Urban. Engaged. And how exactly to shape that engagement in projects. This is the subject of four PhD training sessions "Skills And Instruments For Successful Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research Projects", organised by the VUB CERL team (Community Engaged Research & Learning) in collaboration with various social actors throughout this academic year. With the trainings, VUB aims to further pave the way towards community engaged research and learning practices.
Increasingly urgent and complex 'wicked' challenges (climate and energy, poverty, social justice) call for cross-sectoral cooperation and transdisciplinarity in research. They require co-creation of knowledge and skills across institutions, disciplines and sectors, often bridging the local and global levels.
But how do you build valuable relationships and partnerships? In what ways can you build participation into your project? How do you be a relevant partner for non-academic partners, while taking a critical stance? How do you reconcile tensions and frictions between partners, and move partnerships forward?
Lien Mostmans, VUB CERL team
"In an urban engaged university such as VUB, exchange, collaboration and co-creation with the environment are quiet beyond question. But as with other partnerships, collaboration with partners outside the academic sector requires a thoughtful approach. Where better to start than with our engaged PhD students and their enthusiastic promoters, looking for inspiration and tools to collaborate critically and participatively?"
PhD students reflect on the building blocks and principles of transdisciplinary projects in 4 different courses, they are taught practical methods and skills for participation, and explore the challenges and creative power of dilemmas and dissensus in participatory projects with stakeholders from different sectors.
Ruben Van Vooren, PhD Engineering: Architecture
"Transdisciplinary research for me means collaboration with practice, Bureau Bouwtechniek in my case. The workshops of the VUB CERL team provide concrete tools to give this a broader meaning for all parties. They challenge you to question your own position as a researcher, both within the research project and more broadly in society. Personally, I find that quite difficult, but in any case an enrichment!"
The courses are part of the VUB's commitment as an urban engaged university to connect academia with society to allow participatory research, learning and engagement to flourish. Doctoral students from various disciplines and sectors are participating in the course, and the first sessions were enjoyed, so it will be continued....