Short bio

I am a Professor in Adult Educational Sciences, where I teach the courses Civil Society and Community Development and three courses on "Research Methodology". My research focuses on 1) Participation and learning in detention, 2) Social gerontology 3) a particular interest in participatory methodologies (peer research, co-construction and action research). I am also the president of Klasbak (the Flemish branch of EPEA)

My Story

Since 2015 I have been chair of Klasbak vzw, an NGO committed to bringing networks together around "Learning in Detention". Klasbak originated in 2012 as an informal network of organisations and individuals involved in prison education. Those involved needed to pool expertise and experiences and disseminate them to the field. Soon, the informal network proved too small for the challenges it faced. After all, the need was not limited to knowledge and expertise sharing. Bigger challenges, such as the creation/enlargement of a support base in society, policy and political attention and the need for research work largely determined the success of the efforts in the field. Klasbak, therefore, decided to transform itself into the non-profit organisation Klasbak. Coinciding with this change of structure, a broadening of content took place. Klasbak expanded its focus to include both formal and informal learning. Consequently, the baseline network for the education of prisoners was replaced by network for education in prison in 2016.

Because Klasbak felt that in recent years it was still too much linked solely to formal education, it readjusted the baseline. Education was too much equated with teaching, so it became learning. That is why Klasbak now chooses to talk about learning in prison.

Society sees people in imprisonment as full citizens and detention as a context in which opportunities are created and seized. Learning occurs in detention, a participatory and digital environment for recovery and reintegration. The detained person is central to this.

Almost every detainee is released one day. Therefore, from day one of detention, a detainee should be given help and opportunities to prepare for a return to society. Learning is an essential part of this. After all, learning during detention provides detainees with tools to grow, strengthen themselves and ultimately contribute to society.

Learning, making plans for the future and realising them start with the dreams and expectations of detainees. From their strengths, learning opportunities and possibilities are sought.

This implies an individual, differentiated and participative approach so detainees can work on their own future based on their personal needs. For Klasbak, the detention environment is also always a learning and digital environment that matches and meets the standards of the outside world as realistically as possible. Participation and the bridge within and outside are central here. Klasbak also aims to encourage the development of 21st-century skills, which make a difference in today's society.

An optimal learning climate needs an optimal living climate. Therefore, the prison's living climate should not only focus on inmates' basic needs. Prison life is organised so inmates can also take up their social roles within the walls. In addition, services from the outside world are accessible to inmates.

Klasbak is a network organisation for those involved in inmate learning. Our network is very diverse and includes education providers, the prison system, policymakers and influencers (Flemish, federal and international).

Learning in prison is our starting point to:

• Connect the network of stakeholders.
• Share expertise with each other.
• To inspire and encourage stakeholders.