Ku leuven stellenbosch university think tank during the virtual mobility webinar week by Katrien Vanelven

1. KU Leuven – Stellenbosch University
Think Tank
EADTU Virtual Mobility Week 21-23 May 2019

2. Contents
1. KU Leuven – Stellenbosch University Think Tank in a nutshell
2. Format Think Tank
3. Lessons Learnt

3. In a nutshell

4. In a nutshell
• Extra-curricular Honours Programme.
• Predominantly online programme supported by two very short
physical mobility periods
• Each university selects 15 to 20 students in any study field
• Student-driven. Students define content within a given central
theme, and shape their own multidisciplinary research project.
• International, interdisciplinary academic team of coaches
• Regular work sessions,
including video conference
sessions with invited speakers
• Two campus visits

5. Previous editions
2017
Art & Science: An Enduring Relationship
2016
Brave New World? Merging Technology and
Society: Opportunities, Challenges and Threats for
the Quality of Life.
2015
Making the City of the Future. Spatial Planning,
Diversity, Sustainability, System Inputs and
Outputs, and Adaptability
2018
The Voice of the People

6. Current edition

7. Format

8. Objectives
• Students deepen and share knowledge of discipline, and broaden
it by outstepping boundaries own field of study
• Students share insights and perspectives in direct dialogue with
students and experts from various disciplines
• Students are forced to look at own context and points of view in
different way, when confronted with students with different daily
reality and cultural context.
• Students are challenged to think out of the box
• Development of transferable skills
• Gain experience in communicating experiences to broad audience

9. Workload students
• Average of 2-3 hours per week
• Depending on phase

10. Structure
• February to May: Evening work sessions, including invited speakers and
video conference sessions
• Easter Break: Intensive Focus Week on campus 1
• July – August:
• Students organise collaboration autonomously
• Present progress report and comprehensive content statement
• September - November:
• Feedback phase
• Continuous progress reports on projects and preparing Workshop Week.
• Finalising texts and other material
• End of November: Workshop Week with concluding event on campus 2
E.g.: 2015 and 2016: presentation and public debate.
2017: exhibition. 2018: documentary film.

11. Academic coaches
Role:
• Guidance. Being available and supportive.
• Evening work sessions: moderation of discussions
• Supervising content and timeline
• Providing necessary contacts (e.g. ethical committee, experts
in topic, etc.)
• Evaluation of students’ participation

12. Academic coaches
• Team: 4 faculty members at KU Leuven.
2 at Stellenbosch University. Volunteers.
• Workload:
• Evening sessions: 3 hours (including preparation)
• Follow-up: 1 hour per week. Coaching via email.
• Focus Week and Workshop Week: intense coaching

13. Non-academic support staff
Role:
• Communication: preparing call, website, sessions, students,...
• Liaison between both teams.
• Organising selection committee meeting, evening sessions,
campus visits, participation in events,…
• Following up on students’ progress and briefing academic team
• Budget
Team: 1 administrative staff at KU Leuven.
2 at Stellenbosch University.

14. Non-academic support staff
Workload:
• Evening sessions: 4 hours (including preparation)
• Follow-up: 1 hour/week
• Focus Week and Workshop Week: full-time

15. Profile of students
• Master’s student at KU Leuven at start
programme
• Excellent academic record
• Intrigued by theme
• Motivated to engage in 10-month
multidisciplinary research project
• Motivated to invest in intercultural
cooperation
• Demonstrate social commitment and interest in social issues
• Good working knowledge of English and excellent communication skills
• Looking for extra challenge
• Open to self-reflection

16. Profile of students
• Engage themselves to participate in evening sessions, Focus
Week and Workshop Week.
• Make clear effort to contribute to project and collaborate with
fellow students.

