Statuts
STATUTES OF THE HOUSE OF HUMANITIES (MSH) OF THE UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES
Amended statutes of the MSH adopted by the Academic Council of ULB in October 2023.
I. The House
Art. 1. – The Maison des Sciences Humaines (MSH) is a structure for hosting and supporting research in the humanities and social sciences at the Université libre de Bruxelles. Its purpose is to highlight the essential role of these research fields in understanding the present and the past. The MSH hosts interdisciplinary research teams, facilitating their activities so that they can develop their research independently. It acts as a catalyst for creating new interdisciplinary research projects and facilitates their funding. The MSH encourages interactions between researchers and the non-academic world.
To fulfill its missions, the MSH has access to various resources, including premises, administrative and scientific staff, doctoral and postdoctoral mandates, a budget dedicated to hosting visiting professors, and operating costs. In terms of governance, the MSH operates as a structure independent from faculty-level structures.
II. Governing Bodies
Art. 2. – The daily management of the MSH should be as flexible as possible. Decisions are made collegially and, preferably, by consensus. The teams forming the MSH, defined in Part III, are autonomous. To preserve flexibility and autonomy, the MSH is led by a Director and a Vice-Director, members of an integrated or affiliated team, elected every two years by the College. Together, they constitute the MSH Leadership. The Leadership supervises and coordinates the work of those responsible for the secretariat and research logistics. It convenes the College and the Strategic Committee, and represents the MSH to the university authorities.
Art. 3. – The Director is elected by the College from among the integrated or affiliated teams for a two-year term, following a principle of rotation between these teams. If necessary, candidates are selected by a vote within the College. In case of a tie, the Vice-Rector for Research decides. The Vice-Director is proposed by the Director from among the integrated or affiliated teams, and this proposal is confirmed by a College vote, also for a two-year term following the rotation principle. Neither the Director nor the Vice-Director may serve more than two consecutive terms. The Director and Vice-Director cannot come from the same team, nor represent their respective teams within the MSH bodies.
Art. 4. – The College is convened by the Director, or by the Vice-Director in their absence, according to management needs or at the request of a member. Meetings are generally held quarterly. Decisions are made by consensus or, failing that, by vote. In the event of a tie, the Director’s vote prevails. The College is composed of:
the Director of the MSH
the Vice-Director of the MSH
one spokesperson from each integrated team
the spokesperson(s) of the affiliated teams
one representative of the MSH secretariat
one representative of the research logistics staff
Each member has one vote, except the Vice-Director, who votes only in the absence of the Director.
Art. 5. – The College ensures the proper functioning of the MSH. Its responsibilities include ensuring balanced allocation of resources, producing the activity report, overseeing dissemination of research results, maintaining the website, and coordinating practical organization of events under the MSH’s responsibility.
Art. 6. – Integrated teams designate a spokesperson to the College. Affiliated teams designate spokesperson(s) among themselves. These are chosen by consensus or, if necessary, by vote. In case of a tie, the College decides. Affiliated teams are entitled to a number of spokespersons equal to one-third of the total number of affiliated teams, rounded up if necessary.
Art. 7. – The Strategic Committee consists of the MSH Leadership, representatives of the research logistics staff and secretariat, the Vice-Rector for Research (or their representative), the Advisor for Humanities Research to the Rector, and the Deans of all faculties of humanities and social sciences. All members have voting rights, except the representatives of the logistics staff and secretariat. The MSH Leadership may invite Deans from other faculties as needed; these guests sit in an advisory capacity.
Art. 8. – The Strategic Committee advises on how the MSH should fulfill the missions outlined in Art. 1. Every two years, it drafts a statement of intent for all stakeholders involved in the selection of candidate teams for integration or affiliation, including candidate teams, the University Research Department, external expert evaluators, the Humanities and Social Sciences Ranking Commission, the University Research Council, and the Academic Council. This statement outlines MSH’s strategic priorities for the coming years, including its structural capacity to integrate new teams and the disciplines or topics particularly sought after, based on, for example, visibility gaps, opportunities for collaboration, or potential engagement with the non-academic world.
