F CUS2014 KU LEUVEN 2015 1 FOREWORD

2 ORGANISATION 4 PROFILE 4 PEOPLE 5 STRUCTURE 6 KULAK 7 FINANCES

8 RESEARCH 10 QUALITY & EXCELLENCE 11 COOPERATION 12 YOUNG TALENT 14 RESEARCH VALORISATION

16 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

20 UNIVERSITY & SOCIETY

22 GIVING AND FUNDRAISING

24 EDUCATION & STUDENT LIFE 26 STUDENT ENROLMENT 26 DEGREE PROGRAMMES 26 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 27 STUDY STRUCTURE & STUDENT ADVISING 27 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT & INNOVATION 28 LIFELONG LEARNING 28 UNIVERSITY LIFE 29 SENSE OF PURPOSE 29 CULTURE 30 SPORT 30 LOKO 31 ALUMNI

32 INTEGRATION & ASSOCIATION 32 INTEGRATION OF THE ACADEMIC PRO GRAMMES OF THE KU LEUVEN ASSOCIATION INTO KU LEUVEN 33 KU LEUVEN ASSOCIATION & INTEGRATION

34 UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS LEUVEN & THE HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS FOREWORD

Things can move quickly. With the start of the 2013-2014 academic year, the KU Leuven community gained thousands of new students and staff as a result of the integration of the various academic degree programmes of the university colleges within the KU Leuven Association. This is the culmination of a process ten years in the making and is unquestionably the most substantial institutional development of the last 40 years. The Flemish higher education landscape has changed significantly, and KU Leuven has become a multi-campus university.

It is still too early to know with certainty how this institutional operation will influence daily life at the university colleges and at the university. But that it will is certain. The simple fact that the integrated university college degree programmes are now research-based will lead to new projects, contacts, administrative needs, curricula, intellectual orientation and so forth. The university, too, will change, but it will also remain itself. As it should. An institution that has existed as long as ours – nearly six centuries – blazes new paths and, indeed, makes innovation a top priority. But it also remains true to its unique character.

The substance of that character can be gleaned from this humble booklet. It paints our university in broad strokes: research, education, university life. You will get a taste for how our university participates in society and how it manifests the word ‘service’ in every aspect of its mission. Of course, this is not an exhaustive overview – far from it. But I dare to hope that it gives a good idea of what KU Leuven is and what it means to live in our university community.

At its heart, a university is first and foremost a community of people who dedicate their talents, energy and aspirations to bringing about the world of their dreams. Some of these dreams are gathered in these pages. May they inspire you as they have me.

Rik Torfs Rector

1 Rector Torfs officially opened the academic On Monday, 4 August 2014, King Philippe and The ‘Hof Bladelin’ is one of Bruges’ architectural gems. year on 23 September. After calling for trust, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and President Joachim The ‘city palace’ was built in 1451 by one of Bruges’ he expressed his appreciation for the hard Gauck of Germany visited Leuven to commemorate foremost citizens, Pieter Bladelin. A KU Leuven flag work and uniqueness of each member the centenary of the beginning of the First World now flies above the stately structure. Director-General of the university community. “I am not an War. The royal couple and the president were Jos Vaesen: “For KU Leuven, this is of course a unconditional supporter of the we-feeling. received on the Grote Markt by Mayor Louis Tobback wonder ful opportunity to expand its presence in Sometimes it seems to want to impose and were later welcomed to KU Leuven’s University Bruges. This presence is reinforced by the new campus uniformity,” he said. “I believe in a we that Halls by Rector Rik Torfs. President Joachim Gauck for engineering technology and physiotherapy now overpowers no one. We are the university, and King Philippe then unveiled a memorial plaque under construction near the train station. But the Hof connected to one another but not riveted to that will be displayed in the University Halls. Bladelin, in the beating heart of the historic centre, one another.” The rector closed with a call to is truly a unique symbol of KU Leuven’s commitment action: “Do not resign yourself to the thought to Bruges and all of West Flanders.” that our university is not your university. It is never too late to dream. It is always too early to quit.” ORGANISATION

2 Contacts between KU Leuven and the Church are The issue of gender equality in the workplace is On 7 June 2014, the university celebrated flourishing. In early March, a delegation of university fascinating and complex – and it is time to address it. the retirement of rector emeritus Marc Vervenne. leaders visited the Vatican. Archbishop André-Jozef That was the conclusion of the Gender Action Plan “I never thought of the rectorship as belonging Léonard, Grand Chancellor of KU Leuven: “A Catholic (GAP) presented on 16 January. Vice Rector Katlijn to me, but as a wonderful responsibility that I university that chronically takes up a neutral position Malfliet emphatically discussed the plan’s key points, did my very best to fulfil. Every rectorship ends. would not be worthy of the name. The same is true if a well-motivated list of recommendations aimed at One does not own the rector’s toga. Passing it failed to give its community members the chance to eliminating deeply rooted gender inequality. The GAP the reigns is an element of leadership - perhaps encounter Christ. Of course, we must always be open calls for a 1/3 female-to-male membership ratio in one of the most important ones. People, not and give a voice to those with another vision, but at all of the university’s governing bodies. It falls short of managers, make up the university’s core.” the same time it must also be clear that Christ has a advocating a quota policy for merit-based positions – place at our university. I think the University Parish, evaluation committees must select the best candidate where students and staff can experience their Christian for the job, regardless of gender – but it does recommend identity, and the Faculty of Theology and Religious ways to raise the female-to-male ratio for new academic Studies have a concrete role to play in this.” hires to 1/3.

KU Leuven is a university with nearly 600 years of history and tens of thousands of students and staff. It is devoted to comprehensive and advanced scientific research and education and exercises an important position in and responsibility toward the world of science and society as a whole.

3 ORGANISATION

PEOPLE

To realise this manifold mission, KU Leuven has only one form of capital at its disposal: talented and dedicated people. Excluding University Hospitals Leuven (the university’s net work of research hospitals), KU Leuven employs 11,534 people.

