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University of life: Professor Luciano Morganti on academia in Belgium

00:00 16/03/2015

I feel a pang of longing to be a student again as I trek through the Free University of Brussels (VUB) to meet Italian professor Luciano Morganti. But I see that today’s university experience is set firmly in the present as he shows me around his workplace, a modern building on Boulevard de la Plaine that boasts acoustic furniture and adjustable conference room walls. He gives me his take on life in Belgium.

Your work involves different roles, doesn’t it?
Yes, I’m a professor and a researcher at VUB, and I’m also self-employed as a consultant on EU affairs and business development. At the moment the majority of my time is spent at VUB, in the SMIT (Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication) research centre, which is part of iMinds, a joint venture between industry and academia. I also lecture at Vesalius College.

What’s the atmosphere like?
Excellent. The Flemish are hardworking people – you have to keep up with them! Once you get in here, you adapt to their pace. I like that the system is very open: if we need someone and if you have the skills, no matter what nationality you are, you’ll be welcome.

What’s your background?
I’ve always wanted to be an academic. After my bachelor degree, I did Erasmus in Denmark and then a traineeship at the European Commission in 1995. I also have two master’s degrees and in 2004 finished my PhD. As part of my self-employed life with my company, Metis-Brussels, I give intensive summer courses at the College of Europe in Bruges, where I once worked as a teaching assistant. I’ve also worked on a number of international projects. 

What qualities are needed in your job?
As a researcher, you need analytical skills, commitment and the capacity to adapt to different cultures and ideas. You need a certain creativity when dealing with the unseen challenges of an issue. I really love my job – I love teaching and the research side allows me to be in touch with ideas every day, and to work with intelligent and dedicated people.

Are there any bad points?
There’s pressure in some ways – our evaluations depend a lot on the number of publications produced so there is the saying ‘publish or perish’. At the same time, we have to regularly update the courses we teach, so this can be challenging in terms of time.

Has academia changed over the years?
Yes – no longer do you have an isolated professor researching in a lab or library. Now we are more connected to a hub of researchers, writing and working together. Most papers produced here are a collaboration by colleagues.

What do you think of Brussels?
Brussels is the easiest town I know. It’s a good compromise between dimension and livability. You can get around very easily. If I forget something, I can go home and come back, or go quickly into the city. In Paris or Rome this isn’t the case.

Do you miss Italy?
Who doesn’t miss his country? I miss the complicity with the friends I grew up with.  But maybe it’s also nostalgia – for the flavours, the smells, the memories.  

What was different about Brussels in 1995?
Brussels was a different place. The architecture is constantly changing. It’s a permanent building site. You know when you come back from Brussels after three weeks away, and palaces have been destroyed to make way for a new building? Now can you imagine the change after 20 years!

Do you have any tips for new expats?
I have a suggestion – do not stick to your own kind. Brussels is for exploring. Don’t follow the mainstream. Brussels is a place where little is beautiful. Try walking the streets – that’s how I discovered Brussels.  If I heard music behind a closed door, I would knock; if I saw a menu I liked, I’d try it.

What do you think of the Belgian people?
I think it may take longer to get into their souls, but once you get to know them they are really nice people and a lot of fun. There are not such big differences. Everyone likes to laugh, likes a decent conversation. Maybe some prefer wine and others prefer beer but when you get to know people we’re the same. There’s a phrase that says Belgium is the south of the north. It has the administration of the north, which works quite well: the commune, the mutualité. And the charm and the warmth of the south.

What do you think of the education system?
My children go to Collège Saint-Michel, a traditional Belgian school. The education here is one reason we stay. The good thing is there are 10 or 15 nationalities in my children’s classes and they don’t see any differences at all. It seems to be a paradox, as at international schools, children are often broken into groups according to their nationality. 

Where are your favourite places to go?
I like Les Brasseries Georges, and also Le Siphon, which is a brasserie set at the crossing of canals near Damme. I also like walking and biking; I love La Rouge-Cloître, which is the best place to start a hike into the Forêt de Soignes.

Is expat life isolating?
A lot of people do live in a bubble, and that’s their mistake. Join clubs and activities – go there and jump! Meet the local people. Don’t be afraid to ask things. That’s how you get the best out of any foreign country.

Do you have any advice for expats?
Don’t wait for the sunny days like I once did to do the things you love. If you want to go jogging, get the right equipment and go now.

Your big hobby is sailing, isn’t it?
In my first year here I thought it was too cold to do anything, but that was more about my attitude. I realised what I had been missing when I discovered Surfers Paradise near Knokke. It and the Royal Belgian Sailing Club are my two favourite places to go in Belgium. The sea and sailing is my therapy. People think it’s expensive but it doesn’t have to be. You can rent, though when people really like sailing they want to get their own boat. You can get a good second-hand catamaran for €3,000. The easiest thing is to go with friends who have a boat!

This article was first published in The Bulletin Business Guide 2015

 

Written by Karen McHugh