Departments and research groups
Our faculty consists of 2 departments: Educational Sciences and Psychology. These departments include several research groups that cover a wide range of research topics in order to arrive at new insights. Discover them all below.
Our departments
Educational Sciences (EDWE)
The Department of Educational Sciences is research-based and internationally oriented offering several high-quality educational programmes in Agogische wetenschappen, Onderwijskunde and Educational Sciences.
Both education and research conducted in the department are deeply aligned with the principles of free inquiry and humanism that define the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. We adopt an emancipatory perspective on human development, grounded in a dynamic and evolving view of society. This entails a socio-critical research approach, a commitment to the social emancipation of all individuals, and an explicit stance against inequality in all its forms.
This department is responsible for teaching and research on:
- Educational Sciences 
- Agogische wetenschappen
Psychology (PSYC)
This department is responsible for teaching and research on:
- Atypical Development
- Biological Psychology
- Clinical-Experimental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Diagnostics and Treatment
- Methods in Psychology
- Personality and Psychopathology
- Social Psychology
- Work and Organisational Psychology
- Youth Assistance
Our research groups
Our research groups belong to one of our 2 departments. They cover a wide range of research topics in order to arrive at new insights. This cooperation also extends beyond the borders of existing disciplines.
Educational Sciences (EDWE)
All research activities within the Department of Educational Sciences are organised around - but not limited to- three major themes: (1) educational change and innovation, (2) community development, and (3) arts and cultural education. Although thematically distinct, these research lines share a strong common ground and are guided by shared values and a unifying vision. As a research department, we actively seek out meaningful and innovative intersections between these domains.
The research groups of the Department of Educational Sciences:
- Brussels research centre for Innovation in Learning & Diversity (BILD)
- EU-China Higher Education Research Centre (ECHE)
- Participeren en Leren Tijdens Detentie  (PALD)
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab)
Psychology (PSYC)
These are the research groups in the field of psychology:
What's the difference between a department and a research group?
A Faculty consists of several departments. Each department within a Faculty is responsible for the educational and research activities within their specialisation.
Within each of these departments one or more research groups are active. These groups consist of an international team of researchers who are fully committed to socially relevant research within their specialisation. In this way, the educational offer can be permanently adapted to the latest scientific evolutions.