2005
Higher Education in Flanders [belgium]
Ministry of the Flemish Community Department of Education
VLHORA Flemish Council of Hogescholen
VLIR Flemish Interuniversity Council
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1. Flanders, the hub of Europe
B E L G I U M
Flanders’ visiting card > surface area: 13 522 km2 (Belgium 30 528 km2)
Flanders is the northern region of Belgium, which in turn is one of the historical kingdoms in Europe. Since 1830 Belgium has been an independent constitutional monarchy. The present King is Albert II.
> inhabitants: 6.016 million (Belgium 10.396 million) > population density/km2: 434 (Belgium 336) > age structure: children (0-19 y) 22.3% working age (20-64 y) 60.1% senior citizens (65+) 17.6%
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Belgium has turned into a federation of three communities, each with its own legislative council and government. The Dutch-speaking North is home to the Flemish Community, which covers about 6 million inhabitants, living in Flanders and Brussels. The southern part of Belgium is called Wallonia, where French is spoken. There is also a very small German speaking community on the eastern border. ———
Unlike the communities, Brussels has a bilingual status (Dutch-French). The capital city – currently known around the world as “the Capital of Europe”– is home to the headquarters of the European Union, NATO and more than 900 international and nongovernmental organisations. ———
Flanders is an internationally oriented centre of high technology, with micro-electronics, chip development, media technology, biotechnology, speech technology and genetic engineering as outstanding examples. The Flemish economic network mainly derives its power from the web of innumerable small and medium-sized enterprises often acting as supplier companies. Many multinational industries have branches in the Flemish region. Almost 70% of the industrial output is for export. Flanders has gateways to the world’s oceans in the ports of Antwerpen, Gent, Zeebrugge and Oostende. Airports at Brussel-Zaventem, AntwerpenDeurne and Oostende carry passengers and goods back and forth to all continents. In Flanders openness, accessibility and efficiency are more than just empty words. ———
For many centuries Flanders has been an important commercial crossroads. This is reflected in the architecture and atmosphere of cities like Antwerpen, Brugge, Gent, Leuven, Mechelen. Flanders’ cultural life covers exhibitions, plays, operas, music festivals, films and other events. Pieter Paul Rubens, Victor Horta, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Hugo Claus, Dries Van Noten, Panamarenko and Toots Thielemans are just a few of the well-known artists of the past and present. ———
> gross regional product: € 160.10 billion > (Belgium € 280.6 billion) > expenditure 2004: € 17.908 billion (43% to education) > working population: 70.4% employed in services, > 28.31% in industry and 1.27% in agriculture > maritime climate > infrastructure: highly urbanised and flat area with > a dense public network system of railways, buses, > motorways and roads; trams and underground > in major towns > the currency is the euro (€) > information on Flanders: www.flanders.be > tourist information: www.toerismevlaanderen.be > time zone: GMT + 1 hour (April-October GMT + 2 hours) > domestic electricity: 220 volts > Flemish national holiday: 11 July > weight & measures: metric system
ZEEBRUGGE
OOSTENDE
BRUGGE
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ANTWERPEN MECHELEN
GENT KORTRIJK
BRUSSEL
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2. Changing structures 2.1. Bachelor and Master structure
B E L G I U M
The student will get a degree after having accumulated all the credits allocated to the courses necessary to acquire all the competences linked to the qualification. ———
Credits are based on the ECTS-principles. Each course After signing the Bologna Declaration the Flemish stands for minimum 3 credits, with a maximum of 12 Minister of Education started a process to reform the courses per 60 credits. One credit represents 25 to 30 Flemish higher education system. The Flemish hours of a student’s workload. Parliament adopted a new Higher Education Act on the ——— 4th of April 2003. Eventually students will be able to choose their ——— personal learning paths, opting for the traditional route The degree structure based on three main cycles of circa 60 credits a year, or for an individual constitutes the core of the Act, which introduced this combination of subjects. Higher education institutions new structure for all programmes in the 2004/05 may structure the academic year in semesters, academic year. The transitional period between the evaluations included. The individual learning path may previous system and the new one should end in 2006. be a result of the recognition of prior learning and For longer programmes, it may last until 2010. skills obtained through working experience. These ——— competences are assessed by the institutions and The old system is transformed into a binary system officially accepted by the Association, who is also in consisting of professional Bachelor’s degrees and charge of the quality control on these assessments. two-tier academic Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Through the mechanism of bridging programmes, holders of professional Bachelor’s degrees may have access to Master’s programmes.
