Philippe Maystadt Award 2025-2026

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• be personal, original and unpublished works, and submitted to the Award by their author(s), hereinafter referred to as "the candidate" or "the candidates",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 2025-2026 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:

• Yvon ENGLERT, pro-recteur à l'Université libre de Bruxelles

Members:

• Henri BOUILLON, professeur émérite à l'Université catholique de Louvain
• Eric BURGRAFF, journaliste - chef du Pôle Société au journal Le Soir
• Julie DAVID, cheffe de département Accueil et éducation du jeune enfant à la Haute École Léonard de Vinci
• Coralie DELHAYE, professeure à l'Université libre de Bruxelles
• Bruno DELVAUX, professeur émérite à l'Université catholique de Louvain
• Marc DEMEUSE, professeur à l'Université de Mons
• Catherine DESCHEPPER, professeure à l’Université libre de Bruxelles – Faculté de Lettres, Traduction et Communication
• Sophie DUFAYS, responsable administrative du secrétariat du CReF
• Noémie DROUGUET, professeure à l'ESA Saint-Luc de Liège
• Marianne FRENAY, professeure à l'Université catholique de Louvain
• Valérie HENRY, professeure à l'Université de Liège et à l'Université de Namur
• Dominique LAFONTAINE, professeure émérite à l'Université de Liège
• Jean-Christophe LELOUP, professeur à l’Université libre de Bruxelles
• Jean-Pierre MAGOTTEAUX, directeur d'école d'enseignement pour adultes retraité et conseiller interne à la FELSI
• Fanny MEUNIER, professeure à l’Université catholique de Louvain - Faculté de Philosophie, Arts et Lettres / Institut Langage et Communication
• Robert MULLER, professeur émérite à l'Université de Mons
• Joseph PIRSON, directeur honoraire de l'ILFOP, enseignant retraité UCL et chercheur associé au GIRSEF UCL
• Jean-François RASKIN, professeur à la Haute École Galilée (IHECS) et l'UIR (Rabat)
• Jean-Michel RIGO, vice-recteur à la recherche de l'Université d'Hasselt
• Marc ROMAINVILLE, professeur émérite à l’Université de Namur
• John VAN TIGGELEN, ancien directeur de l'IHECS et professeur émérite à l'Université catholique de Louvain
• Cédric VANHOOLANDT, chargé de cours à l’Université de Namur – Faculté des Sciences de l’éducation et de la formation
• Pascale VERTONGEN, chargée de cours et conseillère pour la propédeutique auprès de la vice-rectrice à l'enseignement et à la qualité de l’Université libre de Bruxelles

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.