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Vrije Universiteit Brussel Overview

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a Dutch-speaking university located in Brussels, Belgium. It was formed in 1970 from the splitting of the Free University of Brussels, which was founded in 1834 and aimed to be independent from state and church influence. The VUB has four campuses across Brussels and provides education to around 9,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students across eight faculties covering various fields of study. It is a research-oriented university that is ranked among the top 200 universities worldwide.

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35 views4 pages

Vrije Universiteit Brussel Overview

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a Dutch-speaking university located in Brussels, Belgium. It was formed in 1970 from the splitting of the Free University of Brussels, which was founded in 1834 and aimed to be independent from state and church influence. The VUB has four campuses across Brussels and provides education to around 9,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students across eight faculties covering various fields of study. It is a research-oriented university that is ranked among the top 200 universities worldwide.

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Olegsey
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel

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For the 1834-1969 university, see Free University of Brussels (1834–1969). For the current
French-speaking university, see Université libre de Bruxelles.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Latin: Universitas Bruxellensis

Motto Scientia vincere tenebras (Latin)

Motto in English Conquering darkness by science

Type Independent/Partly state funded

Established 1834 (Free University of Brussels)[1]

1970 (VUB)[2][3]

President Eddy Van Gelder[4]

Rector Caroline Pauwels[5]

Administrative staff 3,257 (2017)

Students 19,245 (2020)[6]

Address Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels

, 
Brussels

, 

Belgium

Campus Ixelles, Jette, Anderlecht and Gooik

orange, white, blue    


Colours

Affiliations University Association Brussels, UNICA, T.I.M.E.

Website [Link]/en

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)  listen (help·info) (English: Free University of


Brussels-VUB) is a Dutch- and English-speaking research university located
in Brussels, Belgium.[7] It has four campuses: Brussels Humanities, Science and
Engineering Campus (in Ixelles), Brussels Health Campus (in Jette), Brussels
Technology Campus (in Anderlecht) and Brussels Photonics Campus (in Gooik).[8]
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel was formed by the splitting in 1970 of the Free University
of Brussels, which was founded in 1834 by the Flemish-Brussels lawyer Pierre-
Théodore Verhaegen. He wanted to establish a university independent from state and
church, where academic freedom would be prevalent.[9] This is today still reflected in the
university's motto Scientia vincere tenebras, or Conquering darkness by science, and in
its more recent slogan Redelijk eigenzinnig (in Dutch), or Reasonably opinionated.
Accordingly, the university is pluralistic – it is open to all students on the basis of
equality regardless of their ideological, political, cultural or social background – and it is
managed using democratic structures, which means that all members – from students
to faculty – participate in the decision-making processes. [10]
The university is organised into 8 faculties that accomplish the three central missions of
the university: education, research, and service to the community. The faculties cover a
broad range of fields of knowledge including the natural sciences, classics, life
sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. The university provides
bachelor, master, and doctoral education to about 8,000 undergraduate and 1,000
graduate students.[11] It is also a strongly research-oriented institute, which has led to its
top-189th position among universities worldwide. [12] Its research articles are on average
more cited than articles by any other Flemish university.[13]

Contents

History[edit]
Main article: Free University of Brussels (1834–1969)
Establishment of a university in Brussels[edit]
The history of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is closely linked with that of Belgium itself. At
the time of the declaration of independence of Belgium in 1830, two state universities
existed in the cities of Ghent and Liège. In Brussels, the capital of the newly established
country, a university was lacking. A group of leading intellectuals in the fields of arts,
science, and education – amongst whom Auguste Baron and the astronomer and
mathematician Adolphe Quetelet — pointed out the advantages of a university to the
new capital and country.[9] Initially, they sought for the establishment of a state
university, but the Belgian government showed little enthusiasm due to the onerous
financial burden of yet another state university.
In 1834, the Belgian episcopate decided to establish a Catholic university
in Mechelen with the aim of regaining the influence of the Catholic Church on the
academic scene in Belgium, and the Belgian government had the intent to close the
university at Leuven and donate the buildings to the Catholic institution. [14] The liberals in
Belgium strongly opposed to this decision, and furthered their ideas for a university in
Brussels as a counterbalance to the Catholic institution. At the same time, Auguste
Baron had just become a member of the freemasonic lodge "Les Amis Philantropes", as
had a large number of other intellectuals with enlightened ideas. Baron was able to
convince Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the president of the lodge, to support the idea for
a new university. On 24 June 1834, Verhaegen presented his plan to establish a free
university.[9]
After sufficient funding was collected among advocates, the Université libre de Bruxelles
was inaugurated on 20 November 1834, in the Gothic room of the city hall of Brussels.
After its establishment, the Université libre de Bruxelles faced difficult times, since it did
receive no subsidies or grants from the government; yearly fundraising events and
tuition fees provided the only financial means. Verhaegen, who became a professor and
later head of the new university, gave it a mission statement which he summarized in a
speech to King Leopold I: the principle of free inquiry and academic freedom
uninfluenced by any political or religious authority.[9]
Splitting of the university[edit]
In the nineteenth century, courses at the Université libre de Bruxelles were taught
exclusively in French, the language of the upper class in Belgium at that time. However,
with the Dutch-speaking population asking for more rights in Belgium, some courses
were already taught in Dutch at the Faculty of Law as early as 1935. Nevertheless, it
was not until 1963 that all faculties offered their courses in Dutch. [15] On 1 October 1969,
the university was finally split in two sister institutions: the French-speaking Université
libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel. This splitting
became official by the law of 28 May 1970, of the Belgian parliament, by which the Vrije
Universiteit Brussel and the Université libre de Bruxelles became two separate legal
entities.[16]

