Sociology - VUB

𝗗𝗲 𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗱: 𝘄𝗶𝗻-𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗷𝘀?

Uit nieuw BRISPO-onderzoek blijkt dat een belangrijke groep studenten werkt uit financiële noodzaak (om hun studies te betalen of om zichzelf of hun familie financieel te ondersteunen).

Studenten in een dergelijke situatie presteren vaak veel werkuren, een tijdsinvestering die bovendien aanleiding geeft tot werk-studieconflict en zo ten koste lijkt te gaan van hun studietijd.

Die spanning wordt bevestigd door de cijfers, waarbij één op drie studenten aangeeft lessen of contactmomenten over te slaan om te kunnen werken. Dit percentage is nog hoger onder studenten die aangeven te werken uit financiële noodzaak. Bovendien is de uitgevoerde studentenarbeid meestal niet of nauwelijks relevant voor de huidige studie of de toekomstige carrière, wat het beeld van studentenarbeid als middel om rond te komen nog versterkt.

Het onderzoek legt dus een opvallende paradox bloot: een belangrijke groep studenten werkt om te kunnen studeren, maar zet daardoor diezelfde studies op het spel.

Als we gelijke onderwijskansen ernstig nemen, dringt een koerswijziging zich op. Studentenwerk zou een keuze moeten zijn in plaats van een noodzaak en het is dan ook cruciaal om de werkelijke studiekosten onder controle te houden en het systeem van studiefinanciering kritisch te herbekijken.

Het onderzoek verscheen onlangs in de media, waaronder ook:

Studenten die uit financiële noodzaak werken, riskeren hun studies in gevaar te brengen Steeds meer studenten combineren hun opleiding met een studentenjob, maar voor een aanzienlijke groep is dat geen vrije keuze. Vooral studenten die werken om hun studies of levensonderhoud te betalen, lopen een verhoogd risico dat hun job hun studiesucces ondermijnt. Dat blijkt uit onderzoek van de....

De voorbije jaren liep er vanuit BRISPO (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) een onderzoeksproject over hybride werken: https://brispo.research.vub.be/en/sushy-towards-sustainable-hybrid-work-the-study-of-hybrid-work-effects-on-well-being-productivity

Tijdens de afrondende fase start nu een 𝗳𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 rond hetzelfde thema. Het doel is vooral om te kijken hoe de evolutie van hybride werken zich uit in verschillende contexten en hoe mensen hiermee omgaan. Concreet zal een onderzoeker-fotograaf de fysieke kenmerken van kantooromgevingen, co-working plekken en thuiswerkplekken fotograferen om te analyseren hoe verschillende mensen en bedrijven hun werkomgeving invullen.

➡️ Met deze open call willen we 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝘂𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗶𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻. Bij interesse kan je contact opnemen via onderzoekster Ella Oelbrandt: [email protected]

New publication 📢

A new article by Jazmín Mazó, Camila Jiménez-Sánchez, Gerrit Loots, and Marcela Losantos has been published in Behavioral Sciences as part of the Special Issue “Action Research, Methods and Measures in Community Psychology-2nd Edition.”

The study critically examines participatory research with children and adolescents in rural Latin America and identifies three interconnected dimensions shaping participation:
▪️ structural–methodological conditions,
▪️ relational–community dynamics,
▪️ experiential–child engagement.
The article contributes to current debates in childhood studies and participatory research by critically examining the gap between participatory discourse and the actual redistribution of power within research processes.

Read the full article:
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/16/5/773

Every day, we see images and headlines from Gaza. But after a while, news risks becoming abstract. Numbers replace people. Distance replaces urgency.

On 19 May, We are organising the seminar “Be My Voice: Stories from Gaza and What We Owe” at BRISPO (VUB).

We will welcome Alhassan Selmi, a Palestinian journalist from Gaza who continued reporting throughout the war under extremely difficult conditions, documenting everyday life through photography, video, and journalism for social media and international outlets.

Alhassan was only able to leave Gaza thanks to a government scholarship that allowed him to continue his studies in Italy. His family, friends, and fellow journalists remain trapped in Gaza. As he is currently unable to travel within Europe, he will join us via video link.

The seminar will also include contributions from journalist Raffaele Oriani and illustrator Marcella Brancaforte, who helped amplify Alhassan’s story through the BeMyVoice project.

This seminar is not only about listening to testimony. It is also about reflecting on responsibility, solidarity, and what our role can be as researchers, students, and academics.

📅 19 May 2026
🕓 16:00–17:00
📍 VUB Campus Etterbeek (room TBA)

Registration:
https://forms.office.com/e/Ur8NS9KaJu

We invite all students and researchers to the "European Social & Population Issues" Lecture Series, organised by Prof. Sylvie Gadeyne and Dr. Caterina Adelaide Mauri from BRISPO.

