Global Minds Project: Building capacity and increasing visibility for sustainable development
The Global Minds Programme (GM), supported by VLIRUOS, aims to increase VUB’s capacity in knowledge, scientific approaches and technologies to sustain, improve and expand its collaboration with partners in the South. By integrating development issues into education and research, Global Minds strives to foster global citizenship and solidarity in society to better respond to global challenges. The Global Minds framework enables various projects and mobilities.
Calls 2026-27
📣📣 New Calls 📣📣
The IEC Team has launched new calls for the following Global Minds projects and scholarships:
- XREI - R1 Internal Deadline is 02 March 2026
- SGP - R1 Internal Deadline is 02 March 2026
- SGM - R1 Internal Deadline is 02 March 2026
You can find the calls here!
REI Travel Grant
📣📣 New Calls 📣📣
The IEC Team has launched new calls for the REI Travel Grant:
- For mobilities taking place in AY 25/26 between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026
- 31 March 2026
- For mobilities taking place in AY 26/27 between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027
- 31 March 2026
- 05 May 2026
- 30 October 2026
- 31 March 2027
You can find more information here!
Calls 2025-26
TEAM 2026 Call
Launch: 12 Oct 2025
Deadline: 17 Feb 2026 (internal deadline)
Info session: 4 Nov 2025 13:00-15:00 (register here)
More info on the VLIRUOS website.
Of course, you can also contact the IRMO-EIC team: ICOS@vub.be
2026 Call
📣 This call is closed due to budget cuts.
Caroline Pauwels & Jakes Gerwel SCHOLARSHIPS CALL 2025
The Caroline Pauwels and Jakes Gerwel Joint PhD Scholarships aim at strengthening existing cooperations between VUB and UWC, as part of the Strategic International Partnership (SIP) between the two universities.
📣 Call deadline has passed.
1. XREI: Staff mobility
The objective of this call is to stimulate staff mobility, be it VUB staff travelling South, or Southern staff travelling to VUB, or to a VUB-organised event in Belgium. The mobility should contribute to capacity-building regarding Equitable International Cooperation within VUB (in accordance with the Global Minds objectives). The destination is limited to the 22 countries of the GM partner countries.
2. Student group mobility
The objective of student group mobility projects is to enhance world citizenship through outgoing student mobility and to promote structured cooperation between VUB and institutions/organisations in 23 countries of the GM partner countries. Students wanting to go abroad are required to follow UCOS training before applying to the call.
3. Small great projects
These aim to strengthen the VUB’s academic capacity to participate in Equitable International Cooperation. Project proposals should stimulate an (innovative) development dimension in (one or more of) the university’s missions (education, research and outreach). Examples include (but are not limited to) international seminars, alumni gatherings, awareness-raising events on campus and movies on VUB projects, about food, migration, climate crisis, SDGs, entrepreneurship in the Global South, etc.
4. REI travel grant
REI is a travel grant for students at a Flemish university or graduate school for an individual study trip to a country in the Global South. The exchange is part of an approved course, such as an internship or a thesis. This is a chance for students to contribute to sustainable development. More information via this link.
International Equitable Cooperation Career Award
For nurturing partnerships and being an inspiration to others.
At VUB, we take great pride in our tradition of close collaboration with universities in partner countries. To celebrate our engaged staff, increase the visibility of equitable international cooperation, and raise awareness among the VUB community about the opportunities, we introduced the IEC Career Award, formerly known as the UDC Career Award.
The call for nominees for 2026 is now open. Find out more in the call and submit your application form today! Deadline 19 January 2026 at 17h.
These individuals have supported and built partnerships and are an inspiration to the entire VUB community:
- UDC Career Award winner 2020: Edilbert Van Driessche.
- UDC Career Award winner 2022: Nico Koedam
- UDC Career Award winner 2023: Georges Eisendrath
- UDC Career Award winner 2024: Geert Angenon & Ann Nowé
Universitas
The Universitas scholarship programme aims to strengthen existing cooperation between VUB and partners on the Universitas partners list. Consequently, the Universitas scholarships will, as part of the internationalisation policy of VUB, contribute to the realisation of the SDGs.
📣 2026 call is closed due to budget cuts.