From 17 to 21 November, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) welcomed 80 students from across the EUTOPIA alliance for the Autumn School âMultilingualism in Contemporary Societies.â The week-long programme offered an inspiring mix of lectures, interactive workshops, cultural visits, and student-led reflections on how multilingualism shapes identity, learning, and community in todayâs world.
A warm welcome and a week of shared experiences
The Autumn School opened on Monday with a welcome by VUB Rector Jan Danckaert, followed by an engaging keynote from Dr. Kim Wallmach (Stellenbosch University) on storytelling as a tool for cohesion in multilingual societies. Students participated in icebreaking sessions, learned about each otherâs language journeys, and began forming international working groups for the week ahead.
Exploring languages, identities, and communication
Over the following days, participants delved into a wide range of topics related to linguistic diversity.
Keynote lectures included:
- Dr. Caitlin Vandertop on colonial legacies and urban space
- Dr. Töhötöm ĂrpĂĄd SzabĂł on ethnic groups and nation-building
- Dr. Marcella Menegale on global challenges in language learning
- Dr. Claire Huguet on code-switching and creativity
- Dr. Agnes Pisanski Peterlin on translation, English as a lingua franca, and self-translation
Interactive workshops allowed students to explore language portraits, sign language dynamics, translation practices, and the ways multilingualism is experienced in everyday academic and social settings.
Brussels as a laboratory for multilingual living
On Thursday, the group set out into Brussels, one of Europeâs most multilingual capitals, to see how language diversity unfolds in practice. At the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), students were welcomed by a reading from bilingual author Esther De Soomer, followed by a panel discussion with representatives from Bozar, Klarafestival, and De Taalsector on the role of multilingualism in the cultural sector. The afternoon featured a multilingual city walk, a visit to the House of European History, and a stop at the Parlamentarium, giving students firsthand insight into how institutions navigate and represent Europeâs linguistic complexity.
Student projects and future directions
The final day was led by Prof. Jo Angouri, who invited participants to reflect on emerging directions in multilingualism research and policy. Student groups then presented their projects, sharing ideas on how universities, cities, and cultural organisations can support linguistic inclusion and intercultural communication.
VUB Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, Prof. Karin Vanderkerken, closed the programme by highlighting the importance of student mobility and transnational cooperation within the EUTOPIA alliance.
âThroughout this week, I realised that multilingualism is not only about languages; itâs about understanding people. It offers both opportunities and challenges, and our task is to embrace it - to use linguistic diversity as a way to connect the world, rather than feeling lost within it. Thank you to the EUTOPIA school, the lecturers, partners, staff, and everyone involved for making this programme possible. It will remain one of the most memorable experiences of my life,â said one participating student.
A week of connection and collaboration
The Autumn School fostered new friendships, strengthened cross-campus collaboration, and encouraged students to see multilingualism as both a resource and a challenge. As participants return to their home universities, they carry with them new insights, shared experiences, and a commitment to building inclusive, multilingual European communities.