About us - 2017
Our vision
AN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY Innovative, intercultural, international. Since its foundation in 1575 Leiden University has played a visible role in scientific research and teaching, and has made a prominent contribution to creating a secure, healthy, sustainable, prosperous and just world. The University strives for excellence in an open and small-scale academic community where teaching takes place in small groups with the focus on the individual. Freedom of spirit and the free development of research are among our core principles, and quality and integrity are important values for our academics. Our innovative teaching is interwoven with our top-quality research. We focus on motivated and talented students. Our University welcomes all those who want to get the best out of themselves and others.
OUR CORE VALUES: • FREEDOM OF SPIRIT, THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION • THE FREE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE • RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS SOCIETY • INTEGRITY IN OUR WORK AND CONDUCT
OUR VISION
• DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS: EVERYONE IS WELCOME
Our teaching
CHALLENGING AND PERSONAL Our arts, humanities, science and health programmes in Leiden and The Hague attract both Dutch and international students, and our teaching is characterised by small-scale classrooms, contact with diverse cultures and innovative teaching methods. We offer students personal supervision and binding study advice in the first year to help them succeed in their studies. In our teaching we offer additional opportunities to talented students. The Honours Academy, for example, is an extra-curricular programme for highly motivated and ambitious school pupils and students: • Pre-University College for high school pupils • Honours College for bachelor’s students • Leiden Leadership Programme for master’s students
BACHELOR’S PROGRAMMES MASTER’S PROGRAMMES
46 78
OUR TEACHING
Our research
CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH Our researchers are motivated and determined in seeking new knowledge within a broad range of scientific fields. They draw their inspiration from scientific and societal challenges that they translate into fundamental research questions. Leiden University offers them the freedom and top-quality facilities they need to carry out their leading-edge research.The University is also a breeding ground for young and talented researchers. The work of our researchers makes the unknown known: sooner or later, our research always has an influence.
OUR RESEARCH
Our researchers OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL
417
Scientists are given the freedom and resources to excel, which is one of the reasons why Leiden University scores highly in international rankings. The University is also successful in securing personal research funding and prizes. Researchers at Leiden University have, for example, won the most (19) Spinoza Awards. Collaboration with national and interÂnational partners is essential for the development of scientific knowledge. Our scientists are respected and reliable authorities in societal and political debates, where their evidence-based views can often be heard.
PHDS: 417 SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS:
5,726
NWO GRANTS (VENI, VICI, VICI): 37 EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL GRANTS (ERC): 9
OUR RESEARCHERS
Our students ACTIVE AND ENGAGED We are an international research university with students from over a hundred different countries. An increasing number of bachelor’s programmes and almost all our master’s programmes are taught in English. Many students spend a period of time abroad studying or doing an internship. We also have 75 student associations and 65 study associations that organise activities for students to relax or to enhance their knowledge outside the lecture hall.
OUR STUDENTS STUDENTS
26,900
OF WHOM:
16,900 MASTER’S 10,000 INTERNATIONAL 3,600 NATIONALITIES 115 BACHELOR’S
Our history
BASTION OF FREEDOM Leiden University was the first university in the Netherlands. William of Orange gave Leiden the Academia Lugduno Batava in 1575 in gratitude, as the story goes, for the inhabitants’ courageous resistance during the Spanish Siege. Our motto is Praesidium Libertatis – Bastion of Freedom. Well-known and clear demonstrations of this commitment to freedom include the protest speeches given in 1940 by Professors Cleveringa, Barge and Van Holk, in which they publicly defended their Jewish colleagues who were under threat of dismissal. To this day, the University still commemorates these brave acts of resistance in the annual Cleveringa Lectures held on or around 26 November at venues both in the Netherlands and abroad. Freedom continues to be what binds all those who are part of the University.
OUR HISTORY Princess Beatrix was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2005 for her dedication to the cause of freedom.
FOUNDED IN 1575 MOTTO
Praesidium Libertatis Bastion of Freedom
Our organisation
COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE The Executive Board is responsible for governing and managing the University. Members of the Board are appointed by the Board of Governors. • Professor Carel Stolker, Rector Magnificus and President • Professor Hester Bijl, Vice-Rector Magnificus • Willem te Beest, M.Sc., Vice-Chairman The Executive Board works in close collaboration with the deans of the seven faculties: • Archaeology • Governance and Global Affairs • Humanities • Law • Medicine/LUMC • Science • Social and Behavioural Sciences Our research is grouped in 29 research institutes, each headed by an Institute Director.
LOCATIONS
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
3 FACULTIES 7 RESEARCH INSTITUTES 29 STAFF 6,500 TURNOVER 588
MILLION EUROS
OUR ORGANISATION
2
Our alumni ENGAGED AMBASSADORS Alumni are our most important ambassadors in society. We strive to strengthen their connection with us, and to build an informed and engaged alumni network. The University organises events catering to the interests expressed by our alumni and use social media to keep them informed and to support their career and personal development. In turn, alumni inform our students about opportunities and possibilities on the job market.
103,000 REGISTERED ALUMNI, OF WHOM 8,700 LIVE ABROAD GRADUATES PER YEAR 3,900 MASTER’S 3,700 BACHELOR’S
OUR ALUMNI
Our partnerships COMBINING FORCES LUMC offers research, education and patient care with a high quality profile and a strong scientific orientation. The University works closely with the Bio Science Park. With 170 businesses and institutions, this is the Netherlands’ largest life sciences knowledge cluster. We have also joined forces with Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam to create multidisciplinary research centres and to offer a number of joint teaching programmes. LeidenGlobal brings together the knowledge of languages and cultures held by the University and by museums and other partners. Leiden University is one of the partners in Medical Delta, the South Holland consortium of knowledge institutions, businesses and government in the field of life sciences and medical technology. We established the LERU, along with 22 other European research universities, and are involved in many other collaborations, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
• LEIDEN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER • LEIDEN BIO SCIENCE PARK • TU DELFT AND ERASMUS UNIVERSITY ROTTERDAM • MEDICAL DELTA • LEAGUE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES (LERU) • LEIDEN UNIVERSITY FUND • LEIDEN MUSEUMS • MUNICIPALITIES OF LEIDEN AND THE HAGUE
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
• LEIDEN GLOBAL
Our impact
INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY All our research sooner or later has an influence on society. An analysis of the economic impact of Leiden University and the 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. Researchers at Leiden University disseminate knowledge, take part in debates, collaborate with the public and business sectors as a service provider, and as an entrepreneurial university we are keen to promote innovation. Our researchers make regular appearances in the media as experts in their field, to explain current developments within society.
Direct and indirect contribution to the economy by Leiden University and LUMC:
26,300 JOBS IN EUROPE 2.5 BILLION EUROS GROSS ADDED VALUE Every euro invested generates 4.71 euros gross added value in Europe
OUR IMPACT
Our strategy FREEDOM TO EXCEL Leiden University is an internationally oriented research university; our research is driven by curiosity and meets the highest international standards. We encourage our students, who come from diverse cultures, to develop their talents to the full and to complete their studies successfully. We are a leading player in innovative teaching and online learning, and are proactive in stimulating knowledge sharing and academic entrepreneurship. Our students and academics study and work in an international environment. Our teaching and research in The Hague play a role in resolving urban problems and issues that are relevant to The Hague as City of Peace, Security and International Law.
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 ENVIRONMENT • EXPAND OUR CAMPUS IN THE HAGUE
OUR STRATEGY
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Produced by: Strategic Communication and Marketing Directorate, Leiden University February 2017