Philippe Maystadt Award 2024-2025

The online application form must be completed by 15 October 2025 at the latest.

Please note that you will be asked to submit the following documents in PDF format:

• your final dissertation or doctoral thesis,
• official proof of the result obtained for this work (transcript, diploma or certificate of completion, thesis report – no screenshots),
• a summary of the work (maximum 1 page), in English, specifying the subject matter, the theoretical and methodological framework, the limitations, conclusions and prospects of the research,
• a summary for the general public (maximum 10 lines), in English, explaining how the research conducted can contribute to thinking about teaching (on educational policies, teaching practices, etc.). This text will enable the jury to assess the work's potential for popularisation. It must establish a link with the objective of the award.
   

To be eligible, the works submitted must:

• be personal, original and unpublished works, and submitted to the Award by their author(s), hereinafter referred to as "the candidate" or "the candidates",
• have been successfully presented and/or defended during the 2024-2025 academic year at a recognised higher education institution in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation,
• for the "Bac" and "Master" Awards, be final-year projects within the meaning of Article 126 of the "Paysage" decree,
• for the "Doc" Award, be doctoral theses within the meaning of Article 71, § 3 of the "Paysage" decree,
• for the "Bac" and "Master" Awards, have obtained a minimum grade of 16/20 (80%), as attested by a transcript, diploma or certificate of completion.

The same person may only submit one application per edition and may only apply once in each award category.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Chairmanship:

• Sébastien VAN DROOGHENBROECK, professor at Université catholique de Louvain

Members:

• Henri BOUILLON, Professor emeritus at Université catholique de Louvain
• Julie DAVID, Head of the Early Childhood Education Department at Haute École Léonard de Vinci
• Marc DEMEUSE, Professor at Université de Mons
• Catherine DESCHEPPER, Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles – Faculty of Arts, Translation and Communication
• Sophie DUFAYS, Administrative manager of the CReF secretariat
• Noémie DROUGUET, Professor at ESA Saint-Luc de Liège
• Yvon ENGLERT, Vice-Chancellor at Université libre de Bruxelles
• Marianne FRENAY, Professor at Université catholique de Louvain
• Valérie HENRY, Professor at Université de Liège and Université de Namur
• Dominique LAFONTAINE, Professor emeritus in Educational Sciences, Université de Liège
• Pascal MARTIN, Journalist at Le Soir Newspaper
• Fanny MEUNIER, Professor at Université catholique de Louvain - Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters / Language and Communication Institute
• Marylène PIERRET, Former Managing Director of Hénallux
• Jean-Michel RIGO, Vice-Rector for Research at Hasselt University
• Marc VAN HOLSBEECK, Doctor of Information and Communication Sciences, Director - BELSPO Coordination and Senior Lecturer at Université libre de Bruxelles
• John VAN TIGGELEN, Former Director of IHECS

The works are evaluated by the jury on the basis of the application files and according to the following criteria:

• the theme addressed and the strength of the link with education, particularly higher education;
• the originality and innovative and forward-looking nature of the subject and/or its treatment,
• the theoretical framework, methodological and scientific rigour,
• the clarity of the arguments and the possibility of popularisation,
• the quality of the analysis and the results obtained.

The following two criteria may also be taken into account, where applicable:

• the potential impact of the work on education in general, and its possible transferability to the Wallonia-Brussels Federation,
• the societal dimension (contribution to social emancipation, sustainable development, improvement of well-being, etc.).
   

With the exception of information regarding the ineligibility of a work under Article 4 of the regulations, no information relating to applications may be disclosed before the selection process has been completed.

The winners selected by the jury will be notified directly by ARES via email.
 

The "Bac" Award, worth €2,000, rewards a final-year project defended in a higher education institution, an art school or a higher education institution for social advancement (short bachelor's degree and specialised bachelor's degree).

The Master's Award, worth €2,000, rewards a final project completed at the end of a postgraduate course at a university, college, art school or higher education institution for social advancement (Master's degree, specialised Master's degree, doctorate, veterinary degree and higher secondary education teaching qualification).

The "Doc" Award, worth €4,000, rewards a doctoral thesis defended with a view to obtaining the academic degree of doctor.