VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL OPEN-MINDED UNIVERSITY AT THE HEART OF EUROPE
“Thinking must never submit itself, neither to a dogma, nor to a party, nor to a passion, nor to an interest, nor to a preconceived idea, nor to anything whatsoever, except to the facts themselves, because for it to submit to anything else would be the end of its existence.” Henri Poincaré, 1909
TABLE OF CONTENTS Do you know VUB?...........................................................................................................4 Facts & figures....................................................................................................................5 More than 180 years of history.. ............................................................................. 6 Brussels, beating heart of Europe.. ....................................................................... 8 Campuses.............................................................................................................................. ? Students & alumni............................................................................................................ ? International & exchange students...................................................................... ? Inclusive university. . ......................................................................................................... ? More than education...................................................................................................... ? Top Research @VUB...................................................................................................... ? UZ Brussel research. . ...................................................................................................... ? Network.................................................................................................................................... ? VUB Foundation................................................................................................................. ? #WeAreVUB........................................................................................................................... ?
DO YOU KNOW VUB? VUB, based in the heart of Europe The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is an internationally-oriented university in Brussels, the heart of Europe. Through tailor-made high quality research and education, VUB wants to contribute in an active and committed way to a better society for tomorrow. That is our mission.
Free inquiry and encouraging critical thinking VUB is the only Flemish university that has the principles of ‘Free Inquiry’ written into its articles of association. These principles are based on the writings of French mathematician and natural philosopher Henri Poincaré (1854-1912): ‘Thinking must never submit itself’. It is still our basic philosophy today.
FOUNDATION
110,000,000 € 230,000,000
€
VUB
RESEARCH BUDGET
1,677
TURNOVER PhDs
30 BACHELORS IN 3 DOCTORAL SCHOOLS 75 MASTERS 21 ADVANCED MASTERS 8 FACULTIES 21 POSTGRADUATES ULB
1834
1969-1970
16,094 INSCRIPTIONS OF WHICH 21.5% INTERNATIONAL SPREAD ACROSS 4 CAMPUSES
BRUSSELS HUMANITIES, SCIENCES & ENGINEERING CAMPUS
128
NATIONALITIES
3,282 PERSONNEL
BRUSSELS HEALTH CAMPUS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BRUSSELS
BRUSSELS TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS BRUSSELS PHOTONICS CAMPUS
>50,000 ALUMNI
360,765 C O N S U L TAT I O N S 3,671 PERSONNEL 721 30,262 BEDS HOSPITALISATIONS
19,000
UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION BRUSSELS STUDENTS (
VUB + Erasmushogeschool Brussel
)
5
MORE THAN 180 YEARS OF HISTORY How it all started VUB originated from the French-speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), which was founded in 1834 by a Brussels lawyer with Flemish roots, Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen. It was his intention to create a university independent from church and state with academic freedom at its core.
All ULB faculties offer courses in Dutch
° Belgium
1830
1963 ° ULB, University in Brussels, French spoken
2011 1970
1834
6
° Brussels University Alliance (VUB – ULB)
NL
° VUB independent, with full programmes in Dutch
Science and Brussels The Solvay Conferences 1911 – 2014
Ernest Solvay (16 April 1838 – 26 May 1922)
The International Solvay Institutes for Physics and Chemistry, located in
Ernest Solvay was a Belgian chemist, industrialist and philanthropist,
Brussels, were founded by the Belgian industrialist Ernest Solvay in 1912,
who after his successful establishment of the company Solvay & Cie,
following the historic 1911 Conseil Solvay, considered to be a turning
used his considerable wealth to set up the Institute for Sociology at
point in the world of Physics. The 1911 conference was attended by
the ULB in 1894, as well as the International Institutes for Physics and
among others Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Niels Bohr, Marie Curie, and
Chemistry. In 1903 he set up the Solvay Business School, which today
Henri Poincaré.
still forms part of the ULB and VUB.
ENG
1911
2017
Large selection of programmes in English
2014 The 2014 conference featured among others Nobel prize winner F. Englert 7
BRUSSELS, BEATING HEART OF EUROPE
• 1 million inhabitants • 33% of foreign origin • 104 languages
World’s largest press centre
8
• 4th business city in Europe • 1,700 international institution headquarters
• International decisionmaking centre • EU & NATO headquarters • 1st congres city in Europe • Largest diplomat community
FROM BRUSSELS TO London
Paris
2 hours 1 hour 20 min.
