Research projects

We collaborate with palliative care specialist nurses to develop escape games that will later be made freely available in the sector. These games offer an innovative way to interact, test problem-solving abilities, and face challenges.                                             

Through the deployment of a high-quality 5G network, the Westhoek becomes a true smart region. This aligns with the objectives of the integrated economic regional vision of the Westhoek, 'The Westhoek Impulse Plan.'                                                                 

Generative AI is currently experiencing a significant surge. AI enthusiasts see endless opportunities, while doomsayers predict the downfall of creative professions and disruption in education. This research focuses on the role of AI applications in the creative sector.          

This research explores two interconnected paths related to Artificial Intelligence (AI): interpreting results to provide better/individual guidance for students and investigating which AI applications could be beneficial for education.                                             

Due to the increasing aging population and the associated societal challenges, focusing on healthy and active aging is gaining importance. Local governments can play a crucial role in this by implementing an age-friendly policy.                                                    

Experiential Learning in and with Nature: Towards Sustainable Implementation in Diverse Contexts                                                                                                                                                                                        

In this project, we are exploring the possibility of developing a virtual movement platform where movements are felt 'real' in real-time. There is a high dropout rate when individuals are asked to follow an exercise program alone or remotely after an initial start with a coach.  

Can AI models engage in realistic conversations with people and perform complex tasks (behaving as a specific persona, such as a client in a psychologist's session)? And how can we combine generative AI tools to create a credible embodied conversational agent?                    

Although nurses constitute the largest group of healthcare professionals involved in providing palliative care (PC), there is still insufficient emphasis on it in basic nursing education. That's why Howest is developing the NursEduPal projects. Nurses are the primary caregivers i