March 2014

Administrative and Technical Staff (ATP/IK/CBED) 3,601

Junior Academic Staff (AAP/OP) 1,173

Senior Academic Staff (ZAP) 1,595

Teaching Staff (OP3) 344

PROFILE Other Academic Staff (BAP/COZ) 4,978

Total (in persons) 11,534* KU Leuven was founded in 1425. It is an autonomous university. In late 2011, it changed its name from ‘Katholieke * Note: some staff members hold mandates in multiple categories. Universiteit Leuven’ to ‘KU Leuven’ and elaborated its mission statement: Distribution of staff by gender, in percentage (as of March 2014)

KU Leuven endeavours to be a place for open discussion Male Female of social, philosophical and ethical issues and a critical Administrative and Technical Staff (ATP/IK/CBED) 37.2 62.8 centre of reflection in and for the Catholic community. Junior Academic Staff (AAP/OP) 49.2 50.8 KU Leuven offers its students an academic education based Senior Academic Staff (ZAP) 73.8 26.2 on high-level research, with the the aim of preparing students to assume their social responsibilities. Teaching Staff (OP) 69.8 30.2

Other Academic Staff (BAP/COZ) 55.9 44.1 KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied Total 52.3 47.7 research. It is strongly inter- and multidisciplinary in focus and strives for international excellence. To this end, Distribution of staff by nationality, in percentage (as of March 2014) KU Leuven works together actively with its research partners at home and abroad. Belgian/EU Non-Belgian

KU Leuven encourages personal initiative and critical Administrative and Technical Staff (ATP/IK/CBED) 96.7 3.3 reflection in a culture of idea exchange, cooperation, soli- Junior Academic Staff (AAP/OP) 95.6 4.4 darity and academic freedom. It pursues a proactive diversity policy for its students and staff. Senior Academic Staff (ZAP) 89.9 10.1 Teaching Staff (OP) 96.8 3.2 KU Leuven aims to actively participate in public and cultural Other Academic Staff (BAP/COZ) 63.3 36.7 debate and in the advancement of a knowledge-based society. It puts its expertise to the service of society, with particular consideration for its most vulnerable members.

4 ORGANISATION

STRUCTURE

KU Leuven’s various faculties and departments are organised into 3 ‘groups’. Each group has a doctoral school.

The Humanities and Social Sciences Group organises The Science, Engineering and Technology Group consists the Doctoral School for the Humanities and Social of five faculties: Science, Engineering Science, Bioscience Sciences and is comprised of the following faculties: Engineering, Engineering Technology and Architecture. The Science, Engineering and Technology Group organises n Institute of Philosophy the Arenberg Doctoral School and includes the following n Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies research departments: n Faculty of Canon Law n Faculty of Law n Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences n Faculty of Economics and Business n Department of Architecture n Faculty of Social Sciences n Department of Biology n Faculty of Arts n Department of Biosystems n Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences n Department of Civil Engineering n Department of Chemistry The faculties of the Humanities and Social Sciences Group n Department of Chemical Engineering organise their research activities into various research units. n Department of Computer Science n Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) n Department of Materials Engineering The Biomedical Sciences Group consists of the Faculties n Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems of Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Kinesiology n Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rehabilitation Sciences. It organises the Doctoral n Department of Mechanical Engineering School Biomedical Sciences and includes the following n Department of Mathematics 14 departments: n Department of Cardiovascular Sciences n Department of Oral Health Sciences n Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences n Department of Human Genetics n Department of Imaging and Pathology n Department of Kinesiology n Department of Microbiology and Immunology n Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine n Department of Neurosciences n Department of Oncology n Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine n Department of Rehabilitation Sciences n Department of Development and Regeneration n Department of Public Health

5 ORGANISATION

KULAK

Kulak, KU Leuven’s campus in Kortrijk, was founded in 1965, nearly a half-century ago. Kulak has expanded from a regional satellite campus to a full-fledged, bachelor-level campus. It carries out a select research agenda at its own dedicated research facilities and offers a wide range of degree programmes and bridging programmes. The small scale and unique atmosphere of the campus is a major draw for many students. At the same time, the campus has a resolutely international orientation, as evidenced by its close collaboration with the University of Lille.

Kulak offers bachelor degree programmes in six faculties: Psychology and Educational Sciences, Arts, Law, Eco- nomics and Business, Science and Medicine.

The campus numbers 1,400 students, 23 degree program - mes, 52 resident professors and 174 commuting professors, 70 doctoral students, 172 resident researchers and project coordinators and around 100 administrative and technical staff members.

6 ORGANISATION

FINANCES

The university’s operating revenue has increased significantly in the last decade from 520 million euros in 2003 to 818 million euros in 2013. Separately, the university hospitals had operating revenue of 892 million euros in 2013.

in € 2013 2012

Total revenue linked to education, research and services 750,151,810 91.7% 731,509,238 94.9%

Government grants and subsidies – basic funding 303,051,244 37.0% 296,388,347 38.4%

Government funding – fundamental research 123,691,140 15.1% 123,438,979 16.0%

Government funding – applied research 115,209,497 14.1% 117,911,881 15.3%

Contracted research with the private sector and scientific services 128,693,376 15.7% 123,951,031 16.1%

Other revenue linked to education, research and services 79,506,552 9.7% 69,818,999 9.1%