Frankfurt
3 hours
Amsterdam
2 hours
Brussels BELGIUM
ETTERBEEK çè ZAVENTEM AIRPORT 25 minutes
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CAMPUSES 169,209m2 surface
(Etterbeek and Jette) or more than 26 football fields
VUB 2020 FUTURE
Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus
•
33,100m2 new
•
VUB-ULB ICT S
650
Main campus Etterbeek (Elsene)
Brussels Health Campus Jette new auditoria & classrooms •
Learning & Inn
International S 150 extra stu •
Brussels Technology Campus Anderlecht
Brussels Photonics Campus Gooik
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study & recre
Usquare
E INVESTMENTS IN ETTERBEEK
will mean a new university neighbourhood on the site of the former barracks of the
XY building
0
VUB and ULB are working with the Brussels Capital Region on the Usquare project. It gendarmerie to turn them into a new, lively neighbourhood with room for university
student rooms
services as well as housing for families and students. It will have an interdisciplinary research centre that creates synergies between incubator, StartLab and FabLab. The
Science & Technology Park
event hall
art & expo room
KultuurKaffee
novation Centre
Student Site (Usquare)
udent rooms
eation facilities
project is also being given an international dimension, with housing for students and researchers and with international reception spaces.
Learning and Innovation Centre On the boundary between the VUB and ULB campuses in Brussels, a new building will emerge in a few years’ time. The new study centre will offer new learning environments to students from both VUB and ULB: silent rooms for individual study, rooms for course work in groups, experience centres for activities for smaller groups and active learning rooms. Moreover, the ties with external partners from the corporate world will be tightened through project and exposition spaces.
11
STUDENTS 15,865
students
+6.3%
*
10% FIRST-TIME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
9,687
students
1,602
2008 2009
2009 2010
2010 2011
2011 2012
2012 2013
*
2013 2014
2014 2015
2015 2016
2016 2017
152 STUDY PROGRAMMES
53 ENGLISH, 99 DUTCH STUDENTS IN STUDY PROGRAMMES Bachelors
6,762
ALUMNI
Masters
5,550
+50,000
Advanced Masters PhD Postgraduates 54% Women
46% Men
Teacher Training Other (credit students, Erasmus students ...) TOTAL
12
713 1,448 95 112 1,185 15,865
ALUMNI
20.72%
not satisfied
96.15%
paid job within a year
79.28 %
satisfied
74%
<3 months
WHERE THEY WORK 37.46%
3.52%
non-profit
3.52%
ICT
3.80%
consulting
3.80%
finances & insurances
immediately
Quick @work
5.42%
research & development
5.51%
legal sector
9.70%
education & training
9.89%
medical, social & health sector
12.28%
public services & government
13.97%
university & academy
20.72%
Happy @work
other
13
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
THE NETHERLANDS: 548
SPAIN: 123
128 NATIONALITIES
21.5%
3,411 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
1 4
52%
EEA countries: 1,744 Non-EEA
(16%)
(3.6%)
countries: 1,637
2 3
48%
ITALY: 131
55%
GERMANY: 223 (6.5%)
5
TOP 5 EEA COUNTRIES
ROMANIA: 86
(3.8%)
(2.5%)
45%
TURKEY: 82 (2.4%)
IRAN: 57
2 4 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN STUDY PROGRAMMES 24.4%
INDIA: 61
Masters: 1,306
38.3%
(1.8%)
PhD: 649 Other: 466
*
14
EEA: European Economic Area
1 5
4.7%
VIETNAM: 55
19%
(1.6%)
13.7%
CHINA: 261 (7.6%)
3
Bachelors: 831 Advanced Masters: 159
(1.7%)
TOP 5 NON-EEA COUNTRIES
EXCHANGE STUDENTS
5 1 1
3
2
3
4 2
2016 - 2017 INCOMING STUDENTS 245 students 37 countries 28 EEA - 9 NON-EEA
TOP 5 INCOMING COUNTRIES 1 SPAIN 2 ITALY 3 GERMANY 4 TURKEY 5 CHINA
*
2016 - 2017 OUTGOING STUDENTS 273 students
40.4% 59.6%
31 countries
37.2% 62.8%
7 EEA - 24 NON-EEA
4 5
TOP 5 OUTGOING COUNTRIES 1 SPAIN 2 GERMANY 3 FRANCE 4 ITALY 5 CANADA
EEA: European Economic Area
15
INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY For Children Arabic Language Classes Project Culture starts with your own identity VUB started a project on Arabic language courses for 6-15 year
For Scholars Academic Freedom Worldwide VUB participates in the Scholars at Risk Network. Scholars at Risk works to protect threatened scholars and promote academic freedom around the world.