This year, the series is dedicated to "Loneliness and Social Isolation", and the next lecture will take place on 12/05/2026: "Interventions to tackle loneliness" by Elizabeth Casabianca (Joint Research Centre; European Commission).

Where: VUB Etterbeek campus (Building D, Room D.2.23)
When: 12/05/2026, 14:00–16:00

We invite you to join the lecture online or in person. Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. After processing your registration, we will send you the URL to participate online.
The full programme of this year’s EPSI Lecture Series and registration link are available here:

Lecture Series | BRISPO: Brussels Institute for Social and Lecture Series European Social & Population Issues Every year from February until May, the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel organises a series of lectures. This year, the series is dedicated to "Loneliness and Social Isolation". We invite you to join...

We invite all students and researchers to the "European Social & Population Issues" Lecture Series, organised by Prof. Sylvie Gadeyne and Dr. Caterina Adelaide Mauri Mauri from BRISPO.

This year, the series is dedicated to "Loneliness and Social Isolation", and the next lecture will take place on 5/05/2026: "Loneliness in young people" by Marlies Maes (Utrecht University).

Where: VUB Etterbeek campus (Building D, Room D.2.23)
When: 5/05/2026, 14:00–16:00
We invite you to join the lecture online or in person. Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. After processing your registration, we will send you the URL to participate online. The full programme of this year’s EPSI Lecture Series and registration link are available here:

Lecture Series | BRISPO: Brussels Institute for Social and Lecture Series European Social & Population Issues Every year from February until May, the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel organises a series of lectures. This year, the series is dedicated to "Loneliness and Social Isolation". We invite you to join...

𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗢 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 📬
In the spring edition of our newsletter we spotlight a selection of recent publications from our research team 📚, covering topics ranging from migration and human rights to health inequalities, labour conditions, education, and urban studies. We also share updates on new books, opinion pieces, and policy-relevant research 📝. Alongside these publications, we highlight key developments within our research community, including PhD defences 🎓, media appearances 🎤, project updates 🔬, and new job opportunities 💼.

This and all previous newsletters, as well as BRSIPO newsletter subscription form, are available on our website:

Newsletter form | BRISPO: Brussels Institute for Social and Subscribe here to stay up to date with BRISPO news, research results and events. We will send out a BRISPO Newsletter every three months.

We are pleased to invite you to a seminar with Marlies Maes (Utrecht University) titled “𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴”.
📅 04/05/2026, 14:00–15:00
📍 Pleinlaan 5, Raadzaal, room 4.21 (4th floor)
📌 In-person only
🎟 Free entry, no registration required

More information:

Seminar with Marlies Maes: Lonely but not alone: loneliness The Seminar will take place in Raadzaal, Pleinlaan 5, room 4.21 on the fourth floor. Free entry, no registration required.

📢 𝗖𝗳𝗣 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝟮𝟵/𝟬𝟰/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 "𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲𝘀"
The workshop will take place on 📅 11–12 June 2026 at 📍 Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels.

As part of the research project From Camp to Campus, we invite submissions for an international expert workshop that will bring together scholars working at the intersection of higher education, labour market integration, and newcomer trajectories. The workshop aims to create a space for in-depth discussion, collective reflection, and knowledge exchange, rather than a conventional conference format. Contributions will receive extensive feedback and encourage dialogue across disciplines, methods, and national contexts.
📄 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Extended abstract (max. 1,000 words) outlining the research question, data and methods, and key contributions.
🔗 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/81330/submitter
⏳ 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 29 April 2026

𝘋𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴: https://brispo.research.vub.be/en/extended-deadline-for-papers-degrees-in-transition-higher-education-and-labour-market-integration-of

We invite all students and researchers to the "European Social & Population Issues" Lecture Series, organised by Prof. Sylvie Gadeyne and Dr. Caterina Adelaide Mauri from BRISPO.

This year, the series is dedicated to "Loneliness and Social Isolation", and the next lecture will take place on 21/04/2026: "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴" by Tulya Su Güven (Vrije Universiteit Brussel).
Where: VUB Etterbeek campus (Building D, Room D.2.23)

When: 21/04/2026, 14:00–16:00
We invite you to join the lecture online or in person. Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. After processing your registration, we will send you the URL to participate online.
Find the registration form and full program of the EPSI lecture series here:

Lecture Series | BRISPO: Brussels Institute for Social and Lecture Series European Social & Population Issues Every year from February until May, the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel organises a series of lectures. This year, the series is dedicated to "Loneliness and Social Isolation". We invite you to join...