Other operating revenue 67,890,237 8.3% 39,621,155 5.1%

Total operating revenue – university 818,042,047 100.0% 771,130,393 100.0%

Total operating revenue – University Hospitals Leuven 891,721,877 832,598,124

7 RESEARCH

The universe as we know it today began in 1931 in A team of Belgian biologists led by researchers at Two knee surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven the Heilige Geestcollege, Naamsestraat 40, Leuven, KU Leuven has provided the first genetic evidence have provided the first full anatomical description of where one of the most profound thoughts in the that rapid evolution can help non-native plant a previously enigmatic ligament in the human knee. history of knowledge was ripening in the mind of species spread in new environments. Using sam- Professor Georges Lemaître. We know it as the ples of centuries-old herbaria and DNA analysis, The ligament, which the researchers called the Big Bang theory. High time to recognise the man the researchers reconstructed the genetic adap- anterolateral ligament (ALL), appears to play an behind the idea that fundamentally changed both tations undergone by the Pyrenean rocket prior important role in patients with anterior cruciate science and our contemporary worldview. to its rapid spread in Belgium. ligament (ACL) tears. Some patients with ACL- repaired knees continue to experience so-called “I am not alone in my admiration for Lemaître,” Postdoctoral researcher Katrien Vandepitte (Plant ‘pivot shift’ – where the knee gives way during says Professor Bart De Moor of the Faculty of Conservation and Population Biology Research activity – despite successful ACL repair surgery Engineering Science. “The City of Leuven and its Group): “Our DNA analysis shows that the Belgian and rehabilitation. Orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Steven mayor, Louis Tobback, agrees that the university’s variant genetically adapted quite rapidly – in about Claes and Professor Dr. Johan Bellemans have intellectual figureheads deserve a more prominent 20 generations. This very likely helped the plant been studying the phenomenon for the last four place in the cityscape. That is why we are building to survive and spread here. Our findings are years. Using macroscopic dissection techniques, a double monument, in Ottignies - Louvain-la-Neuve important because until now evidence supporting they found the ALL in all but one of 41 cadaveric and in Leuven, dedicated to Lemaître – two com- the hypothesis that exotic plants can spread after knees they studied. Subsequent research shows plementary statues inspired by one another. a period of rapid genetic adaptation has been that an injury in the ALL ligament can indeed Also, the European Space Agency’s fifth cargo very scant.” cause pivot shift in patients with an ACL tear. satellite, which launched from Kourou in June, The researchers’ findings were widely reported was named in Lemaître’s honour. And on 7 May, The results also suggest that we should be wary in the media, including a feature article in the a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the of ‘latent’ non-native plant species. “These plants New York Times. Premonstreitcollege on Naamsestraat, where can be present in small numbers for years before Lemaître spent most of his working life.” spreading as a result of genetic adaptation. The Pyrenean rocket is a harmless plant, but some exotics can become a real plague. And this can occur even after a period of unproblematic presence in a non-native environment.” 8 Scientific research is the backbone of a forward-looking, dynamic university. It is a university’s raison d’être in today’s knowledge society and the foundation for high-quality education and social engagement. KU Leuven provides a stimulating home for all types of research, from fundamental to applied, and from individual research projects to large-scale, international research consortia.

Periods of heavy rainfall tend to give way to The Saudi Arabian desert is a rich but largely unexplored terrain Scientists at KU Leuven are getting closer to periods of light rainfall after a timespan of for archaeologists. Artefacts discovered by a team from constructing a likeness of a person’s face several decades, and these cycles can be KU Leuven and their Saudi Arabian colleagues added new using nothing but a DNA sample. Postdoctoral forecasted. Researchers at the Department evidence in support of the theory of Homo sapiens’ migration researcher Peter Claes and his colleagues of Civil Engineering found that these fluctua- out of Africa and provide clues of the species’ first encounter describe the technique in a recent publication tions showed a north-south variation, with with Neanderthals. in PLOS Genetics. Their work opens a horizon a negative correlation between Northern of potential future applications in forensics, Europe and Southern Europe: when one The artefacts also call parts of the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis anthropology and medicine and signals that region is in a period of heavy rainfall, the other into question, explains archeologist Philip Van Peer: “We know the days of police composites based on vague tends to be in a period of light rainfall. from genetic analysis that Homo sapiens originated in Africa eyewitness descriptions are numbered. In the and spread throughout the globe in a number of migration not-so-distant future, a strand of hair may be The periods fluctuate between 30 to 60 years. waves. The port leading out of Africa is situated in the northeast all that is needed to create a virtual ‘mugshot’ Professor Patrick Willems (Hydrology Unit) of the continent, along the coast of the Red Sea. There, the sea bearing a reasonable likeness to its owner. distilled his results from a unique dataset of is narrowest at its most southerly point – just 18 kilometres “I am enthusiastic but also cautious; enthusias- more than 100 years of rainfall measurements wide during the lowest sea levels of the ice age. A crossing tic about what is already possible, and cautious from the Royal Meteorological Institute in via the southern route during that time seems logical and because we don’t want to encourage unrealistic Ukkel: “We found that extreme rainstorms the many studies on genetic variation in modern populations expectations,” says Peter Claes (ESAT/PSI and occurred more often in the last twenty years. support that hypothesis. Homo sapiens would have then Medical Imaging Research Center, University The same phenomenon appeared in the quickly advanced via the coastline of the Arabian peninsula Hospitals Leuven). “We are not yet at the point 1960s and in the 1910s and 20s. Interspersed some 74,000 years ago to Asia and Australia.” where we can create a guaranteed accurate were periods of less extreme rainstorms.” and complete prediction of a face on the basis “Our findings in Al-Ghat confirm the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis of, for instance, a saliva sample. What we have but raise new questions as well. We have discovered artefacts demonstrated is that facial recognition on the in Jebel Samar that clearly appear to be imported African basis of DNA is possible, and that we are technology. But they also appear to have arrived at the site moving in the right direction.” surprisingly early. Also, the dig site is in central Saudi Arabia, far from the coasts of the Arabian peninsula. Both of these observations call a one-time, fast-moving coastal migration into serious question.”

9 RESEARCH

QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE KU Leuven & FP7

Robert-Jan Smits is the direc- KU Leuven claims a place among Europe’s top centres of tor-general of the DG Research learning, and its voice can be heard throughout the global & Innovation, the EU service scientific discourse. Its comprehensive strategic research responsible for doling out policy, attractive working environment for national and research funds. He was in inter national talent, and dynamic, efficient administrative Leuven in December 2013 to framework ensure that this top position is maintained. mark the opening of Horizon 2020, the new European Number of projects 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 programme for research and University of Cambridge innovation: “KU Leuven is doing University of Oxford incredibly well. Sometimes I wonder how a small country like Belgium can have such success in such a competitive international environment. Imperial College KU Leuven is leading the way. Under the recently-concluded Seventh ETH Zürich Framework Programme, FP7, Leuven had a whopping 543 approved KU Leuven projects totaling 230 million euros*. KU Leuven’s success rate for University College London FP7 projects was greater than 25 percent. Taken together, these figures put KU Leuven very close to the European top. Which makes EPFL Lausanne me wonder: why are you so modest? You’re not Calvinists, are you? Total funding 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Every part of the European Union’s budget is seeing gradual cuts and, (in millions of euro) by 2020, they will be significantly lower than they are now – with the KU Leuven ranks among the European top in total projects and funding under the EU’s large-scale exception of the budget for research and innovation. The FP7 Seventh Framework Programme. (Contracts through June 2013. Source: EWI Department) budget, about 50 billion euros, will be increased to almost 80 billion euros for the period 2014 to 2020 under the Horizon 2020 programme, The university’s research activities are propelled by a making Horizon 2020 the world’s biggest research programme.” steadily increasing research budget. In 2013, KU Leuven

invested 418 million euros in research, a 8.72% increase * Projects approved through December 2013 over 2012. The yearly growth of research expenditures has substantially increased after a period of stagnation due to the difficult economic conditions of recent years.