Organisation[edit]
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an independent institution. The members of all its
governing entities are elected by the entire academic community – including faculty
staff, researchers, personnel, and students.[10] This system guarantees the democratic
process of decision-making and the independence from state and outside organisations.
Nevertheless, the university receives significant funding from the Flemish government,
although less than other Flemish universities. Other important funding sources are
grants for research projects (mostly from Belgian and European funding agencies),
scholarships of academic members, revenues from cooperation with industry,
and tuition fees to a lesser extent.
The main organisational structure of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is its division
into faculties:[17]

Common questions

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Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen played a pivotal role by leveraging his influence within the freemasonic lodge 'Les Amis Philantropes' to gather support for the establishment of a free university in Brussels . His commitment to free inquiry and academic freedom, laid out during his speech to King Leopold I, underlines the core principles of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel of being free from political or religious authority influences . His actions embodied the university's ethos of independence and pluralism, ensuring it remained open to students regardless of their ideological backgrounds .

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel's organizational structure, with its division into eight faculties, supports its educational, research, and community service missions by focusing on broad knowledge fields such as natural sciences, humanities, and engineering . This faculty-specific organization enables targeted academic programs and research initiatives, promoting specialized expertise while supporting interdisciplinary collaboration . The university's democratic governance structure, involving broad participation in decision-making, aligns with its mission by fostering an inclusive and responsive environment that addresses the needs of the academic community and society.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel's strong emphasis on research, facilitated by funding from Belgian and European agencies, industry partnerships, and its faculty structures, contributes to its outstanding research reputation . Its strategic focus on interdisciplinary research areas and strategic location enhances collaboration opportunities, leading to a high impact in research outputs. The faculty's active role in securing grants and engaging in scholarly work further bolsters its research profile, leading to higher citation rates compared to other Flemish universities . This robust research culture is a key driver in the university's international academic standing.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel's approach to academic freedom is rooted in its founding principles established by Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, emphasizing freedom from political and religious authority . This is embodied in its democratic governance model, which includes students and staff in decision-making processes . Its pluralistic values further highlight its commitment to equality and openness to students regardless of ideological backgrounds, aligning with its motto 'Conquering darkness by science' . This robust framework ensures continued adherence to its foundational ideals of inquiry and diversity.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel maintains independence through its internal governance structures, which involve democratic elections including all members of the academic community, thereby reducing external influence . Even though it receives substantial funding from the Flemish government, the university still acquires significant funding from other sources such as Belgian and European research grants, industry cooperation revenues, and academic scholarships, ensuring a diversified financial base . This multifaceted funding strategy helps to guard its independence while enabling sustained academic and research activities.

Language was central to the evolution of the university, reflecting Belgium's shifting political and cultural landscape. Initially, courses were only in French, aligning with the upper-class language dominance . However, growing demands from the Dutch-speaking population for more language rights led to the introduction of Dutch courses starting in the Faculty of Law from 1935 onwards, expanding to all faculties by 1963 . The eventual official split in 1970 into a French-speaking and a Dutch-speaking institution, the Université libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel respectively, materialized from this linguistic diversification .

Despite their administrative separation into distinct entities since 1970, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Université libre de Bruxelles share common foundational and intellectual heritage, given their origin from the same institution founded on the principles of academic freedom and free inquiry in 1834 . They continue to reflect similar educational values, including pluralism and independence. Both universities maintain a commitment to research and academics, and together they represent a comprehensive educational ecosystem within Brussels, offering complementary language and cultural perspectives within academic frameworks .

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel's campuses are strategically located to emphasize its focus on diverse academic areas and community integration. The Brussels Humanities, Science and Engineering Campus in Ixelles, the Health Campus in Jette, the Technology Campus in Anderlecht, and the Photonics Campus in Gooik, each host specialized faculties and research centers . This geographical distribution supports a multidisciplinary approach and facilitates specialized research and education, supporting the university's mission of education, research, and community service through strategically aligned campus functionalities .

The motto 'Scientia vincere tenebras' (English: Conquering darkness by science) and the slogan 'Reasonably opinionated' ('Redelijk eigenzinnig' in Dutch) encapsulate the Vrije Universiteit Brussel's commitment to knowledge and inquiry as tools for enlightenment and progress . These phrases highlight the university's dedication to scientific advancement, critical thinking, and an openness to diverse viewpoints, reflecting its core values of academic freedom and independence. Additionally, the motto and slogan affirm its pluralistic ethos, consistent with its legacy of providing inclusive education and fostering an environment receptive to new ideas .

After Belgium's independence in 1830, the capital city, Brussels, lacked a university, unlike Ghent and Liège . There was initially resistance from the Belgian government to establish another state university due to financial constraints, leading to the establishment of a Catholic university in Mechelen . In response, liberal intellectuals, including members of the freemasonic lodge 'Les Amis Philantropes', established a university in Brussels to ensure academic freedom and counter Catholic influence, culminating in the Université libre de Bruxelles in 1834 . This pursuit of a liberal, independent university happened within the broader context of Belgium's post-independence nation-building efforts.

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