Since the launch of Circle U., the Academic Chair Programme has been the backbone of our alliance's ecosystem, ensuring strong, sustainable and concrete connections between academics, researchers, students and associated and global partners. The 2025 call is now open and UCLouvain will appoint 3 new chairs. The deadline for submitting applications at UCLouvain is Saturday the 31st of May 2025, midnight.
The academic chairs are at the heart of our transformational cooperation process. They tie our nine universities together, develop joint initiatives in line with project goals, co-create new opportunities for students, reseachers, academics, staff and partners, and connect Circle U. to society in innovative and meaningful ways.
The academic chairs receive a support to dedicate teaching time to the development of activities (30 h APH) and are located at their home university. But they are expected to spend time at other Circle U. partner universities and to attend meetings to facilitate collaboration, communication and dissemination.
The main role and missions of the academic chairs are to:
The academic chairs contribute to the realisation of the academic ambitions of the platform or hub they are affiliated with. In particular, they shall:
Beyond the strong academic and scientific profile, expertise and experience in fields directly related to the hub or platform the candidate is applying, we are looking for people who can bring exciting and innovative ideas, aninterdisciplinary profile, and a strong commitment to linking education and research to foster transformative impacts on society.
The academic chairs are expected to have a strong team spirit. They are also expected to have excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written. Proficiency in other European languages used by the Circle U. partners will be an advantage.
Each academic chair works primarily within one platform or hub alongside chairs from other universities.
For the 2025 call, UCLouvain will appoint 3 new chairs linked to the following Circle U. platform and knowledge hub:
The Global Health Knowledge Hub fosters interdisciplinary collaboration on pressing global health challenges. It brings together researchers, educators, and practitioners to address topics such as environmental health, infectious diseases, migration and health, global mental health, and health inequalities. The hub also explores broader societal dimensions, including decolonization, democracy, and the economics of global health. Through joint research projects, educational programs, and advocacy, it strengthens partnerships across Europe and beyond, ensuring impactful contributions to global health discourse.
UCLouvain appoints one chair for the Global Health Knowledge Hub.
In the Global Health Knowledge Hub, appointed chairs are expected to actively contribute to the activities of the Hub to continue and extend current interactions around the themes outlines above as well as issues on decolonisation, democracy and the economics of global health. The chairs will contribute to the strengthening education, research collaboration, and advocacy between and beyond the chairs of the Hub and across European and international institutions. They should have knowledge of the health sector but enjoy interdisciplinary interaction and rely on a strong team spirit. Chairs are expected to use the Circle U. network to develop joint research proposals.
Any questions about the activities of this hub? Please contact our current chair, Sandy Tubeuf.
The Circle U. Teaching Innovation Lab (CU.til) supports the development of innovative and creative teaching and learning formats that focus on research-based, trans- and interdisciplinary knowledge and societal engagement. The CU.til connects teaching and learning support units across our universities and encourages research in education. The CU.til is led by an academic director and coordinated by UCLouvain.
UCLouvain appoints one chair for the Teaching Innovation Lab.
In the CU.til, appointed chairs are expected to actively contribute to the development and implementation of innovative learning formats and to share their experience with peers. The CU.til’s mission is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning through student and staff collaboration in research, pedagogy, curricular innovation, professional development and internationalisation.
The chairs will generate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge, connect research and education through pedagogical experiments, bring research closer to practice and promote innovative approaches to pedagogy. All background disciplines are welcome.
If you want to find out more about the fundamental elements of our platform, its missions, values and orientations, take a look at the booklet we have written https://www.circle-u.eu/about/platforms/til/
Any questions about the activities of this hub? Please contact our current chair, Min Reuchamps, the academic director Benoît Raucent or the coordinator Céline Mathelart.
The InCU.bator offers a structured space and concrete support opportunities for students in developing innovative projects with a societal impact. It puts students at the centre of societal engagement and, with the support of external partners, foster an entrepreneurial mindset in the broad sense. The InCU.bator is led by a coordinator at Aarhus Universitet.
UCLouvain appoints one chair for the InCU.bator.
In the InCU.bator, appointed chairs are expected to actively support students in developing innovative projects with a societal impact in collaboration with other relevant staff and to foster an entrepreneurial mindset in the broad sense, with the support of external partners. All background disciplines are welcome.
Any questions about the activities of this hub? Please contact our current chair, Amélie Jacquemin.
The academic chairs have a two-year term, with the potential for a further extension of up to two years.
This call is specifically aimed at UCLouvain academic staff member with a permanent full-time contract. Please note that probationary academic staff members (personnel académique en période probatoire) and permanent researcher of the FNRS (mandataires permanents du FNRS) are not eligible for this specific call.
Adequacy of the letter of motivation with the Circle U. call and alignment with the description of the Circle U. platform the chair is connected to.
Innovative and federative aspect of the intended participation. Preference will be given to candidates who carry an institutional vision and propose intersectoral and/or collective activities (i.e., activities that involve other academic and scientific staff as well as students).
Together, the universities of Circle U. support an inclusive culture, equality and diversity for our staff and students. We are committed to encouraging further growth from diverse groups, and we are committed to ensuring that the Academic Chair Programme includes academics, researchers and teachers of all abilities and underrepresented groups.
Applications have to be submitted by Saturday 31st of May (midnight at the latest) through the form at the end of the webpage. They include :
At the same time, we kindly ask that you inform the President of your Institute of your intention as well.
Interested colleagues who’d like to exchange with current academic chairs as well as the coordinating team are invited to register for a lunch on Tuesday May 13th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm on Louvain-la-Neuve campus. Please confirm your participation here asap.
For any additional information, do not hesitate to contact: infocircleu@uclouvain.be