Charles Ullens Price

Research has a key role to play in informing the Belgian policy makers in the development of effective and coherent policies to address the challenges our country faces in the field of migration and integration. That is why Charles Ullens Fund - managed by the King Baudouin Foundation - launched a Prize to annually award the work of six young persons making a useful contribution to policy-making on these issues.

The Charles Ullens annually award six winners - three from the French Community and three from the Flemish Community - divided into the following categories:
• Two doctoral theses - Price: 2,500 euros;
• Two dissertation studies (master grade) - Price: 500 euros;
• Two written contributions from civil society - Price: 1000 euros.

Edition 2011-2012

On 23 October 2012, the six awarded winners of the Charles Ullens Price were interviewed to discuss the key conclusions from their research. Based on their work, various trans- and interdisciplinary issues were discussed with the public, including:

• The impact of school segregation on the school performance, the well-being and inter-ethnic relations of pupils in primary education. Orhan Agirdag (Universiteit Gent) answered many questions inter alia pn how to promote an education benefiting from diversity and fostering social cohesion.
• The labour immigration in the European Union under the Treaty of Amsterdam. Sonia Gsir (University of Liège) commented on the need to develop policies taking into account mid and long-term perspectives and immigration as well as emigration, and being careful not to exclude certain categories based on their origin or qualification.
• The integration policies implemented by Belgian federated entities (1980-2006). Ilke Adam (Université Libre de Bruxelles) referred to multilevel governance and pleaded for more coherence and coordination in the field of integration (e.g. integration trajectories)
• The possible relationship between return migration of highly skilled Moroccan migrants and development. Christina Vogt (KULeuven) mentioned the various stages and elements which need to be taken into account to ensure a sustainable return en effective impact on development in the country of origin.
• The role of Muslim religious practices on the workplace. Stéphane Jonlet (University of Liège) highlighted the need to develop guidelines and disseminate best practices to improve diversity in the workplace.
• The care of elderly persons of foreign origin. Saloua Berdai (Integratiecentrum D8 - Antwerp Borgerhout) explained why such care is inaccessible to categories of elderly immigrants and pleaded for interculturalization in this field.

To promote the work of the six young winners and to build bridges between the academic world and the policymakers, the King Baudouin Foundation invited six experts and commentators to draft policy papers on the basis of the work awarded. Policy papers are only available in French or in Dutch.

Edition 2012-2013

The call for the second edition of the Charles Ullens Price runs until 8 November 2012.

For more information on this call for proposal, including selection criteria and possible application, please visit the website of the King Baudouin Foundation.