Article

Taking into account the family situation of members of parliament: a major challenge for the future

Reconciling family life and a political career in the European Parliament poses major challenges, particularly for MEPs with young children. This is demonstrated by Elena Frech, researcher at the University of Namur, in her recent research on work-life balance in European institutions.
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Event

Local elections 2024: workshop-conference

An analysis of voter turnout in October 2024This analysis presents a comparison of voter turnout in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders. On the one hand, the report identifies the profiles and political attitudes of voters who abstained (representative survey of the Belgian population). On the other hand, the report presents the evolution of abstention and electoral participation according to institutional and political contexts in Wallonia. Particular attention is paid to the increase in blank and invalid votes in Wallonia.Analysis of the effects of electoral reforms since 2018This analysis presents the effects linked to the adoption of gender quotas in communal executives, as well as the effects of the end of the devolutive effect of the top box in Wallonia. These electoral reforms may have had limited effects in some communes (mainly due to a "learning" effect of the new electoral rules). Our report analyzes the effects observed in 2024 and the factors explaining the differences observed between Wallonia's communes.Analysis of the restructuring of the electoral offer in 2024While 2018 had seen a significant increase in the number of lists present at communal polls (notably so-called "citizen" and far-right lists), in October 2024, the number of lists in competition fell significantly. An analysis of official figures describes the evolution of the number and type of lists according to the institutional and political configurations of Wallonia's communes. It focuses in particular on the evolution of typically "local" lists, a Walloon characteristic within European democracies. Practical information L'ArsenalRue Bruno, 11 - 5000 NamurL'Arsenal is a 10-minute walk from Namur train station and the Parliament of Wallonia. Adjacent parking is available free of charge (Rue de l'Arsenal 13, 5000 Namur)Registration required (places are limited - registration deadline: March 3) Program 9:00-13:00: Conference workshop9:00-9:30: welcome and coffee9:30-9:35: presentation of the project by the inter-university consortium9:35-11:40 : presentation of reports and Q&A Analysis of the restructuring of the electoral offer in 2024 Analysis of electoral participation in 2024 Analysis of the effects of electoral reforms in 202411:40-11:50 : closing remarks12:00-13:00: closing lunchContact person For information requests: laura.uyttendaele@unamur.be and jeremy.dodeigne@unamur.be SPW Interior and Social Action
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Article

Prestigious FNRS MIS funding for Arthur Borriello

Arthur Borriello, professor in the EMCP Faculty and member of the TRANSITIONS Institute, has just been awarded a Mandat d'Impulsion Scientifique (MIS), prestigious funding from the F.R.S-FNRS. Through a comparison of 4 countries, this research project aims to understand why and how social democratic parties have adapted to the socio-political changes of the last ten years. Explanations.
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Article

The Master's degree specializing in sustainable development management and economics: a program rooted in contemporary issues

For more than 30 years, the Department of Flexible Scheduling at the Faculty of Economics, Management, Communication, and Political Science (EMCP) at the University of Namur has been helping adults returning to school to acquire new skills. In 2023, the Department launched a brand-new program: a Master's degree specializing in sustainable development management and economics. This one-year program addresses environmental and societal challenges by training professionals to support the ecological and economic transition. 
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Article

University and democracy: a living, sometimes threatened, link

Trust of traditional political institutions and elected representatives, rise of authoritarian logics, definition of public services... Democracy today seems to be going through a turbulent zone. What role does the university play in this context? To shed light on this question, we interviewed four researchers from different disciplines: educationalist Sephora Boucenna, philosopher Louis Carré, political scientist Vincent Jacquet and legal scholar Aline Nardi. Their contrasting views sketch out the contours of an issue that is more topical than ever: thinking about and defending the link between university and democracy.
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