625,480 SCIE citations 280% 260% • KU Leuven Senior Academic Staff • KU Leuven publications 240% (10-year window) 220% • KU Leuven citations 200% (10-year window) 180% 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% Statistics: September 2013 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

10 RESEARCH

KU Leuven consistently secures funding from the most select KU Leuven’s research centres have long played a leading competitive research funds, among them the prestigious role in brain-related research fields. ERC grants awarded by the European Research Council. KU Leuven researchers have received a total of 70 ERC iMinds is Flanders’ digital research centre. Building on the grants, placing the university eighth overall among European strength of its 850+ researchers, iMinds leads digital universities. In 2013, 20 KU Leuven researchers received innovation in 6 key markets – ICT, media, health, energy, ERC grants. smart cities and manufacturing. It strives to convert digital knowhow into real-life products and services that change Numerous other academic and scientific grants and awards people’s lives for the better and contribute to the social- highlight the quality of research at KU Leuven. The most economic growth of Flanders. significant global indicators of academic excellence can be found in figures on research output in the form of PhD dissertations, publications and associated citations and impact factors. Nursing staff cuts increase patient risk As a comprehensive university, KU Leuven aspires to a broad presence in the academic and scientific world, both in its educational activities and in its research. It is dedicated to excelling in domains that address preeminent and urgent societal challenges. The university’s funds for research are allotted with this in mind.

COOPERATION

The choice to actively participate in major strategic areas of research requires not only sound financial commitments but also a multidisciplinary approach. A comprehensive university like KU Leuven is uniquely positioned to actualise this. Additionally, multidisciplinarity often invites new organi- Assigning a nurse extra patients increases patient death rates, while sational forms, including partnerships outside the university. having a better educated nurse workforce – a higher percentage of nurses with a bachelor’s degree versus a vocational nursing degree Imec – the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre – was – is associated with fewer deaths. Those were the findings of an founded in 1984. With nearly 2,000 employees, tens of international study led by Professor Walter Sermeus of close to a subsidiary spin-offs and key partnerships with global half million surgical patients in 300 hospitals in 9 European countries. companies such as Samsung and Intel, Imec has become The more patients a nurse has under his or her watch, the less time a global player in the development of micro- and nano- he or she has for each patient, causing complications to go unnoticed electronics. and untreated longer. The researchers found that every one-patient increase in patient-to-nurse ratios was associated with a 7 percent Another such partnership is NERF, or Neuro-electronics increase in death risk. “For this study, we used a very large cohort Research Flanders, a joint research framework comprised with data from nine countries, each with their own health care of researchers from Imec, the Flanders Institute for Bio- system. Despite the differences, our results show that staffing has technology (VIB) and KU Leuven. NERF was created with a very significant effect. Cutting back on nurses brings risks with it: the goal of unravelling the neuro-circuitry of the human a lower quality of care and avoidable mortality. That is an important brain. In the long term, relying on a combination of nano - lesson for EU countries, like Spain, where nursing staffs are being technology and biology, NERF will provide new insights cut or understaffed due to the economic crisis.” into the functionality of the brain and contribute to new diagnostic and treatment techniques for disorders affecting the central and peripheral nervous system.

11 RESEARCH

Tau knots and Alzheimer’s In today’s globalised knowledge economy, academic cooperation is international by definition. KU Leuven has New research into the role of ‘tau knots’ is bringing researchers numerous on-going bilateral and multilateral partnerships a step closer to unravelling what goes wrong in the brains of ranging from small- to large-scale, several of which include Alzheimer’s patients. 44 million people suffer from dementia two-way exchange of students and researchers. worldwide. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia and is caused by the accumulation of proteins in the brain, including tau proteins. Our university also actively participates in institutional So-called tau knots cause brain cells to die in droves and severely partner ships such as LERU, the League of European hinders communication between remaining brain cells. The hip- Research Universities, which brings together 21 leading pocampus is the first part of the brain to be affected. This brain research universities. Joining KU Leuven are, among others, region is important for reading and memory processing and spatial the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College thinking – the first processes to decline in Alzheimer’s patients. London, University College London, Heidelberg and Leiden. The LERU partners work together with the European The researchers succeeded in first causing and then undoing tau institutions and other stakeholders to delineate the conti- knots in the brains of mice. Dr. Ann Van der Jeugd and Professor nent’s research framework, as it did, for instance, in shaping Rudi D’Hooge (Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogic Sciences) Horizon 2020. LERU celebrated its 10th year in 2012. studied the effect of the tau knots on brain function.

YOUNG TALENT

Young talent must be actively sought out and recruited. KU Leuven does this in a number of ways, with its three doctoral schools playing leading roles. Each of the univer- sity’s three overarching groups has a doctoral school: the Arenberg Doctoral School (organised by the Science, Engineering and Technology Group), the Doctoral School Biomedical Sciences and the Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Each school seeks out international research talent and provides individualised doctoral training. In addition to academic course offerings, the doctoral programmes emphasise non-academic skills acquisition in areas such as effective communication and entrepreneurship.

In the 2012-2013 academic year, KU Leuven awarded 644 doctoral degrees. Of these, 264 (41%) were com- pleted by non-Belgians.

Under a tenure track contract, newly appointed members of the Junior Academic Staff demonstrate their research Their findings – that deactivating tau knots entirely may not be so and managerial capacities for a period of five years in a beneficial – shed light on the function of tau knots in the brain and challenging, international context. At the end of this contribute a new piece in the Alzheimer’s puzzle. period, outstanding candidates move on to the permanent framework for Senior Academic Staff.

12 RESEARCH

Attracting well-established, discipline-leading researchers HIV particle as nano test tube is another method of strengthening the university’s research fabric and enhancing its international success. An interdisciplinary team of scientists from KU Leuven has developed One way KU Leuven does this is by making use of a new technique to use a single HIV particle as a tiny test tube for Odysseus resources to attract international researchers studying the life-threatening virus in detail. The technique makes to Leuven, where they continue their research at the helm screening potential anti-HIV drugs quicker and more efficient and of a fully-fledged research group. Likewise, theMethusalem can also be used to study other diseases. Postdoctoral researcher programme provides established researchers with a stable Jelle Hendrix (Department of Chemistry): “It may seem surprising, framework to carry out their research activities. but we can use a genetically modified version of a dangerous virus to examine other pathogens. Essentially, we have created a nano test tube out of an HIV virion, inside of which protein interactions can be studied.”