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3. Degrees
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The Higer Education Act also offered the opportunity to establish Associations between universities and university colleges. An association is an official entity regulating the cooperation of a university and one or more university colleges. The partners may transfer their powers regarding education, scientific research and social society services to this Association. ———
2.2. Flexible learning paths
3.1. Bachelor’s degree After successfully completing at least 180 ECTS-credits (a study period of at least three years) students obtain a Bachelor’s degree. ———
Professional Bachelor’s degrees prepare students for specific professions in industry, education, commerce, agriculture, health and rehabilitation, social work, informatics, applied arts or the media. Courses are therefore practice-oriented and include periods of work placement. These degrees are only awarded by the university colleges.
Together with the 2003 Higher Education Act additional legislation on the flexible organisation of ——— education is implemented. From the academic year Some university colleges offer profession-oriented 2005-2006 onwards the institutions are able to build specilisation programmes for holders of a professional their programmes along flexible learning paths, thus bachelor’s degree. These subsequent bachelor’s breaking open the fixed structure of the academic year. programmes cover at least 60 ECTS credits. Courses are independent building blocks for which ——— students may enrol according to their own choice and Academic Bachelor’s degrees prepare students for time, taking into account the semestrial system. advanced studies at Master’s level. These degrees are Admission to the programmes and subjects will also be awarded by universities and some university colleges more flexible thanks to assessment procedures. All this in the framework of an association. is reflected in a study contract between student and ——— institution. ———
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3.2. Master’s degree
3.4. Flemish Diploma Supplement
Master programmes are characterised by the integration of education and research and a Master’s dissertation. They cover at least 60 ECTS credits (at least one year of study). Depending on the field of study some programmes last longer. Master programmes are organised at universities and at university colleges in the framework of an association.
A compulsory Diploma Supplement has been awarded automatically to all students regardless the programme followed, at universities since 1991 and at university colleges since 1994. The new Higher Education Act endorses the concept of a Diploma Supplement. The Diploma Supplement is free of charge. It is automatically delivered in Dutch and upon student’s request in English.
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Subsequent Master programmes are organised at universities, at university colleges in the framework of an association and at postgraduate training institutions. ———
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The Council of Europe, UNESCO and the European Commission recognised the Flemish Diploma Supplement as a ‘good practice’ and jointly created in 1998 an international model similar to the Flemish Diploma Supplement. ———
3.3. Ph D degree ‘Doctor’ is the highest level of specialisation in scientific research. It is based on an original research project that takes at least two years, resulting in the public presentation of a doctoral thesis. This degree is only awarded by universities. ———
RESEARCH
It is now an important tool to improve the international transparency and fair recognition of qualifications towards the European Higher Education Area in 2010. ———
4. Admission requirements 4.1. Access to Bachelor programmes For Bachelor’s programmes (both professional and academic) the general admission requirement is the Flemish ‘Diploma van secundair onderwijs’, the secondary school-leaving certificate.
In Flanders a multitude of research projects are carried ——— If a foreign qualification is recognised on the basis of a out at all higher education institutions. Most scientific Flemish decree, a Belgian law, a European directive or research is done in co-operation with industry and an international convention, the holder will have direct national or international partner institutions. access to Bachelor programmes. ——— An interesting aid to get an overview of all the Admission may also be granted to students, after scientific research projects is the online IWETO individual assessment of their secondary education database, www2.vlaanderen.be/ned/sites/weten/ diploma, if it gives access to higher education in the student’s country of origin. More information on research projects ——— www.fmv.org (Flanders Multimedia Valley) The higher education institution boards are also www.vib.be (Institute for Biotechnology) allowed to admit persons who cannot meet the general www.itg.be (Tropical Institute Antwerp) admission requirement. www.imec.be (Interuniversity MicroElectronics Center) www.stichting.fti.be (F.T.I. Foundation) www.vito.be (Technological Research) www.serv.be (Flemish Technology Foundation) www.innovation.flanders.be (Science & Innovation Administration) www.iwt.be (Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders)
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The individual admission decisions take into account: - humanitarian reasons (e.g. refugees lacking the - required documents), - medical, psychological and social reasons, - the individual education level of the student assessed - by the higher education institution board. ———
Entry examinations must be passed by any student (Flemish or other) who wants to take up studies in Dentistry, Medicine and Fine Arts. ———
B E L G I U M
4.3. Access to doctoral programmes Doctoral programmes are open to graduates with a relevant Master’s degree, in some cases after a preliminary examination (depending on the study field). ———
Foreign higher education degrees give access to doctoral programmes in case the university board considers the foreign higher education degree equivalent to a Flemish Master degree. The admission may still depend on a preliminary examination.
