From 16 to 19 November 2026, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will host its annual Compassionate Week. Over four days, the university will highlight serious illness, care, grief, loss and human connection through initiatives that create space for conversation, encounters and comfort. In doing so, VUB is putting its commitment to being a Compassionate University into practice, with the ambition of making care and mutual understanding an integral part of university life.
A serious illness, caring for a loved one, the death of someone close or a period of bereavement: these are experiences that touch everyone, including students and staff. Yet they often go unspoken at work or in the lecture theatre. With Compassionate Week, taking place from 16 to 19 November 2026, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is creating space to talk about them. The principle is simple: everyone can be there for someone else, and everyone needs someone from time to time. The programme explores different aspects of serious illness, care and loss, from open conversations about grief to initiatives that encourage reflection and a sense of connection.
From Onbespreekbaar to Compassionate Cards
One of the highlights is Onbespreekbaar on Tuesday 17 November. Nicolas, from the podcast of the same name, will join the VUB community for a conversation about loss and grief. The discussion will address not only grief following a death, but also living loss and the process of saying goodbye that can sometimes begin before a loss has actually occurred. It offers space for shared experiences, questions and new perspectives on subjects that are often difficult to talk about.
Other initiatives explore different aspects of serious illness and care. The film Achter de tralies van de tijd (Behind the Bars of Time) offers a glimpse into the care provided to older prisoners and those with care needs. During the Samen Zorgzaam (Caring Together) workshop, participants will learn to recognise signs of mental health difficulties and gain practical tools for starting conversations about them.
Voices of Compassion brings together people from within and beyond VUB to share texts, poems, stories and music about serious illness, grief and healing. With Compassionate Cards, participants can express their feelings of connection in a personal way by writing a card to someone they miss or offering words of support to someone who needs encouragement.
Remembering together at the Moment of Comfort
On the afternoon of Thursday 19 November, VUB will bring Compassionate Week to a close with the Moment of Comfort at the Monument of Comfort. Students and staff will come together to remember those they have lost and reflect on the experiences of people living with serious illness and those caring for others. By sharing a moment of comfort, the university community will place connection and solidarity at the heart of the gathering.
After the remembrance, everyone is welcome to join the Compassionate Café at Bar Buna, where there will be time and space to meet and talk.
About Compassionate University
Compassionate Week is part of VUB’s broader commitment as a Compassionate University. As the first Compassionate University in Europe, VUB aims to build a community where serious illness, loss, grief and long-term care can be addressed openly and with dignity as an integral part of university life.
About You Are Not Alone
With You Are Not Alone (YANA), VUB brings together its range of psychosocial support services on one accessible platform. This makes it easier for students and staff to find the support and information they need, including where to turn, who can help them and what to expect. By 2030, VUB aims to make wellbeing the beating heart of the university.