Investing in research yields economic dividends “Researchers have been studying protein interactions for some time, but doing so at the level of a single viral particle was not Paul Van Dun, General Manager of KU Leuven Research & Development, possible until now,” says Jelle Hendrix. “Our technique allows is also Managing Director of the Gemma Frisius Fund (GFF), which scientists to quickly test many molecules – potential medications was founded in 1997 by KBC, Fortis (at the time, Generale Bank) – for many diseases using minimal material.” and KU Leuven with 40/40/20 stakes. “The Gemma Frisius Fund was created to enable entrepreneurial researchers to start busi- nesses based on technologies or ideas developed at KU Leuven. In the mid-nineties, venture capital for high-tech start-ups was not easy to come by and because of this a number of good concept companies had difficulty raising the necessary capital to open their doors. GFF wanted to help.”

“And the investment has paid off. Participating partners quickly doubled their up-front capital from 12.5 million to 25 million euros. GFF has since invested in several dozen companies. Usually, funds provided by GFF do not cover all start-up costs, but experience shows that allocated capital acts as an important catalyst: if GFF signs on to a project, the more traditional investors usually follow. Spin-offs now form a large high-tech belt around Leuven responsible for thousands of jobs. They significantly increase the added value of the regional economy.”

13 RESEARCH

The swallowable camera KU Leuven has an exceptional record when it comes to the commercial valorisation of research. The university’s A swallowable pill camera that snaps images of your stomach and technology transfer office, KU Leuven Research & intestinal tract? That is just one of the results to come out of Development (LRD), has been active in this field since 1972. the research of Professor Bob Puers of the Department of Electrical For more than 40 years, LRD has cultivated a spirit of Engineering ESAT-MICAS (Faculty of Engineering Technology). cooperation between the university and the business The next step: a jelly-like medical implant that tricks the body world and continues to connect academic, scientific and into thinking it is an organ. economic partners.

In 2013, 2,492 new university-to-industry contracts were signed, most of which for contracted research and research within university consortia. This accounted for one-third of LRD’s total turnover, which amounted to 186.4 million euros in 2013 (excluding revenue realised from spin-off operations). Additionally, LRD devotes special attention to the creation of intellectual property with economic value (e.g. patents).

Often, LRD’s activities involve high-leverage initiatives such as spin-offs. A relatively small investment on the part “You can build a sensor to measure something – blood pressure, of LRD can act as an important impulse for attracting pulse, glucose concentration – but you then have to make it work extra external capital, essential for developing spin-offs. together with a whole series of other components before arriving Together, LRD’s 100+ spin-offs form a unique belt of at an implantable prototype: radio communication, electronics to knowledge-driven high-tech companies in and around process signals, a power source, technology to hold everything Leuven and are responsible for thousands of direct jobs together, and all in a protective casing,” explains Professor Puers. and a large number of secondary jobs in supply and With the support of an ERC Advanced Grant, he is working to support positions. Well-known examples include LMS, develop a broadly applicable strategy for assembling components. Thrombogenics, Materialise, etc.

RESEARCH VALORISATION

Research is important both as the basis of knowledge creation and as the foundation of university-level education. Research can also have important economic implications. KU Leuven’s research community, socially embedded as it is, recognises and cultivates the opportunities this presents. Research valorisation constitutes an important form of societal return. Much of the university’s research is carried out in the context of development cooperation and partnerships with universities in the developing world. Research valorisation may also take on a commercial form.

14 RESEARCH

The heartbeats of baby stars

Determining the age of stars has long been a challenge for astronomers. In experiments published in Science, an international team of researchers led by Konstanze Zwintz (Institute for Astronomy) show that ‘baby’ stars can be distinguished from ‘adolescent’ stars by measuring the acoustic waves they emit.

“Think of it as ultrasound of stellar embryos,” explains Professor Jaymie Matthews, a co-author of the study from the University of British Colombia. “Stars can vibrate due to sound waves bouncing inside. We detect the sound vibrations across the vacuum of space by the subtle changes in stellar brightness. Then we translate the frequencies of those vibrations into models of the structures of those stars’ hidden interiors.”

“Our data shows that younger stars vibrate slower while the stars nearer to adulthood vibrate faster,” adds Dr. Zwintz. “We now have a model that more precisely measures the age of young stars and can subdivide young stars according to their various life phases.”

15 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Honorary doctorates are conferred during the university’s Patron Saint’s Day celebration. This year’s honourees were recognised for outstanding work in the field of global poverty reduction.

NEERA ADARKAR: MUMBAI in the work of today’s architects and award-winning book Poor Economics, AS AN ‘INCLUSIVE CITY’ expressed her sense of responsibility in which he makes a case for solving to speak out on behalf of disadvan- global poverty. By adopting randomised Promotor Bruno De Meulder lauded taged urban groups. The new doctor control trials as a research tool – a Indian architect Neera Adarkar for honoris causa said that her activism methodology borrowed from medicine defending the rights of people in has evolved over the years into a – he has significantly increased the poor urban communities, be it with constructive discussion, but one in reliability and robustness of research her pen, a megaphone, or in court. which resistance – when necessary results in the social sciences. This As an urbanist, she sees her task as – still has an important place. work has given us new, well-grounded a march toward the modern city and insights into the actual nature of a march for the rights of the citizens poverty. living in it. As a researcher, she reports ABHIJIT BANERJEE: THE on the complexities of Mumbai and REAL NATURE OF POVERTY In his remarks, Professor Banerjee the groups occupying the city’s myriad called attention to the increasing spaces – particularly the workers in Professor Abhijit Banerjee is professor complexity of poverty. But precisely the city’s textile sector. of economics at MIT. Promotor Jo this conceptual shift – from poverty Swinnen praised Banerjee as a first- as one big problem to poverty as In accepting her honorary doctorate, rate theorist and empiricist who has many diverse problems – should be Neera Adarkar called the award a tangibly influenced methodology in seen as a positive development, recognition of her activism and hoped his discipline. He has also succeeded says Professor Banerjee, because it it would lend credibility to her ongoing in bringing his research results to allows us to begin chipping away at efforts. She spoke on the role of gender the general public, not least with his each of them, one by one. And this