old children in Brussels. It is the first Arabic language course in Belgium with academic supervision. The curriculum is checked by specialists and PhD experts in Arabic language. Each lesson contains extra learning activities next to the regular teaching, such as games, Arabic songs etc. Students receive a certificate of attendance by VUB. The children are taught by highly educated
For Students Student Refugee Programme and InCAMPUS
refugee teachers who fled their homeland due to war. When people get opportunities, we
The VUB launched its Student Refugee Programme in 2015-2016.
strengthen society.
The intake of refugee students has increased since then, with a
The more languages
majority coming from Syria, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
we speak, the better
In 2018, the VUB added a specific track to the student refugee
we understand one
programme, called InCAMPUS for those refugees who need more
another.
help in terms of language, study guidance and psychological support.
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Honorary doctorate for Dr. Emma Bonino and the people of Lampedusa Lampedusa is a small island in Italy that unwittingly found itself on the frontline of the recent refugee crisis. With the honorary degree, VUB wants to honour Emma Bonino and the people of Lampedusa for their efforts in defending and safeguarding the rights of refugees and migrants who have arrived in Europe. Bonino spoke about the migration crisis and the role European lawmakers and higher education institutions like the VUB can play in helping to resolve this issue.
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MORE THAN EDUCATION VUB education: excellent student/staff ratio: 5 Pillars – students 1 Turned into reasonable steadfast individuals
1
2 Committed to a sustainable humanist society
2
3 Turned into world citizens
3
4 Develop independent & inquiring attitudes
4
5 Prepared for their professional lives
5 8 Faculties • Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School • Law and Criminology • Psychology and Educational Sciences • Arts and Philosophy • Sciences and Bio-engineering Sciences • Medicine and Pharmacy • Engineering • Physical Education and Physiotherapy
87% of students rate professors as good or very good
very good: 31% 2015 - 2016
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good: 56%
mediocre: 7%
poor: 3%
Students appreciate education at VUB. This yearly anonymous feedback is based on: • lectures • study material • education method • examination
• Students participate in Rector elections • 10% students represented in all decision-making
53 fully English-taught programmes 2 English-taught Bachelors 33 English-taught Master & Advanced Master programmes 8 English-taught Postgraduate Certificate programmes 3 Multidisciplinary Doctoral Schools 7 Double degree Master programmes
Fields of English-taught programmes Bachelor in • Social Sciences (interdisciplinary: Political Sciences, Sociology, Communication Studies) • Business Economics Master degree & Advanced Master • Humanities: Business, Communication, Law, Politics & Economics, Education, Linguistics, European Studies • Engineering & Exact Sciences • Life Sciences, Biology PhD degree • Offered in more than 30 disciplines Postgraduates Certificate • Medicine • Art, Education, Business, China studies • Economic Diplomacy
19
TOP RESEARCH @VUB VUB is #48 in top 100 most innovative European Universities
9
20
RESEARCH CLUSTERS
city dynamics
societal challenges
brain & behaviour
the circle of life
smart engineering
smallest particles
fighting diseases
environmental issues
big data
ALMOST 110 MILLION FOR RESEARCH 166 166 Research groups
21% revenue from cooperation with private sector
15% own research budget
19% 45%
budget Flemish government for fundamental research
project financing by governments
21
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (UZ BRUSSEL) RESEARCH
10 RESEARCH CLUSTERS • Development, Ageing and Pathology • Diabetes Research Centre • Liver, Cell Biology and Toxicology • Medical Imaging and Physical Sciences • Neurosciences • Oncology Research Centre • Pharmaceutical research and data technology • Public Health • Reproduction, genetics and regenerative medicine • Research Centre for Cardiovascular diseases
721 publications per year UZ Brussel & Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy
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CANCER 1st Radixact treatment worldwide @UZ Brussel & Innovative immunotherapy
DIABETES Sophisticated tools & integrated care of type 1 diabetes
FERTILITY Oncofertility assures fertility of cancer patient after treatment Pioneer in IVF
LYMPH EDEMA
HEART Innovative CT-scan can prevent invasive surgery in cathlab
Lymph clinic treats forgotten patients after cancer treatment
23
NETWORK 497 agreements with 245 partner universities for student exchange and other scholarship programmes.
