Reworlding Spring school - Re-institutioning

The Reworlding Spring School will take place at UHasselt, at the historic Beguinage in Hasselt (Belgium), from 4 to 8 May 2026. This 5-day intensive programme explores the role of “re-institutioning” in socio-environmental transitions, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and students to engage with new approaches to institutions and governance, for example from more-than-human perspectives.

Through the concept of re-institutioning we will explore how institutions can be rethought and reshaped in current socio-environmental crises. This implies acknowledging and emphasising interrelations between communities and public or private institutions in domains such as farming, water, energy or labour, as well as introducing new forms of both human and more-than-human collaboration within governmental and institutional contexts which foreground inclusivity and diversity. As such, we will explore possibilities for governance that take into account various lifeworlds that often end up being overlooked, both human and more-than-human.

Thematic focus

We will do this by engaging with 3 thematic lenses:

- The power dynamics and roles in institutions (Politics of Institutions): How does engaging with and of different actors (e.g. more-than-human entities or grassroots movements) within transitions shift the politics of institutions?

- Ways in which institutions are experienced and embodied (Embodied Institutions): How does engaging with different actors shift how institutions are embodied and lived?

- Methods for discussing institutions (Institutions in Dialogue): How does engaging with different actors shift ways in which community initiatives enter into dialogue with institutions?

These lenses are organised and further explored around the investigation of existing institutional and grassroots models and practices, as well as prototyping alternative ones. In the light of different threats posed towards institutions, with what tools and strategies can we strengthen institutions, both emerging and already existing? At the same time, in order to take into account the quickly shifting realities of the polycrisis, how might we unfix institutions that are too firmly established? Finally, juxtaposing the notion of re-institutioning with the investigation of more-than-human actors within socio-environmental processes reveals the need for more transversal and collaborative governance models. How might we enable translation between different institutions and actors?

Each of these questions will be explored through lectures, thematic workshops, and interactive sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with these lenses, as well as contribute their own questions and perspectives.

Practical information

• - Duration: 5 days (Monday afternoon – Friday midday)

• - Format: lectures, thematic workshops, collective discussions

• - Detailed programme: published early March 2026

• - Location: UHasselt, Beguinage in Hasselt, Belgium

Who can apply: The call is open to participants with an academic or research interest aligned with the themes of the Spring School. These can be PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers interested in participatory approaches. 

Participation fee
The participation fee for the Reworlding Spring School is 250 EUR. This fee covers access to the full five day programme, including all lectures, workshops, thematic sessions, daily lunches, and one collective dinner. Accommodation and travel costs are not included.

Registration applies to the entire Spring School and participation in all thematic lenses. It is not possible to register for individual days or sessions.

The fee is charged only after confirmation of participation and serves exclusively to cover catering costs. Selection is based on the quality and relevance of the application.

We are committed to keeping the Spring School accessible. A limited number of reduced fees or fee waivers is available for PhD candidates and participants without institutional funding. Requests can be submitted confidentially during the registration process.

Application & selection

Deadline for applications: Monday 16th of February 2026

Applications are limited and need to be submitted via an online form.

Please submit a motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) that includes:

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• • - Which lens or lenses you wish to engage with

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  • - How you plan to interact with the guiding questions and contribute new ones

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  • - (Optional) How your own research or practice relates to the themes of the Spring School

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  • - What kind of format (a collective discussion, a workshop, a presentation…) would you like to engage with during the Spring School?

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> Submit your application here

Selected participants will be notified shortly after the deadline and will receive further instructions on the lenses and questions prior to the Spring School. A detailed program will be published in early March.