OUR STRATEGY
OUR IMPACT
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
OUR ALUMNI
OUR ORGANISATION
OUR HISTORY
OUR STUDENTS
OUR RESEARCHERS
OUR RESEARCH
OUR TEACHING
OUR VISION
About us - 2015
Our vision
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY Innovative, intercultural and international: Leiden University takes a leading role in academic research and teaching. Since 1575, the University has made a prominent contribution to making the world a safe, healthy, sustainable, prosperous and just place. The University strives for excellence in an open, small-scale and personal academic community where freedom of spirit and independent research are key. Leiden’s academics are driven by the highest ambitions of quality and integrity. Our excellent research is intertwined with our teaching, which focuses on highly motivated and talented students, excellence programmes and successful student performance.
OUR VISION
Our teaching CHALLENGING AND PERSONAL Our comprehensive programmes in Leiden and The Hague attract students from the Netherlands and abroad. Our programmes are typically small-scale; they bring students in contact with different cultures and they employ innovative teaching methods. We aim to ensure successful study performance by providing personal study guidance and binding study advice in the first two years of students’ programmes. We also focus on excellence in our teaching. The Honours Academy offers a range of extra-curricular programmes, including: • Pre-University College for high school students • Honours College for bachelor’s students • Leiden Leadership Programme for master’s students
BACHELOR’S PROGRAMMES MASTER’S PROGRAMMES
46 72
OUR TEACHING
Our research
INTERNATIONAL PROFILE Our researchers look beyond the boundaries of their own discipline and of the University. Leiden University performs well in the annual international research rankings. To strengthen this position, our top-level research is grouped into interdisciplinary research profiles, which address important issues in contemporary society. We and our partners also ensure we invest in the latest equipment for our research.
OUR RESEARCH
Our researchers
GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH Sixteen of our researchers have so far been awarded a Nobel Prize for their ground-breaking research. In the Netherlands, Leiden University has the highest count of Spinoza Prizes (a quarter of the total), the country’s most prestigious research subsidy: these have been awarded to Leiden researchers no fewer than 18 times.
PHD’S PER YEAR INDIVIDUAL NWO GRANTS PER YEAR INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN GRANTS PER YEAR
circa 400 30-40 5-10
OUR RESEARCHERS
Our students
ACTIVE AND ENGAGED We are an international research university and our students come from more than a hundred different countries. An increasing number of our bachelor’s and nearly all our master’s programmes are taught in English, and many of our students spend time abroad during their studies, on either exchange programmes or internships. First-year students can get to know the University and city during the EL CID introduction week. They can join any of Leiden’s 32 student clubs and 62 study associations, all of which offer many options for extra-curricular leisure and studyrelated activities. The cities of Leiden and The Hague are located within easy reach of the coast and at the centre of the conurbation that also includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Our students have every opportunity for sports, culture and relaxation.
24,500
BACHELOR’S STUDENTS
15,800
MASTER’S STUDENTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NATIONALITIES
8,700 2,600 110
OUR STUDENTS
STUDENTS
Our history A BASTION OF FREEDOM Leiden University was the first university in the Netherlands. In 1575, Willem of Orange gave Leiden the Academia Lugduno Batava in gratitude, so the story goes, for the city’s courageous resistance during the Spanish Siege. Our motto is Praesidium Libertatis – Bastion of Freedom. A clear demonstration of the fight for freedom of speech was the protest speech given by Professor Cleveringa in 1940, in which he publicly defended his Jewish colleagues, who were under threat of dismissal. Leiden University still commemorates this brave act of resistance in its annual Cleveringa Lecture and in meetings all around the world. To this day, freedom is what connects us. It is also the motto of our th anniversary, to be celebrated in . The core values that we promote are: • Freedom of spirit, thought and expression • Independent development of knowledge • Societal responsibility • Integrity • Diversity
FOUNDED IN
1575
MOTTO
Praesidium Libertatis Bastion of Freedom Princess Beatrix was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2005 for her dedication to the cause of freedom.
