big days, but they're an integral part of the training. We really apply what we've seen in class", explains Hugo Maréchal, a Block 3 student in art history and archaeology.

Although these trips are compulsory, they are seen as a major training asset. "I would recommend this experience without hesitation. It's essential for learning and a real plus for UNamur ", Hugo concludes.

His three-month internship in Brazil, carried out as part of his dissertation in physics, finalité approfondie, immersed Thaïs Nivaille in a small university research team. She even contributed to the publication of a scientific article. "I took part in writing and publishing an article. Seeing the whole publication process was very formative," she recounts.

On a personal level, the experience was just as powerful. Thaïs learned to manage her daily life on her own, to adapt to a new culture, and to create bonds. "It was the first time I'd been so far away. I learned to fend for myself, deal with the unexpected and integrate into a different culture." Thanks to local activities like forró dancing, she quickly found her place in Brazilian life. Despite some challenges, such as culture shock and the distance from her loved ones, she has very positive memories of this adventure. It's an experience that she believes every student deserves.

Through the double degree format, students can obtain, simultaneously, two bachelor's or master's degrees from two universities. The Faculté Économie Management Communication sciencesPo, very active on this front, thus offers a double bachelor's degree in economics and management with Ghent University, but also a double master's degree in management engineering with KU Leuven.

Thanks to the trilingual immersion program, UNamur law students learn 3 languages and discover 3 campuses in 5 years. After spending their first two years in Namur, then their third at Hasselt University, they continue their first year of the Master's program in Hasselt before going abroad in their second year of the Master's program as Erasmus students.

The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), meanwhile, is an innovative course format that promotes international mobility and pedagogical innovation. Unlike traditional long-mobility stays, BIP is a more flexible and accessible alternative. The program combines virtual and face-to-face learning, offering a rich, hybrid pedagogical approach. "This is a unique opportunity to experiment with innovative teaching methods and strengthen skills in an international context," emphasizes Isabella Fontana, Director of International Relations at UNamur. "For me, this is a foretaste of the long-term Erasmus that will take place next year, and I'm already looking forward to it! (...) we learned so much in one week about ourselves and others. ", confides Mélissa Olimar, a Master's student in Management Sciences and a management engineer.

To leave is to grow. Whether for a few days or several months, in Belgium or abroad, mobility enables students to discover themselves, open up and better understand the world. But at UNamur, mobility isn't just something you experience in the field: it's something you think about, question and analyze. Involved in numerous international networks, UNamur thus affirms its determination to train citizens who are curious, critical and connected to the major challenges of tomorrow.

UNamur offers a solid framework, personalized support and a multitude of opportunities to live this adventure.