• Homepage
• Who we are
• Team members
• Education
• Research
• Publications
• Urban Studies Network
• Links
• Members space

Centre for urban research
COSMOPOLIS. City, Culture
& Society

Free University Brussels

Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel
Tel: + 32 (0) 2 629 37 41
Fax: + 32 (0) 2 629 33 78
cosmopolis@vub.ac.be

COSMOPOLIS is related to the department of Geography at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and a member of the UAB Urban Studies Network, an interdisciplinary research and teaching network in urban studies.

Launch ‘Europe for Brussels’ alumni network

After three editions of Brussels for Europe masterclasses, some hundred European civil servants have participated in the course on Brussels and are motivated to continue the adventure. The alumni have started new activities last Thursday, under the name 'Europe for Brussels'.

To sharpen their interest in and their knowledge of Brussels, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Libre de Bruxelles have been organizing masterclasses for European civil servants since the end of 2008. The course comprises about ten lectures, visits and debates spread over three month.

Thanks to the success of the first three editions and on demand of the enthusiastic ex-participants, the alumni network 'Europe for Brussels' has been created. The initiative is supported by the Koning Boudewijnstichting.

Our first 'Europe for Brussels' meeting took place in Recyclart, an artistic and urban laboratory, where artistic director Dirk Seghers showed us round. We were then received by Patrick Bonté in his cultural center 'Les Brigittines'. Alain Deneef and Bernard Boon Falleur gave us lectures on the Citizens Forum of Brussels and the Cultural Plan of Brussels. As usual, we ended the lectures with a lively debate. The evening ended with a drink in the bar of the Recyclart.

There are already some proposals for other activities this spring: an evening about the Belgian EU Presidency 2010 in the town hall of Brussels, a drink after the Zinnekes Parade, a visit to Brussels' universities, an excursion with Roel Jacobs and a BBQ to end the season together. In the future (ex-)participants of the master classes will also organise activities their selves.

The alumni network of the master classes has been set up to keep in touch with each other, to get into contact with Brussels civil society and to continue thinking about the future of Brussels and its role as a Capital of Europe.

You can find more information on the project on www.brusselsforeurope.be

Listen to the interview with Mattias Hallin, participant of the master classes on FM Brussels (18 March): http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~jevdeven/WISSELBOX/100319mattiashallin.mp3