USI is excited to invite you to our annual Inspiration Day! This year's edition will explore relationships between universities and the city, discussing how collaborations between researchers and city stakeholders can be expanded and sustained to develop innovative, societally relevant outcomes. We look forward to discussing the success factors and obstacles we encounter in Flemish cities and beyond, including perspectives of two of our USI visiting scholars: Jean-Paul Addie, associate professor of urban studies at Georgia State University, and Ross Beveridge, senior lecturer in urban studies at the University of Glasgow.
The public morning session will be followed in the afternoon by parallel brainstorm sessions on two timely and relevant topics: making the urban circular economy a reality and exploring urban health inequalities. The discussions are informal and open, and we look forward to hearing from many different perspectives!
Date: Friday 22 May 2026
Location: Klooster van de Grauwzusters, City Campus University of Antwerp, Lange Sint-Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerp
Programme
Morning session – public session
- 10.00-10.15 Welcome and introduction
- 10.15-10.45 Keynote speech: Rethinking the urban university in the context of global urbanisation
- Jean-Paul Addie, USI visiting scholar, and associate professor of urban studies, Georgia State University
- Jean-Paul Addie, USI visiting scholar, and associate professor of urban studies, Georgia State University
- 10.45-11.00 Questions
- 11:00-12:00 Panel discussion: Expanding and sustaining collaborations between research and the city
- Moderated by Stijn Oosterlynck, full professor in urban sociology, University of Antwerp
- Panelists: Ross Beveridge, USI visiting scholar and senior lecturer in urban studies, University of Glasgow; Ben De Rudder, director of KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute and professor at KU Leuven's Public Governance Institute; Josefien van Olmen, associate research professor in primary and interdisciplinary care, University of Antwerp; TBC
- 12.00-13.30 Networking lunch
Afternoon session – for USI members and colleagues
- 13:30-13:45 Introduction to parallel brainstorm sessions
- 13:45-15:30 Parallel brainstorm sessions:
- Session 1: Making the urban circular economy a reality
- Moderated by Wouter Van Dooren, professor of public governance, University of Antwerp
- Session 2: Exploring urban health inequalities
- Moderated by TBC
- Session 1: Making the urban circular economy a reality
- 15:30-16:00 Wrap up and closing