Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

opinion

How do you create equal opportunities in Flemish education?

The equal opportunities policy for education is currently under fire: does it really provide equal opportunities? Doesn’t it lower the bar in education? Dirk Van Damme, Head of the Innovation and Measuring Progress Division at the OECD and Ghent University alumnus professor helped to formulate it. Now, although still behind it in principle, he is taking a critical look at its drawbacks. Ghent University professor Piet Van Avermaet, Director of the Steunpunt Diversiteit en Leren (Learning and Diversity Support Centre) defends the choices made, despite the disappointing outcomes.

One master, many directions: social work

Alumni

Four alumni look back at their studies and the direction in which they finally headed. What began along the same path led to many different places. Sarah, Lisa, Michaël and Zahra all studied social work, one of the programmes in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. What drives them is the will to help others and they each do this in their own way.

Behavior as the key to overcoming the crisis: the Ghent University motivation barometer

Corona virus

Psychology

Since the beginning of the first lockdown, Ghent University has been gauging how and why we comply with the rules. Meanwhile, the motivation barometer has become a unique behavioral study with unprecedented social relevance. “We provide scientifically substantiated policy advice to support our motivation drivers,” says Professor Maarten Vansteenkiste, the driving force behind the study.

How Ghent University’s study on corona and refugees became a WHO report

Corona virus

Migration

The corona crisis is having a major negative impact on the most vulnerable refugees, according to a study by the World Health Organization published last Friday, on the International Day of Migrants. It was researchers from Ghent University and the University of Copenhagen that developed this report. “We are very happy that the WHO chose to run with our study. In this way our work can have worldwide resonance.”

Why expressing doubt is the foundation of science

Ghent University Museum

Everyone knows the statement of René Descartes “Je pense donc je suis.” But did you know that the famous thinker actually said something before this phrase? “Je doute donc je pense, je pense donc je suis.” This translates to “I have doubts, so I am.” This phrase is the mantra of Ghent University Museum (GUM).