Polpo plays a key role in how the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) navigates the Belgian and European political landscape. As one of Belgium’s most innovative universities, VUB strives for world-class education quality and continuously invests in innovation and growth opportunities for all. In this blog, Raf Devos, Public Affairs Director at VUB, shares why political monitoring is essential at both Belgian and European levels and explains how Polpo supports the university in turning complex policy developments into actionable insight.
Political monitoring as a two-way process
For an educational institution like VUB, tracking political developments is essential. Raf Devos explains: “Monitoring political information is part of a reciprocal process. On the one hand, it is important that we actively stay informed about what is happening within European, national, and regional governments in Belgium. On the other hand, we proactively gather information within the university to understand what is relevant to us and what we can contribute to society.”
Thanks to Polpo, VUB can systematically follow relevant dossiers, identify trends, and share policy developments with researchers, policy staff, and university administrators.
What Raf finds particularly interesting about Polpo is the ability to bring all information together in one place. “This allows the university to compare many different themes, stakeholders, and government bodies at a glance.” This creates a more comprehensive view across the entire organisation. Additionally, VUB can use Polpo’s agenda feature to respond quickly to both internal and external educational issues. This ensures Raf’s team is always aware of both Flemish and European political schedules. While Polpo’s sources are publicly available, consolidating all this information in a single central location is still quite unique in Belgium.
Monitoring key policy themes across levels of governance
VUB monitors a wide range of topics, from education, entrepreneurship, and research funding to student mobility and internationalization. While education policy primarily falls under national governments, there are important EU-level programs that the university actively follows through Polpo, such as Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and future funding programs within the Multiannual Financial Framework. These initiatives help VUB respond promptly to new opportunities and developments in European higher education policy.
Developments at other Belgian and European institutions are closely monitored via Polpo, ensuring that political and strategic interests are better aligned. In this way, political monitoring not only contributes to knowledge sharing but also strengthens the university’s advocacy efforts.
Turning political complexity into clarity with Polpo
The Belgian governance context makes political monitoring particularly challenging. VUB is influenced not only by federal and European governments but also by regions and communities. Each policy level has its own logic and priorities, making it complex to follow developments.
VUB’s innovative nature is also reflected in its use of Polpo. The tool’s latest AI features are highly forward-looking and efficiently handle the often-extensive European texts. Polpo’s AI agent extracts the essential information immediately, helping to streamline massive information flows and create clarity. Polpo helps organise this complexity.
“The tool provides overview, consolidates information from different policy levels, and makes it easier to support strategic decision-making. Monitoring becomes a dynamic process where technology, collaboration, and insight come together. This enables VUB to further strengthen its position in the political landscape”