PACT

PACT School Tour

In the PACT School Tour, more than 140 respected VUB professors travel to Flemish schools and, through guest lectures, give pupils an insight into fascinating subjects where critical thinking and social engagement are central. Curator Alicja Gescinska also takes part, with a lecture on the meaning of freedom. She takes students on a philosophical quest to discover what freedom is both in theory and in practice.

This school tour is sold out. 

Prize for Critical Thinking

Every year, talented pupils graduate from secondary school and choose to study at our university. We want to thank Belgian teachers for this with the "Prize for Critical Thinking": a book package that teachers can give to one of their pupils during the graduation ceremony. This is a unique offer with books on all kinds of themes such as science, climate and anthropology. Moreover, these books come in a nice VUB tote bag, a nice gadget to use afterwards. Belgian teachers can apply for the 'Prize for Critical Thinking' from April.

Workshop: Student Speakers Corner

On 3 May, VUB and EHB students demonstrate their oratorial skills during the Student Speakers Corner. This traditionally takes place each year on World Press Freedom Day. In a gutsy and challenging speech that should make the audience think, our students give their views on a social or political issue. Professor Gustaaf Cornelis and curator Alicja Gescinska help the students to find their “moment of truth” from April.

Doctoral Derby

During the doctoral derby, young VUB scientists learn how to present their research to the public in a simple, effective way. Whoever does it the best wins the derby. Three months of intensive preparation and tailored training precede the competition.

Read more and join the doctoral derby (VUB Sharepoint)

Book: What is truth, and who decides?

Continually scrutinising and updating your own knowledge creates the belief that there is such a thing as “the truth”. But does truth actually exist? And who decides what the truth is? Today more than ever, truth seekers such as journalists and scientists are under pressure. We expect from them the truth and nothing but truth. Yet they face distrust, scepticism and resistance. In the book Een vraag naar waarheid (A Question of Truth), VUB scientists discuss their take on truth, and their search for it. 

Download the book for free (soon available in English).

Inspired by Caroline Pauwels

For VUB honorary rector Caroline Pauwels (1964-2022), critical thinking was a never-ending duty. Critical thinking doesn’t happen without effort, it’s never straightforward, and it always calls for nuance. And above all, dialogue. Caroline worked incredibly hard to take social dialogue to the next level. It is that interaction with students, with scientists and with wider society that we want to continue with the Caroline Pauwels Academy of Critical Thinking (PACT).  

Curated by Alicja Gescinska

In 2023-2024, philosopher Alicja Gescinska was guest curator of PACT. With the possibilistic ideas of the late VUB rector Caroline Pauwels in mind, and in collaboration with VUB scientists, she created a varied programme for pupils, students, doctoral students and a socially engaged audience. In doing so, she inspired others to look at the world in an emancipatory way and to take control to create change.

Critical thinking: the DNA of VUB

"Thinking must never be subjugate, neither to a dogma, nor to a party, nor to a passion, nor to an interest, nor to a prejudice, nor to anything, but only to the facts themselves, for making it subjugate means the end of all thinking."

The French mathematician and philosopher of science Henri Poincaré wrote these words in 1908. Since then, they have been part of the DNA of VUB. They symbolise the critical thinking that we encourage from every VUB student.