OUR HISTORY
Our organisation COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE The Executive Board is responsible for governing and managing the University. Its members, appointed by the Board of Governors, are: • Professor Carel Stolker, Rector Magnificus and President • Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Rector Magnificus • Willem te Beest, M.Sc., Vice-Chairman The Executive Board works in close consultation with the deans of the seven faculties: • Archaeology • Campus The Hague • Humanities • Law • Medicine/LUMC • Science • Social and Behavioural Sciences Our research is grouped in 27 research institutes, each headed by an Institute Director.
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FACULTIES RESEARCH INSTITUTES STAFF TURNOVER
2 3 7 27 4,200 528 million euros
OUR ORGANISATION
LOCATIONS
Our alumni
AMBASSADORS AND ENGAGED PARTNERS Our alumni are our most important ambassadors in society. We strive to maintain and strengthen their connection with us, and to build an informed and engaged alumni network. We communicate regularly with alumni via the magazine Leidraad and the digital newsletter. We also organise alumni events and use social media to keep them informed and facilitate their career and personal development.
98,000 ALUMNI, OF WHOM 7,000 LIVE ABROAD GRADUATES PER YEAR 3,000 BACHELOR’S 2,800 MASTER’S Graduates of Leiden University College The Hague celebrate at their graduation ceremony.
OUR ALUMNI
Our partnerships
JOINING FORCES Medical and biomedical teaching and research take place at our Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The University works together with the 85 specialised businesses in the Leiden Bio Science Park, the largest knowledge cluster in the life sciences in the Netherlands. We have joined forces with Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam to create eight multidisciplinary research centres and to offer a number of joint teaching programmes. Leiden University is also a partner in Medical Delta, a partnership between higher education, business and government in the life sciences and medical technology. We are a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), together with 20 other European research universities, and have many partnerships, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
• LEIDEN GLOBAL • DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ERASMUS UNIVERSITY ROTTERDAM • MEDICAL DELTA • LEAGUE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITITIES (LERU)
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
• LEIDEN BIO SCIENCE PARK
Our impact
Direct and indirect contribution by Leiden University and LUMC to the economy:
NUMBER OF JOBS GROSS ADDED VALUE
40,000 3 billion euros
OUR IMPACT INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY Sooner or later, all our research has an inuence on society, and analysis of the economic impact of the University and LUMC has shown that every euro we invest gives a fourfold return. The Leiden region has the most favourable business climate of all the economic regions in the Netherlands. Our knowledge development and spin-offs are important factors in this success. Many examples of the societal relevance of our research can be seen across all disciplines. Our academics make regular media appearances, providing expert commentary on current developments in society.
Our strategy
Strategy 2015-2020 • AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EXCELLENT RESEARCH • ACTIVATE TALENT • INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING • INCREASE IMPACT AND INNOVATION • RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN AN INTERNATIONAL SETTING • EXPAND OUR CAMPUS THE HAGUE
Leiden University is an internationally oriented research university. Our curiosity-driven research meets the highest international standards. We stimulate our students from diverse cultures to develop their talents and to complete their studies within the time set. The University leads the way in educational innovation and online higher education, and encourages knowledge-sharing and academic entrepreneurship. We give our academics and students the opportunity to work and study in an international environment. Expanding Campus The Hague and thus augmenting our teaching, research and innovation there, will generate inter-disciplinary solutions to contemporary issues at the interface between politics, governance and international law.
OUR STRATEGY
FREEDOM TO EXCEL
More information: www.leiden.edu Subscribe to our newsletter: www.leiden.edu/newsletter
Twitter.com/UniLeidennews Facebook.com/UniversiteitLeiden Youtube.com/UniversiteitLeiden Produced by: Strategic Communication and Marketing Directorate, Leiden University
February 2015
440-year anniversary In 2015 Leiden University will celebrate its 440th anniversary. www.leiden.edu/anniversary