The modern university stands at a crossroads. Once conceived as a sanctuary for disinterested knowledge and philosophical inquiry, it is increasingly shaped by external funding models that prioritize market utility, short-term impact, and commercial applicability. This shift fundamentally alters the questions we ask, the research we valorize, and the very basis of academic activity.
This workshop invites scholars from all fields to critically examine the architecture of university funding. We will move cover the allocation model at VUB and explore the philosophical, ethical, and practical consequences of our current systems.
By employing an interdisciplinary lens, we will deconstruct the prevailing models, interrogate their impact on the pursuit of knowledge, and collectively imagine alternative futures for funding the life of the mind.
If you are interested on presenting a reflection (expected 10 min.) write tomas.veloz@vub.be before the 10th 25th of January.
Program
14:30-15:10. Informal welcome (coffee and snacks)
15:15-15:25 Tomas Veloz (CLEA/VUB), Opening
15:30-15:50. Arne Van Uytsel (R&D/VUB), Allocation Model at the VUB - Structure and Dashboard
15:50-16:10. Karen Verelst (CLEA/VUB), University Funding Evolution over the Last Century
16:10-17:30. Discussion
17:30-18:00. Wrapping up