The Future Proef Award is a prize of excellence that encourages young people to imagine solutions for tomorrow. It recognizes final-year projects that integrate social, environmental, and economic dimensions into their thinking.
In practice…
The Future Proef Award recognizes final-year projects by bachelor’s and master’s students (both long and short programmes) from a Flemish higher education institution, addressing sustainable development challenges through a systemic, 360° approach. Both individual theses and group projects are eligible:
- Annual prize of €3,000 for first place
Annual prizes of €500 for second and third place
Why this programme?
The Future Proef Award aims to:
- Stimulate societal debate on sustainable development
- Develop skills related to sustainable development
- Help inspire the broader academic community over time
Future Proef Award : what is it?
The steps
1. Call for applications
- Calls are held annually for bachelor’s and master’s theses (both long and short programmes) and are published on the Departement Omgeving website.
- Opens in May
- Closes in October
2. Selection of nominees and winners
Independent juries, made up of experts from a range of backgrounds, review the applications and meet to select one winner and up to two nominees per award.
3. Future Proef Award ceremony
The award ceremony is hosted each year (in spring) by a different university.
Current edition
Join us on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at KU Leuven for the 3rd edition of the Future Proef Award.
Support & Partners
The Future Proef Award is an initiative of the Department Omgeving (Flemish Public Service, Department of Environment), in partnership with the Foundation for Future Generations and Flemish higher education institutions.