III. Teams
Art. 9. – The MSH hosts integrated teams and affiliated teams.
3.1 Integrated Teams
Art. 10. – Integrated teams are interdisciplinary research groups created with the goal of affiliating with the MSH.
Art. 11. – There are three types of integrated teams: new teams, renewed teams, and confirmed teams.
Art. 12. – New teams are designated for four years by the Academic Council based on the quality of the proposed interdisciplinary research program and its added value for the university, taking into account the statement of intent of the Strategic Committee.
Art. 13. – At the end of their four-year term, new teams may apply for a four-year renewal to attain renewed team status. The Academic Council evaluates the request based on the first four years’ activity report, the proposed program for the next four years, and its added value, considering the Strategic Committee’s statement.
Art. 14. – At the end of a renewed team’s four-year term, it may apply for confirmation. The Academic Council evaluates the request based on the first eight years’ activity report, the proposed program for the future, and its added value.
Art. 15. – The number of integrated teams is limited by MSH resources. In 2023, up to six integrated teams could be hosted. This number may evolve according to funding and Article 22 provisions.
3.2 Affiliated Teams
Art. 16. – Affiliated teams are pre-existing interdisciplinary research teams at the university wishing to participate in MSH activities while retaining their original affiliation (faculty, school, etc.).
Art. 17. – Affiliated teams are designated for four years by the Academic Council based on the interdisciplinarity and/or societal relevance of their research.
Art. 18. – After their mandate ends, affiliated teams may apply for renewal for another four years. The Academic Council evaluates the request based on 1) the added value of affiliation for both the team and the MSH, and 2) the interdisciplinarity and societal relevance of their research. There is no limit on renewals.
Art. 19. – The number of affiliated teams is limited by MSH resources. In 2023, up to six affiliated teams could be hosted. This may evolve according to funding and Article 22.
3.3 Designation of Teams
Art. 20. – For the designations in Arts. 12–14, 17–18, the Academic Council receives the advice of the Research Council, which in turn receives the evaluation of the Humanities and Social Sciences Ranking Commission. The Commission bases its advice on four external experts and the Strategic Committee’s statement of intent. The MSH Leadership may attend the Commission meeting without voting rights.
Art. 21. – Once confirmed, integrated teams submit a simplified four-year renewal report, which the College evaluates.
Art. 22. – Calls for integration, confirmation, and affiliation are issued every two years by the University Research Department, unless the Strategic Committee decides otherwise. The calls are drafted in collaboration with MSH Leadership, taking into account the Strategic Committee’s statement and the MSH’s structural and financial capacity.
IV. Resources
Art. 23. – The MSH has access to resources provided by the university. In 2023, these include premises, administrative and scientific staff, one doctoral and one postdoctoral mandate per year, a budget for visiting professors, and operating costs.
Art. 24. – Premises and staff are primarily intended for 1) installation, operation, and development of the MSH; 2) integrated teams in their first eight years; 3) confirmed integrated teams; 4) affiliated teams participating in MSH activities.
Art. 25. – Doctoral and postdoctoral mandates are allocated by the College, primarily to integrated teams in their first eight years. Allocation aims at fairness: each team receives the same number of mandates over a four-year cycle.
Art. 26. – Integrated teams receive an operating budget determined by the College.
Art. 27. – Hosting capacities for visiting professors are allocated by the College. Integrated teams in their first eight years have, in principle, double the capacity of other teams.
Art. 28. – Daily resource use is decided by the Leadership, which reports to the College.
V. Final Provisions
Art. 29. – The MSH reports on its activities and use of funds to the University Research Council upon request.
Art. 30. – Any amendments to these statutes, including annexes, must be approved by the Academic Council.