16 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

shift has brought about real results. In accepting his honorary doctorate, Her search for the causal pathways Statistics show a drastic decrease in Professor Marmot passionately empha - of health problems led to insights overall poverty over the past decades. sised that health inequalities are not that have impacted both medicine Professor Banerjee: “The work remains so much a result of lack of knowl- and society. Her work to fight social challenging, but there are many ways edge or resources – we have both in inequality in healthcare has signifi- to solve poverty so long as we are relative abundance. What is lacking cantly improved the health and patient and so long as we focus our is political will. Are we fully convinced welfare of many Australians, particularly efforts on concrete problems rather of and committed to making health among the Aboriginal community. than a nebulous idea of ‘making the equality a major priority? Sir Michael world a better place’.” conjured Martin Luther King, Jr.’s In her remarks, Stanley emphasised I Have a Dream speech: the real the importance of framing progress tragedy is not so much that we fail in in terms other than GDP. She ex- MICHAEL MARMOT: DARING trying to carry out our dream, it is pressed criticism of the promised TO DREAM failing to dream in the first place. ‘trickle-down effect’, which posits He invited the university community that benefits provided to the rich Sir Michael Marmot was introduced to dare to dream of a better world, will eventually benefit the poor by by Professor Bert Aertgeerts, who and to take the steps necessary to improving the economy as a whole. sketched a career dedicated to achieve it. In order to bring about a real civil resear ching and correcting health society, we must treat the core causes, and healthcare inequalities, and this she said, not just the superficial spanning the gap between research FIONA STANLEY: A REAL symptoms. Underlying problems must and policy. Governments have used CIVIL SOCIETY be brought to light and addressed. Marmot’s recommendations to alle- Only once this is done can we trans- viate inequalities between socio-eco- Working on the basis of large-scale form an uncivil society into its more nomic strata of society, and while population studies and advanced humane successor. Marmot’s work is focused on Britain analysis of population data sets, – his broad survey of British civil the Australian epidemiologist Fiona servants, which came to be known Stanley has mainly focused her work as the Whitehall studies, is a prime on premature birth and young brain example – his recommendations have disorders. Promotor Paul De Cock inspired policymakers in communities described how her research and its around the world. resulting recommendations to the Australian government helped im- prove prenatal and neonatal care.

17 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

On 30 October, KU Leuven’s Faculty of Bioscience Engineering conferred an honorary doctorate on Margaret Bath, Senior Vice President Research, Quality and Technology at the Kellogg Company. Ms. Bath was honoured for her role as a proponent of the ‘triple helix’ model.

This model emphasises close bonds between university, industry and govern ment in an innovative society. Margaret Bath applies this successfully across the entire food chain, ‘from farm to fork’. “She actively values universities and research institutes not only as sources of human capital, knowledge and technology, but also as cultivators of new discoveries and companies,” said Professor Delcour, her promotor, in remarks at the conferral ceremony.

Canadian/American chemical engineer Gerald Fuller was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Engineering Science on 3 June. The professor was recognised for his cutting-edge research into the properties of soft materials and complex fluids.

Gerald Fuller is Fletcher Jones II Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, where he has served as a faculty member of the Department of Chemical Engineering since 1981. His work – often carried out in collaboration with researchers at KU Leuven – led to many important innovations, from more efficient processing of plastics and improved optimisation of droplets in ink-jet printers to new solutions for dry-eye syndrome and improved tear film stability.

Professor Jean Poesen was honoured by his Polish peers at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin as “one of the most prominent representatives of physical geography and geomorphology in the world”. The university awarded him an honorary doctorate on 24 April for his research on geomorphological processes, soil erosion and soil conservation. For the past ten years, Professor Poesen has been included in the Essential Science Indicators Scientists, a list maintained by Thompson Reuters that compiles the world’s top 1% of most cited researchers. Among the wide range of research topics on which Professor Poesen publishes are erosion and erosion control, soil and water conservation, the impact of environmental changes on soil erosion and experimental geomorphological techniques.

18 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Each year, King Philippe confers titles of nobility upon prominent Belgians in recog- nition of outstanding achievement. On this select list were four KU Leuven professors.

Professor emeritus Herman Daems may henceforth call himself Baron. He studied physics and economics and earned his doctorate in economics in 1975. He served as a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business for nearly thirty years (1982-2011) where he specialised in strategic management. He has lectured at various universities and business schools around the world, including Harvard Business School and the University of California, Los Angeles. He has served, and continues to serve, on the executive boards of various Belgian and international companies and not-for-profit organisations. From 1999 to 2011, he was chairman of the board of directors of Gimv. He is currently the chairman of the board of BNP Paribas Fortis and has served since 2012 as the chair of the Board of Governors of KU Leuven.

Professor Peter Adriaenssens was named Commander in the Order of Leopold. He is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and holds a part-time professorship at the Faculty of Medicine. He has published extensively on early childhood development. Professor Adriaenssens is also director of the Flemish Brabant Trust Centre for Child Abuse and chaired the ‘Adriaenssens Commission’, which investigated sexual abuse in the Church.

Professor emeritus Jean-Jacques Cassiman was also named Commander in the Order of Leopold. He is a world-renowned scientist in the field of forensics, DNA and human genetics. He graduated in 1967 with a degree in medicine and went on to become a genetics researcher at Stanford University. In 1976, he went to work at the Centre for Human Genetics, raising to department chair in 1998. He is well known among the public for having solved several high-profile forensic mysteries using DNA analysis.

Oncologist Baki Topal received the title of Commander in the Order of the Crown. He graduated in 1996 as a surgeon and went on to receive his PhD in 2003. He is a part-time professor at the Faculty of Medicine. He also heads the Abdominal Surgical Oncology Unit at KU Leuven and Abdominal Surgery Unit at University Hospitals Leuven. Professor Topal is specialised in minimum-invasive surgical techniques for the liver, gallbladder, stomach and pancreas. His research examines new, less invasive and lower-mortality surgical techniques for pancreas cancer.

19 UNIVERSITY AND SOCIETY

Research results and expertise can contribute greatly to the public debate and public opinion. As the interdisciplinary think tank of the university, Metaforum aims to optimise the university’s academic and scientific contribution to this discourse.

Metaforum’s interdisciplinary work groups produce vision Metaforum includes a ‘horizontal’ work group working to papers on pressing social issues. elaborate an overarching, long-term vision for Europe.