17. Application and Selection
• Application
• Mid-October: Call. Deadline: 30
November.
• Application file
• CV
• Motivation letter
• Copy transcript Bachelor’s studies
• If applicable: copy transcript
previously completed Master's degree
• Selection criteria
• Academic record Bachelors/Honours/Masters.
• Motivation letter (affinity with proposed theme)
• Study progress

18. Evening sessions
• Only KU Leuven group / Stellenbosch University group
• Brainstorm session
• Invited speaker with open discussion
• Visits to organisations, events, lectures, etc. related to central
theme
• Evening sessions for all students
• High-quality video conferencing
• Presentations and documents are shared on screen
• Discussions moderated by students. Coaches intervene when
necessary.

19. Focus Week
• Content development with joint lectures, workshops and
discussions,..
• Decisions on substantive focal points and structure of papers
• Consensus on content of sub projects to be developed
• Consensus on format of output to be delivered
• Clarification of South-African and Belgian context
• Community-building and facilitating communication
• Stimulating collaboration and substantive process

20. Focus Week
• 60% work sessions + on-topic activities
• 30% teambuilding and leisure activities
• 10% free time

21. Workshop Week with concluding event
• Content and formal elaboration of concluding presentation of
results
• Formal public presentation: symposium, posters, exhibition,
debate, etc.
• Cultural activities and trips

22. Workshop Week with concluding event
• 55% work sessions
• 35% leisure activities
• 10% free time

23. Dissemination

24. Dissemination

25. Evaluation of students’ participation
• Permanent, continuous evaluation
• Each team of academics evaluates own students
• Show clear effort to contribute to the project and to collaborate
with fellow students at KU Leuven and Stellenbosch University.
• Presence and active participation during evening sessions, Focus
Week and Workshop Week.

26. Recognition of students’ participation
• Certificate signed by both institutions

27. Recognition of students’ participation
• Extra-Curricular I-Portfolio.
Officially KU Leuven Honours Programme

28. Feedback from Participants
“I learned a lot about teamwork across borders – not only
challenging due to geographical distance but also due to
variations in regard of cultural-specific values, working attitudes,
and personalities. One of the most pleasant, yet hardest
teamwork so far – I almost feel like I could handle any kind of
teamwork I will encounter in the future. A nice by-product: I am
now confident that I want to pursue a research career after my
graduation.”
- Charlotte, Think Tank 2018

29. Feedback from Participants
“Also after my graduation my Think Tank experience came in
handy. When I started working, my employer organized
leadership training for the team of young starters. It was
unbelievable how much I could go back to what I experienced
and learned during the Think Tank program. It is now very useful
in the workplace and I often think back to all the challenges we
encountered back then and how we dealt with them.”
- Matthias, Think Tank 2018

30. Feedback from Participants
“The Think Tank is truly an environment to think and grow
without the pressures of having to perform. It is that freedom of
thought and the interactions with so many different students
that provided a space where students were not afraid to say
what they really thought.
The Think Tank is a unique experience as it challenges one in
different ways than the challenges faced in one’s studies or
everyday life. You are sometimes challenged out of your comfort
zone and to find a balance between doing things your way and
allowing other people to take the lead.”
- Think Tank 2017 group

31. Feedback from Participants
“Personally, I learned more than I expected from the whole Think
Tank experience. It was a wonderful opportunity to leave my
comfort zone and challenge the limits of my knowledge and
capabilities. You can build me a time machine and send me back
in time, and I will do the Think Tank over and over again!”
- Nicholas, Think Tank 2017

32. Lessons Learnt

33. Lessons Learnt
• Additional mid-term campus visit
• improved quality of collaboration and results
• reduced academic coaches’ workload
• Clear goals for each phase and adjusted overall timeline
• Coaching: giving students freedom, managing conflicts,
motivating students on permanent basis, way of consulting
other students and team,…
• Consistency team of coaches

34. More information
www.kuleuven.be/english/international/thinktank/index
www0.sun.ac.za/international/current-students/international-
opportunities-for-su-students/think-tank.html