European university Associaton (EUA)
Grupo Coimbra Brasil
VUB China Network
Vesalius College
Brussels University Alliance (BUA)
Organization of American States (OAS) University Centre for Development Cooperation (UCOS) University Association Brussels (UAB)
Alliance with Ghent University Network Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA)
24
Top Industrial Managers for Europe (T.I.M.E.)
Brussels Academy for China and European Studies (BACES)
VUB FOUNDATION What you give to the VUB, you get back. VUB receives financial support from the government but it is not
legal advisor can assist you in making the best choices in terms of
sufficient to optimise the work on core tasks or initiate innovative
your financial assets.
projects. This is why we set up the VUB Foundation. Alternatively,
For more information, please contact us at any time for a non-
they can establish a registered fund in connection to such a project.
binding conversation with
The VUB Foundation can help you in this regard. If you have a
Isabelle Marneffe,
certain faculty, specific research group or project in mind you would
Director of the VUB Foundation.
like to support, then we will help you and in consultation with your
Email: isabelle.marneffe@vub.be or call +32 2 629 15 42
With weKONEKT.brussels, VUB and ULB launched a new concept: our students pouring into Brussels for their classes.
#WeAreVUB VUB means education, research and social commitment. Its values
with our association partners to ensure our work, both in education
are based on radical humanism, which translates into the principles
and research, is internationally well-founded and improves our
of freedom, equality, and solidarity.
societal commitment.
Freedom for us means free research: the rejection of every purely authoritative argument and the guarantee of freedom of research.
VUB sits in the heart of Brussels, which itself is the capital of
Equality means fairness and recognition of diversity.
Belgium and Europe. One third of its population is of foreign origin,
Societal commitment represents our commitment to the major
giving the city an amazing variety of cultures and nationalities.
societal challenges and our concern for a sustainable society. Have
It houses the headquarters of many organisations and
respect for our fellow human beings and the world. This is VUB.
multinationals, the EU institutions, NATO, and a wide array of NGOs. In terms of quality of living, Brussels ranks 27th (out of 231) in the
As a university we continuously strive towards proactively
mercer poll of 2017. Belgium is ranked 20th in the World Economic
improving and modernising our education offering. We
Forumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global Competitivenessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Index 2017-2018. In terms of
optimise and innovate our research, ensuring it is international,
higher education and training, it ranks 11th in the world, and 5th
interdisciplinary and carried out within an environment of
for healthcare and primary education. It is by its very nature a truly
excellence. We aim to be the point of reference for work and study,
international city, where students from across the world can feel at
by providing continued support and training to our students and
home, learn from each other, and explore new worlds.
staff. We want to further our connectedness to the world and
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to the city we are based in, to forge national and international
VUB, like the city it calls home, is an international university, with
partnerships, and encourage social entrepreneurship, develop
increasing international students and staff on its campuses. As a
projects with the city of Brussels, with our alumni in Belgium but
university, it embraces all that the city stands for: welcoming, open,
also on the international level.
innovative, diverse and interesting.
We must continue to improve and further develop our relationships
Welcome to VUB. Welcome to Brussels!
abroad through development cooperation, within our networks, and
Caroline Pauwels, rector VUB
Responsible publisher Prof. Dr. Caroline Pauwels Rector Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Realisation Vrije Universiteit Brussel Dienst Marketing & Communicatie Pleinlaan 9 I 1050 Brussel I Belgium +32 (0) 629 12 98 I marcom@vub.be
Illustrations Greet De Gendt, Deborah Puylaert, Frankie Verdickt, Marcom, IRMO, Universiteitsarchief VUB Layout Gekko Vrije Universiteit Brussel Pleinlaan 2 I 1050 Brussel I Belgium +32 (0) 629 21 11 www.vub.be/en I info@vub.be International Relations Office Visitors: Pleinlaan 5 I 1050 Brussel I Belgium + 32 (0) 614 81 01 international.relations@vub.be facebook.com/VUBrussel facebook.com/VUBInternationalRelations twitter.com/vubrussel | instagram.com/vubrussel vubtoday.be
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2018
vub.be/en