Under Metaforum’s ‘Euroforum’ branch, a number of work Metaforum also organises the Politea Conference, geared groups are reaching out to representatives of the European toward exposing a broad audience to innovative insights Commission to stimulate dialogue between research and that inspire dialogue on the future of our society. Important policy in the context of the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy. In addition contemporary issues are presented and discussed by experts to work groups focused on five strategic themes (employ- from various scientific disciplines at current event lectures ment; research, development and innovation; climate change held throughout the year. and energy; education; and poverty and social exclusion),

20 UNIVERSITY AND SOCIETY

SOLIDARITY Development cooperation in style

Research and education constitute the university’s key tools for fulfilling its responsibility to society and the wider world. The university community is also dedicated to helping those in need via yearly fundraisers and social outreach programmes.

KU Leuven has traditionally devoted special attention and resources to development cooperation. This includes study and research bursaries, diverse projects carried out in cooperation with universities in the developing world, institutional support for key partners in the Global South, etc.

Each year, a total of nearly 12 million euros is appropriated to the University Development Cooperation (via VLIR-UOS, the Flemish Interuniversity Council - University Development Now celebrating its fourth year, the Umoja Fashion Show has established Cooperation). KU Leuven contributes own funds as well, itself as a yearly classic, not least for our in-house photographer. primarily in the form of bursaries for doctoral researchers The show – jointly organised by students, the Development Coop- from the Global South. LUMOS (Leuven University Medical eration Unit and the International Students Cell – is a twirling fashion Development and Solidarity) coordinates the projects of spectacle full of African-accented clothing and music. This year’s University Hospitals Leuven in Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon edition was held in the Museum Hall on Sunday, 23 March. and elsewhere.

Bloedserieus Leuven, a cooperative effort between the student associations of the faculties of Medicine and Bioengineering, respectively, has been a fixture of university life in Leuven for 25 years. Blood drives are organised twice a year in cooperation with the Belgian Red Cross and Bloedserieus Week. Students can give blood at various locations around the city. The effort has enjoyed spectacular success, attracting many thousands of donors each year.

21 GIVING AND FUNDRAISING

The government and, through it, society make a considerable effort to enable the university to fulfil as many of its goals as possible. But the university’s ambitions almost always exceed the financial means available to it. The Leuven University Fund (LUF) plays an important role in bridging the gap between budget and ambition. With LUF support, our researchers can explore new fields not supported by conventional funding.

Bursaries provide opportunities for promising students. The Roger Dillemans Fund awards excellence grants to students in specialised degree programmes. Unifos awards scholarships with the aim of contributing to the development of the capabilities of universities in developing countries.

Endowed funds, many of which carry the name of their donor, support specific activities within the university. The Arne Loosveldt Fund, for example, provides funding for KU Leuven students to participate in national and international mathematics competitions. Nobel Prize winner Leymah Gbowee lends her name and support to the Leymah Gbowee Scholarship Fund for Leadership for African Women, which gives women from Liberia, Ghana Rector Emeritus Roger Dillemans surrounded by laureates of the endowed and Sierra Leone the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s fund named in his honour. degree in their own region and further their education with a master’s degree at KU Leuven.

Since 1982, the university has established a number of prestigious endowed chairs bearing the name of the chair’s benefactor. Endowing a chair is an excellent way to mark the commitment of individuals, associations and businesses to the university’s research and teaching activities.

A memorial gift is a financial contribution made by the estate of a deceased donor.

22 GIVING AND FUNDRAISING

‘Opening the Future’ on a new scale The search for lymphoma treatment

Opening the Future is a large- Professor Verhoef (Laboratory of Experimental Hematology): “Some scale fundraising campaign lymphomas (an umbrella term for the 40 malignant disorders of the lymph geared toward funding ad- nodes) are rare. We register just ten to twenty per year – hardly enough vanced, high-risk, high-reward data to conduct reliable research. And limited data also makes it difficult research. The campaign is to find research funds. That is why I am incredibly happy that Mieke Gaul embedded within the Leuven is starting this fund. It gives our work an impulse. We can now gather University Fund (LUF), which more data and pursue new research paths. These elements are crucial provides administrative support, when submitting grant proposals to organisations such as the Research but otherwise operates parallel Foundation – Flanders (FWO).” and under the guidance of its own campaign board and man- “We have been researching rare lymphomas for many years. We want to agement. examine as many characteristics – immune-histological, chromosomal, genetic – as possible and measure their response to therapy. In this way, Campaign chair Urbain Vandeurzen is a co-founder of LMS, we hope to identify new, less toxic and more efficient treatment options. honorary chair of Voka and current chairman of the board of Currently, we are testing a number of different molecules in animal directors of Gimv: “Opening the Future aims at research into models that may one day help our patients.” brain disorders, which by far and away constitute the most challenging global medical-scientific challenge out there, even more so than cancer and other problems. Brain disorders affect many people and families. We are focusing on three neurodegenerative diseases – Alzheimer’s, ALS and muscular dystrophy – in addition to autism. Research in these areas remains very incomplete; brain research is still in its pioneer Growth despite economic crisis days.” The Leuven University Fund (LUF) received more than 20 million euros in gifts in 2013. That is more than fifty percent more than in 2012. “We find that many people see a donation for a promising project as a meaningful investment,” says Isabel Penne, director of the LUF.

Benefactors can support the university through a gift, the establishment A flame for Duchenne muscular dystrophy of a fund or endowed chair, or by including KU Leuven in their will. “More than 8,000 people decided to lend their financial support to innovative projects in this way,” says Isabel Penne. “The funds support researchers, promising doctoral students and other staff members to pursue an ambitious plan, whether it be teaching-related, research-related, or social outreach.”

“It is striking how robustly we continue to grow despite the crisis. People often tell us that a gift that supports research and helps find a solution is a better investment, and yields better results, than other forms of investment.” An enchanting scene on Saturday, 28 September in the Oude Markt, where 20,000 candles were lit in support of the Rondou Fund for Duchenne Research. The fund raises money for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that affects one in 3,000 new-borns males. The disease results in muscle degeneration and eventual death. There is no current cure.

