Why Brussels Is Getting a New “Analog” Training Ground for the Digital Age
BRUSSELS – As screens, social media, and artificial intelligence increasingly dominate the lives of children and teens, parents face a growing dilemma: how do we protect our children’s attention spans without completely cutting them off from the modern world?
A recent landmark guide (Growing up in a Connected World: A Family Guide for the Digital Age) released by UNESCO suggests that the solution is not as simple as taking away their devices. The data shows that blanket technology bans do not stop usage – they simply shut down the dialogue. Instead, UNESCO argues that the most effective defence is equipping children with robust critical-thinking skills and media literacy.
In response to this global challenge, Brussels-based Pluartis Academy is launching a brand-new approach to youth education this autumn. By aligning its curriculum with this exact philosophy, the academy is introducing a dual-track framework designed to give young people “dual mastery” over both their online and offline worlds: The Digital Track and The Analog Track.
The Dual-Track Philosophy: Digital Creators vs. Analog Thinkers
Pluartis Academy’s educational ecosystem does not treat technology as an enemy. Instead, it offers two parallel pathways that collaborate to build balanced, independent minds:
- The Digital Track: This pathway focuses on moving young people from passive screen consumers to intentional digital creators, builders, and innovators. Rather than just scrolling, students learn to master digital tools and technology with purpose and agency.
- The Analog Track: Serving as a vital counterweight, this track provides a dedicated offline sanctuary where students can step away from the algorithms. The focus here is on rebuilding attention spans, fostering independent critical thinking, and helping young people develop an authentic voice.
Introducing “The Unplugged Studio”
The flagship programme of the Analog Track is The Unplugged Studio, launching in Brussels in October 2026.
Far from a traditional school class, this program is designed as an interactive, device-free workshop where young minds can reclaim their cognitive independence. Over the course of six weeks, meeting once a week for an immersive, two-hour session in English, students will engage in tactile and offline activities specifically tailored to build and develop foundational cognitive and communication skills.
To ensure high engagement and personalized attention, the Academy is strictly capping group sizes for these in-person sessions.
“True digital safety isn’t about switching off the world,” says the Academy. “It’s about turning on their minds.”
Join the Autumn Term
The Unplugged Studio and the broader Pluartis Academy programmes are designed to inspire tomorrow’s thinkers and creators, helping them become balanced, deeply grounded leaders who can think critically, create brilliantly, and thrive in any environment.
Registration for the 6-week in-person workshops starting in October 2026 is now open. Parents in Brussels can learn more about the curriculum and reserve a spot for their child by exploring the parallel tracks on the Pluartis website.