A number of professional Bachelor degrees give access to subsequent Bachelor programmes (at least 60 ECTS ——— credits). A preliminary examination may be required. The institution board will stipulate which Bachelor 5. Language of instruction degrees give access to these profession-oriented specialisation programmes. Before enrolling at a higher education institution, ——— it is important to know that Dutch is the language of instruction. 4.2. Access to Master programmes However, foreign language courses, courses with foreign guest speakers and teachers, internationally Academic Bachelor degrees give direct access to oriented courses, courses in the framework of Master programmes. international developing co-operation, courses in the Some Master degrees will give access to subsequent framework of international exchange programmes and Master programmes (at least another 60 ECTS credits), courses for groups of foreign students are taught in in some cases after a preliminary examination. The another language. Course material may be in any institution board will stipulate which Master degrees language. give access to these specialised & advanced Master ——— programmes. A considerable number of Master programmes are ———
offered in English and a few in another language. For Professional Bachelor degrees may give access to some more information on the programmes, please contact Master programmes after a bridging programme. the individual higher education institutions (see page 7). The programme and study load will be determined ——— by the institution board taking into account the Most institutions require a proof of Dutch language individual skills, working experience, qualifications proficiency for the programmes taught in Dutch and a and competences of the student after an evaluation preliminary language test for the programmes taught interview. in another language.
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Foreign higher education degrees give access to Master programmes (including the subsequent Master programmes) in case the higher education institution boards consider the foreign higher education degree equivalent to the Flemish higher education degree giving access to the programmes concerned. ———
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6. Accreditation LISBON RECOGNITION CONVENTION
The Lisbon Recognition Convention is intended to be the legal recognition framework at European level. It was developed by the Council of Europe and UNESCO, and adopted by national representatives in Lisbon on 11 April 1997.
The 2003 Higher Education Act also introduced the concept of accreditation. Accreditation is the formal recognition of a programme based on a decision of an independent quality assurance agency, the NederlandsVlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie (NVAO), which verifies whether this programme meets the pre-determined minimal quality requirements.
The Lisbon Recognition Convention aims at facilitating ——— The accreditation decision is based on the internal the recognition of qualifications. It provides that quality assurance system, which belongs to the applications should be assessed in a fair manner and autonomy of the higher education institutions and on within a reasonable time. the results of the external quality control of the Foreign qualifications will be recognised - whether for programmes by the on site visitation committees of the access to higher education, for periods of study or for VLIR (Flemish Interuniversity Council) and the higher education degrees - unless there are substantial VLHORA (Flemish University Colleges Council). differences. The onus of proof lies with the body ——— undertaking the assessment. The accreditation quality mark guarantees that the Furthermore the Lisbon Recognition Convention graduate has acquired general and specific encourages special recognition procedure measures competences associated with an internationally for refugees, the establishment of national information recognised Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree. centres and the introduction of the Diploma ——— Supplement. After a positive accreditation decision by the NVAO the higher education programmes are accredited for Belgium, as a federal state, signed the Lisbon 8 years. Recognition Convention on 7 March 2005. ——— On 17 July 2000 the Flemish Government already More information on accreditation and the common officially approved the Lisbon Recognition Convention accreditation body for higher eductation programmes and the principles of the Lisbon Recognition in Flanders and the Netherlands can be found on Convention were incorporated in the 2003 Higher www.nvao.net Education Act. ———
The Register of Higher Education contains all detailed information on accredited Bachelor and Master programmes offered in Flanders. If the programme has not been accredited, the programme will be deleted from the Register of Higher Education and the institution cannot grant a recognised degree. www.highereducation.be ———
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7. List of higher education institutions 7.1. university colleges Arteveldehogeschool e-mail international@arteveldehs.be internet www.arteveldehs.be
