As a spin-off of Ghent University, we guarantee high-quality and scientifically grounded services and working methods.
Our core mission is to translate scientific knowledge into applied, accessible and understandable practices, taking into account the specific needs of employees and those in leadership positions on the work floor.
Our services are grounded in, among other things, Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2017), a robust and scientifically validated theory of motivation whose relevance to the workplace has been demonstrated extensively.
We also continuously translate scientific insights into practical, working instruments.
Cross-pollination as a starting point
Interaction between science and practice
Thanks to our spin-off structure, whereby intellectual property from Ghent University was transferred to us under exclusive licence, we have a strong connection with the academic field. This ensures that our services are always based on the most recent scientific insights and evolve alongside new theoretical and empirical developments in science.
As a spin-off, we are at the source of the most recent scientific research into Self-Determination Theory and its application in various contexts. The founding of Impetus Academy grew out of years of scientific research by Prof. Dr. Nathalie Aelterman, who was instrumental in creating the impetus360 leadership compass.
Where scientific evidence is lacking, we set up our own scientific research or collaborate with research groups from (inter)national knowledge institutions to answer practice-driven questions. This creates an interaction between science and practice: new scientific insights provide oxygen for practice, and — conversely — practice also provides ideas and data for further research.
Scientific valorisation with a social purpose
Our social commitment