Practical
Thursday, 18 September, 2025
- 08:30 until 18:00
Marie Elisabeth Belpaire Building
Simon Bolivarlaan 17
1000 Brussel
Marie Elisabeth Belpaire Building
Simon Bolivarlaan 17
1000 Brussel
Marie Elisabeth Belpaire Building
0 - 100
1st Swimming Education and Aquatic Literacy Research Symposium
This symposium brings together experts from across disciplines and countries to share new insights into swimming education, assessment and water competence. From innovative diagnostic tools like Ilka Staub’s “The Owl’s Eye” and Boris Jidovtseff’s aquatic skills circuit, to Jon Sundan’s research on skill transfer and Régis Fayaubost’s PHOBIES 360 emotional approach, our first sessions focus on understanding and measuring aquatic ability.
After the coffee break, we turn to fresh teaching frameworks, creative instructional methods, and community initiatives—ranging from Guillaume Paya’s multi-partner training project to Titeke Postma’s motor learning perspectives and Killian De Block’s animal metaphor videos.
We close by exploring equity and outdoor learning: from Antoine Legrand’s work with disadvantaged children and the Olympic Games’ influence, to Sarah Pochon, Ingrid Elnan, and Cyril Albertini’s studies of natural environments and coastal swimming. Together, these presentations chart new currents in how we teach, inspire, and expand water competence for all.
ALFAC Closing Ceremony
For 3 years, the European ‘ALFAC’ Erasmus+ Sport project brought together researchers, educators and institutional stakeholders from across Europe, united in their mission to enhance the quality of aquatic education. This initiative tackles the critical challenge of improving Aquatic Literacy (AL) among children aged 6-12 years. The project aimed to enhance children's safety during water-based activities by equipping them with essential aquatic skills and knowledge, while also encouraging their participation in aquatic activities in a safe and sustainable way. Accordingly, we warmly invite you to join the presentations of the ALFAC consortium during our Closing Ceremony, where we will dive deeper into the innovative steps taken, reveal the project's impactful results, and explore its potential to shape the future of aquatic education. Do not miss this opportunity to attend this unique event to be inspired and discover how ALFAC is making waves across Europe and beyond!
Registration information
How to register?
- Online registration form
Please complete the online registration form below.
- Registration fees
Please choose the option that best suits your schedule. Although physical attendance is encouraged to enhance engagement and networking opportunities, virtual arrangements are also available for the entire day or for the afternoon.
Type of attendance Fee Capacity
Full day: Symposium + Closing ceremony – PHYSICALLY €100 Max. 110
Including 2 coffee breaks, lunch and reception
NOTE: Symposium presenters in the morning are €75
obliged to choose this option (with a discount of €25)
Full day: Symposium + Closing ceremony – ONLINE €20 Unlimited
Afternoon: Closing ceremony only – PHYSICALLY €35 Max. 110
Including 1 coffee break and reception
Afternoon: Closing ceremony only – ONLINE Free Unlimited
Deadline PHYSICAL attendance registrations: August 31st
Deadline ONLINE attendance registrations: September 10th
Who should register?
This event is open to:
- Researchers in aquatic education and literacy.
- Teachers and coaches specializing in swimming and water safety.
- Policymakers, non-profits, and community leaders in aquatic programs.
- Students and professionals interested in aquatic education.
Note: Due to limited physical attendance capacity, registration will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Program
Time Topic Location
8:30 – 9:00 Arrival and registration Central Entrance Hall,
ground floor
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and introduction Auditorium,
1st floor
9:15 – 10:15 Oral presentations (n=6) Auditorium,
1st floor
1. Ilka Staub - The Owl’s Eye
2. Boris Jidovtseff - CEReKi Aquatic Circuit
3. Jon Sundan - Assessing Swimming Competence
in Physical Education + Exploring Skill Transfer
4. Régis Fayoubost - PHOBIES 360, research on “not knowing
how to swim”
5. Karen De Rocker - An Aquatic Therapy Program for children
with mild motor difficulties
6. Tine Sleurs - School Swimming in Flanders Under Strain
10:15 – 11:00 Coffee break Multifunctional Hall,
ground floor
11:00 – 12:30 Oral presentations (n=9) Auditorium,
1st floor
7. Guillaume Paya - A Multi-Partner project to Advance
Aquatic Skills in Schools
8. Bart Soons - A conceptual framework for swimming abilities
9. Titeke Postma - Rethinking learn to swim
education through motor learning theories
10. Killian De Block - Video demonstration with
animal metaphor in swimming instruction
11. Clement Dehandschoewercker - The Cartanat : replacing
the adaptation at the heart of the “can swim”
12. Antoine Legrand - Olympic Impact on Swimming Skills
in Disadvantaged Children
13. Sarah Pochon - Learning to Swim in the Open Air
14. Ingrid Elnan - Outdoor Aquatic Education in Physical Education
15. Albertini Cyril - Knowing how to swim,
from the pool to coastal swimming
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Multifunctional Hall,
ground floor
For a more detailed program of the symposium including the full title of each presentation, click on the document below.
Program
Time Topic Location
13:30 – 14:00 Arrival and registration Central Entrance Hall, ground floor
14:00 – 14:10 Welcome and introduction Auditorium, 1st floor
14:10 – 14:25 ALFAC project: Global aim, Auditorium, 1st floor
objectives, phases and
Creation of consortium
14:25 – 14:40 Presentation of the ALFAC Auditorium, 1st floor
battery of tests
14:40 – 15:25 Results of the European Auditorium, 1st floor
database and international
comparison
15:25 – 15:35 Q&A part 1 Auditorium, 1st floor
15:35 – 16:20 Coffee break Multifunctional hall, ground floor
16:20 – 16:40 Presentation of a pedagogical Auditorium, 1st floor
toolkit towards teaching
strategies for swimming
16:40 – 16:55 Connections/ engagement/ Auditorium, 1st floor
discussion towards ALFAC
follow-up & new organization/
partnerships
16:55 – 17:00 Q&A part 2 Auditorium, 1st floor
17:00 – 18:00 Closing reception Multifunctional hall, ground floor
Symposium - Presenter Program
Registration: Symposium and/ or ALFAC Closing Ceremony
How to travel?
By plane
If you are traveling from abroad, the easiest way is to fly to Brussels Airport (Zaventem). At Brussels Airport you can take a direct train to Brussels North (duration: around 12 minutes).
By train
The venue is within walking distance of the Brussels North railway station. To check train times: https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
Metro/bus/tram
The venue is easily accessible by metro/bus/tram. Visit the website https://www.stib-mivb.be/ to find directions.
By car
If you choose to come by car, you can use the underground parking: Entrance via Antwerpsesteenweg 59, 1000 Brussel.