The boards of governors of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University have approved a framework agreement that allows for a structural and far-reaching cooperation between both institutions. An Alliance research group brings together at least 6 researchers from UGent and from VUB (and possibly also from their association partners). These researchers are active around a common research line.

The boards of governors of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University have approved a framework agreement that allows for a structural and far-reaching cooperation between both institutions. An Alliance research group brings together at least 6 researchers from UGent and from VUB (and possibly also from their association partners). These researchers are active around a common research line.

Ethics, Culture and Society is a research alliance group between the VUB and Ghent University since 2017. (2017-2020/2020-2023/2023-2026). It is supported by The Special Research Fund at UGent and VUB.

ECSO brings together members of the RHEA Expertise Centre in Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality at VUB Brussels, and CRCG, Centre for Research on Culture and Gender at UGent.

Members collaborate regularly in joint research projects, publications and events. Various members also co-operate closely in education, especially in the inter university Master in Gender and Diversity. Members: VUB: Gily Coene (director), Dirk Laufaut, Iman Lechkar, Memory Mphaphuli, Hannelore Van Bavel. UGent: Chia Longman (co-director), Katrien De Graeve, Michiel De Proost, An Van Raemdonck, Giulia Nazarro.

Research foci (2023-2026): 1. Ethics, religion, anthropology 2. Anthropology of moralities: intimacy and sexuality 3. Feminist bio-ethics: care and reproduction

Recent events: https://www.crcg.ugent.be/events/symposium-islamic-ethics-living-in-ethnic-and-cultural-diversity/

Contact: Gily Coene Chia Longman

Past collaborations and achievements (selection) include:

Harmful Cultural Practices: A critical analysis of cross-cultural discourses and moral understandings of gender, sexuality and embodiment (FWO, 2014-2019): L. Rahbari, S. Dierickx (supervised by G. Coene, C. Longman)

Sexual Rights Activism in Mozambique: A qualitative case study of civil society organizations and experiences of lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, Joint-PhD in the framework of VLIR-UOS co-operation with Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique (2009-2018), M. Chipenembe (supervised by G. Coene, C. Longman)

Global families, global inequalities. The politics of child relinquishment, search and reunion in transnational adoption, FWO PhD project (2017-2023), Atamhi Bex (supervised by K. De Graeve & S. Withaeck).

International Conference ‘Sexual and Gendered Moralities’ under the auspices of the International Association for the study of Religion and Gender (IARG) UGent, 26-28 November 2018. (Special Issue: “Sexual and Gendered Moralities”. Gender and Religion, 12, 2, 2022).