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Brussels, EU center

• EU- /NATO- headquarters• World’s largest press centre• Largest diplomats community• First Congress City in Europe

• 1.1 Million inhabitants• 104 different languages• 33% of foreign origin

• More than 90 000 students• 33th Best Student City 2013

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Brussels, traditional knowledge center

1th Solvay conference 1911, changing the world of physics

23 4

51

1. Max Planck2. Ernest Solvay3. Marie Curie4. Henri Poincaré5. Albert Einstein

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VUB, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Sciences & Engineering, Human Sciences, Life Sciences & Medicine • 8 faculties, 2 international campuses in the city• English and Dutch taught programmes• Department of Teacher Education

• Public – private university• Brussels university hospital• €222 Mio operations budget• Largest Dutch employer in Brussels (>6,500 people)

• 14, 200 students• 21% international students

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VUB roots

• 1830: Belgium, an independent Country• 1834: University in Brussels, French spoken (ULB)• 1963: All faculties at ULB offer courses in Dutch• 1970: VUB independence act, full programmes in Dutch• 2011: Foundation of Brussels University Alliance by VUB & ULB• Today: large selection of programmes in English

‘Vrije’ - Free (English) – Frei (German)?

• Research and thought without dogma• Open atmosphere of tolerance and diversity• Active pluralism, respect, open mindedness

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Prestigious colleagues & alumni

• Top scientists and alumni

– 2 Field Medals in mathematics

– 33 reported inventions (2013)– 150 Research groups– 2 200 publications (2013)

• Examples?– Ingrid Daubechies, Mathematician– Karel De Gucht, European commisioner– Pattie Maes, Computer scientist at MIT– Ulla Werbrouck, Judo champion– Axelle Red, singer /Unicef ambassador

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Honorary doctorates

Examples

• Nelson Mandela (Politician)

• J.Cousteau (Oceanographer)

• Kim Clijsters (Tennis player)

• Toots Thielemans (Musician)

• Fatou Bensouda (Chief prosecutor)

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8 Faculties

• Economic & Social Sciences and Solvay Business School• Science & Bio-Engineering Sciences• Physical Education & Physiotherapy• Psychology & Educational Sciences• Arts & Philosophy• Law & Criminology• Medicine & Pharmacy• Engineering Sciences

very

good

good

mediocre bad

very

bad

not releva

nt

33%55%

6% 3% 0% 3%

Course Evaluation Survey 2013

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VUB education

• Programmes

– 108 Dutch taught programmes– 36 English taught Master / Advanced Master programmes– 5 English taught Postgraduate Certificate programmes– PhD-guidance by 3 Doctoral Schools– Double degree Engineering Master programmes

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VUB education

Unique educational concept:– Highly personalised– Open-door policy– Small groups– Hands-on experience– Multidisciplinary– Pioneer

– Creating strong individuals– Commited to sustainable society– World citizens– Independent, with inquiring attitude– High employability

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On 2 international campuses

• Green VUB campuses in city center

• Broad range of on-campus facilities:

– On campus libraries– Language center– Career center – Sports facilities– Medical care– Counselling– Housing support– Restaurants and cafés

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Plus Brussels University Hospital

• 721 beds• 305 875 consultations/yr• 54 201 hospitalisations/yr• 3 450 staff, incl. academics• 10 expert research domains• Pioneer in ‘end of life’ care

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Research excellence

• € 86 million research budget• 33% is non government based funding • 150 research groups, including pioneer photonics lab in Belgium

and key positions at CERN in Switzerland• Research validation activities:

– VUB industrial gateway

– Interuniveristy seed capital (spin-offs)

– VUB science communication platform

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Research excellence

• 2 incubation centers ICAB Brussels and IICB Zellik

• 20 flourishing spin-off companies

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Connected institutes & networks

• VUB institutes

Brussels’ primary platform for debating contemporary China-Asia

Knowledge center for economic diplomacy and international enterpreneurship

Study and research facility in European Studies, on the role of the EU

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Connected institutes & networks

• VUB affiliates & networks

• Connected with 76 universities in 38 countries• Alliance with University Ghent• Brussels University Alliance with ULB• Partnership Northwestern Polytechnical University (China)• University Centre for Development Cooperation (UCOS)• Vesalius College• University Association Brussels (UAB)• Network Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA)• Top Industrial Managers for Europe (T.I.M.E.)• China Scholarship Council (CSC)• 497 LLP agreements with 245 partner universities

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International status

• Best Student Cities 2013: Brussels 33 • Brussels QS University Ranking 2013: 172 • Times Higher Education Ranking: 251–275• Shanghai Jiao Tong Ranking: 301–400 (Top 5%)• Award International Student Satisfaction 2013

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International status

• 14 200 students • 123 nationalities• 79% Belgian• 11% EEA students• 10% non EEA

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International partnering

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Group mobility

Joint programmes – curriculum development

Joint degrees

---------------------------------------------- Joint research

Joint labs

----------------------------------------------

Joint technology transfer

Joint incubators

Joint regional development

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International Relations & Mobility OfficeEmail: International.Relations@vub.ac.beTel: +32 (0)2 614 81 01Website: www.vub.eu