Official launch of the ISALA NOVA project
Come and discover, in preview, the structure of our ISALA NOVA Network as well as its first assessment of equality issues within our partner universities. On May 18, we will present the foundations, objectives, and initial actions of the ISALA NOVA Network.
UMONS and UNamur are pleased to invite you to the launch of the ISALA NOVA Network on May 18, 2026. The ISALA NOVA project, supported by the Sakura Fund for Future Generations and its two parent institutions, aims to establish the foundations of a Network designed to facilitate and accelerate institutional change in favor of equality and diversity in scientific and academic careers. As a three-year pilot project, it aspires to become sustainable, expand to additional partners, and transform public perceptions.
During this event, you will discover the results of an initial survey conducted within our institutions. This survey seeks, first, to identify barriers to gender equality and, second, to highlight local levers for challenging persistent inequalities in academic and scientific career paths. The findings will serve as a foundation for the reflections that will guide the Network’s work.
We will also present a pilot initiative for a structured interuniversity framework, composed of ambassadors from both universities. Come and meet the individuals who will form the first members of the Network and who will test this collective intelligence approach to co-construct responses tailored to realities on the ground.
Finally, the event will also be an opportunity to unveil our first actions and innovative collaborations aimed at fostering a shift in public perceptions.
PROGRAMME
| 9AM-9.15AM | Opening remarks.
|
| 9.15AM-10AM | ISALA NOVA, a network to transform practices: presentation of the project, its structure, and its partnerships.
|
| 10AM-10.15AM | Coffee break |
| 10.15AM-11AM | Understanding in order to act: first results of the survey. Presentation of the data collected within partner institutions, identification of barriers to gender equality, and of action levers rooted in on-the-ground realities.
|
| 11AM-12AM | Discussion circles and co-construction sessions: spaces for exchange around the results presented. Objective? To share on-the-ground perspectives and bring out concrete avenues for action based on the data. |
| 12AM-12.20AM | Collective intelligence as a lever for transformation
|
| 12.20-12.30 | Closing remarks
|
| 12.30-13.30 | Lunch & networking |
- Save the date: May 18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (registration from 8:30 a.m.)
- UMONS – Rosa Parks Building – Landercy Auditorium
- A convivial lunch will conclude the event
- Free registration, but mandatory (limited capacity)
7000 MONS, Belgium