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Europese Hogeschool Brussel e-mail joelle.lemaire@ehsal.be internet www.ehsal.be
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Erasmushogeschool Brussel e-mail jean.pierre.roose@ehb.be internet www.ehb.be
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Hogere Zeevaartschool e-mail patrick.blonde@hzs.be internet www.hzs.be
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Hogeschool Antwerpen e-mail f.rylant@ha.be internet www.ha.be
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Hogeschool Gent e-mail kathleen.vanheule@hogent.be internet www.hogent.be
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Hogeschool Groep-T Leuven e-mail jan.van.maele@group-t.be internet www.groept.be
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Hogeschool Sint-Lukas Brussel e-mail wim.aerts@sintlukasbrussel.be internet www.sintlukas.be
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Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst e-mail jdierick@vlekho.wenk.be internet www.wenk.be
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Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen e-mail international.office@howest.be internet www.howest.be
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Karel de Grote-Hogeschool e-mail helene.vanbrabant@kdg.be internet www.kdg.be
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Katholieke Hogeschool Brugge-Oostende e-mail info@khbo.be internet www.khbo.be
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Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen e-mail agnes.dillien@khk.be internet www.khk.be
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Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven e-mail ignace.ingelaere@khleuven.be internet www.khleuven.be
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Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg e-mail michael.joris@ad.khlim.be internet www.khlim.be
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Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen e-mail stijn.coenen@khm.be internet www.khm.be
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Katholieke Hogeschool Sint-Lieven e-mail euro@kahosl.be internet www.kahosl.be
Katholieke Hogeschool Zuid-West-Vlaanderen e-mail euro-katho@katho.be internet www.katho.be
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Lessius Hogeschool e-mail wim.schramme@lessius-ho.be internet www.lessius-ho.be
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Plantijnhogeschool e-mail marleen.matyn@plantijn.be internet www.plantijn.be
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Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg e-mail isabelle.vanschoonbeek@phlimburg.be internet www.phlimburg.be
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XIOS Hogeschool Limburg e-mail info@xios.be internet www.xios.be ——————
7.2. universities Katholieke Universiteit Brussel e-mail info@kubrussel.ac.be internet www.kubrussel.ac.be
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Katholieke Universiteit Leuven e-mail studyadvice@kuleuven.be internet www.kuleuven.be/english
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Universiteit Antwerpen e-mail international@ua.ac.be internet www.ua.ac.be
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Universiteit Gent e-mail acs@ugent.be internet www.ugent.be
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Universiteit Hasselt e-mail info@uhasselt.be internet www.uhasselt.be
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel e-mail international.relations@vub.ac.be internet www.vub.ac.be
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transnationale Universiteit Limburg e-mail jan.broeckmans@uhasselt.be internet www.tul.edu ——————
7.3. postgraduate training institutions Prins Leopold Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde e-mail info@itg.be internet www.itg.be
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Vlerick Leuven-Gent Management School e-mail info@vlerick.be internet www.vlerick.be ——————
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Doctor
subsequent Bachelor only at university colleges
subsequent Master
Master - at universities and at university colleges in the framework of an association
min. 60 ECTS
min. 60 ECTS
at universities and at university colleges in the framework of an association and at postgraduate training institutions
min. 60 ECTS
only at universities
min. 120 ECTS
c h a r t
bridging programme
only at university colleges
at universities and at university colleges in the framework of an association
min.180 ECTS
academic Bachelor
min.180 ECTS
professional Bachelor
secondary school-leaving certificate giving access to higher education
Useful addresses
NARIC-Vlaanderen
NARIC-Flanders e-mail erwin.malfroy@ond.vlaanderen.be internet http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be VLHORA
The Flemish Council of Hogescholen e-mail jan.geens@vlhora.be internet http://www.vlhora.be VLIR
Flemish Interuniversity Council e-mail jo.breda@vlir.be internet http://www.vlir.be
July 2003