23 More than 11,000 students filled the The archives of the University of Leuven (1425-1797) have KU Leuven welcomes over 2,000 new international Ladeuzeplein on Wednesday, 25 September officially been incorporated into UNESCO’s Memory of the students each year. The university provides a host of for Student Welcome, a two-day celebration World Register, a list of the world’s foremost documentary programming to ensure that these students receive marking the beginning of the academic year. heritage. a warm welcome, including the Buddy Programme. The event included live music, an activity The programme pairs international students with a fair, cultural info, sport demos and culinary The archives, including the minutes of the university courts, Belgian counterpart, who provides guidance on all surprises. On the musical menu were provide insight into the functioning of the early modern aspects of student life in Leuven. The Blues Vision (winners of the KU Leuven university and demonstrate the interactions between students, rock rally ‘Students on Stage’), Compact professors and the broader society. Among the documents This year 976 pairs participated, among them Hala, Disk Dummies, Safi & Spreej and are the charters establishing papal and princely privileges. from Egypt, and Marthe, from Flanders. “This is an The Opposites. These gave the university the power to appoint Church ideal way to learn more about Belgium,” says Hala. functionaries, making it a very influential player in the She signed up for the programme before leaving society of the day. Cairo for Leuven. Marthe is a first-year student in Arabic studies and was looking for some extra UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme is dedicated to Arabic practice – a perfect match for Hala. the sustainable preservation of member states’ documentary heritage. The Memory of the World Register was established “I don’t have any friends in Leuven to speak Arabic to further this aim by identifying the world’s most extraordinary with,” says Hala. “It’s really nice to be able speak with examples of documentary heritage. The registry contains Marthe in my own language – and it’s going well. I was documents and collections from five continents preserved really impressed by her Arabic. She’s only in her first on media ranging from stone and parchment to celluloid year but she understands a lot. Marthe is learning and sound recordings. Modern Standard Arabic while I’m used to speaking an Egyptian dialect. Sometimes Marthe uses words I almost forgot existed. It’s great fun.” EDUCATION AND

24 It’s a conundrum faced by many bleary-eyed Top model Louise Maselis (20) rolled back her Medical student Marjolein Geuens (24) pulls the exam crammers: how to stay fed, watered and career to focus on completing a master’s degree world’s best pint. She was chosen by a jury of sane during the exam period while maximizing in communication sciences: “I had had enough the Stella Artois World Draught Masters. “I think study (and relaxation) time. LOKO has the answer: of people seeing me for my appearance alone.” it’s important that a pint be served with enthusiasm SOS Cram. Students post a quotidian request on and precision. And a frothy head.” the SOS Cram Facebook page – “Could you do Our photographer could not have asked for a my dishes?”, “Would you mind picking up some better assignment. During the shoot, Louise Even when serving, Marjolein is a doctor in training: fresh highlighters for me?”, “Could you please Maselis handles herself like the professional “I am absolutely convinced of the importance of iron my dress shirt before my exam tomorrow?” she is – she has appeared on the cover of Vogue, learning to deal with alcohol responsibly. When a – and volunteers will see to it that it gets done. Elle and Marie Claire after all. Her star rose fast: customer has clearly had enough, I stop serving. “Friends encouraged me to try modelling so I That does not always come over well, but as a Rector Rik Torfs kicked off this year’s edition by signed up with Elite Amsterdam. One week later bartender, that is my responsibility. I also keep an dropping off groceries for Dutch student Anna I was on a plane to China for the Elite Model Look eye on customers who may have had too much Catharine Sprenkeling and her Bolivian friend contest. I had never worn high heels before. to drink – I make sure they do not leave alone, Joaquin Morando. In her post on the SOS Cram Looking back I walked down the catwalk like for example.” Facebook page, Anna Catharine sarcastically a goose.” She must have been doing something recalled a line from Rector Torfs’ address at the right because she was selected Elite Model As ‘world champion’, Marjolein will act as an opening of the academic year: “He told us all to of the Year. Out of 300,000 competitors. ambassador for Stella Artois. “The specifics ‘stay hungry’,” she quipped. “I promise you, At the age of fifteen. haven’t been sorted out yet, but it looks like we’ve definitely been following his advice.” I will be promoting Stella Artois abroad.” D STUDENT LIFE

Teaching and research reinforce and influence each other. Together they create the stimulating environment that makes a university so unique and they form the foundation of the university’s role as a crucial societal actor. Professors, students and staff are all part of this educational process, which is characterised by the common and substantive pursuit of knowledge. The university community rearticulated its strategic vision for education in the course of the 2013-2014 academic year. Students – and their prospects for the future – are at the centre of this vision, which is now being implemented by all of the university’s faculties. Newly-launched projects help students structure, deepen and expand their plans for the future.

25 EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE

STUDENT ENROLMENT DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Following the integration of the university colleges, the In 2012-2013, KU Leuven offered 40 Dutch-language university added 13,000 students to its admission rolls bachelor’s programmes in Leuven, two of which also had and gained around 1,300 staff members. an English-language track. 86 Dutch-language initial master’s programmes were offered, 35 of which were also As of 1 February 2014, the ‘entire’ KU Leuven counted offered in English and one of which was offered in French. 53,977 students. Among them, 14% are ‘generation Additionally, seven Erasmus Mundus degree programmes students’ (students enrolling at a Flemish institution of were offered. 19 Dutch-language, 27 English-language higher education for the first time). KU Leuven’s student and one Spanish-language advanced master’s programmes population can be broken down as follows: were offered. An increasing number of degree programmes are organised in partnership with universities in Belgium Bachelor 47 % and abroad. As a comprehensive university, KU Leuven’s

Initial Master 33 % degree programmes span nearly all fields of study.

Advanced Master 5 % Doctoral 9 % INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Academic Teacher Training 1 %

Other 5 % More than 7,500 students – 14% of the student population – are ‘international’. Together they represent 147 nationalities. As of 1 February 2014, the countries with the largest student The largest student populations are found in the following populations are: faculties:

EU Economics and Business 8,615 Netherlands 1,454 Medicine 7,724 Spain 380 Arts 5,835 Italy 339 Law 5,228 Germany 282 Engineering Technology 5,107 Poland 168 Engineering 4,910

Non-EU The ratio of male to female students is even at 50/50. However, the gender ratio fluctuates across disciplines. China 640

Male students have traditionally been strongly represented India 320 in the Science and Engineering disciplines while female students are strongly represented in Pharmaceutical United States 254 Sciences, Psychology and Education. Iran 194

Turkey 149

26 EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE

The International Office plays a central role in implement- New degree programme in Islamic Theology and Religious ing the university’s international policy. Its team of experts Studies provides policy support, interacts with faculties and foreign partners, develops projects and programmes, carries out academic diplomacy, bolsters the position of KU Leuven abroad and oversees an international alumni network with chapters in metropolitan cities around the world.

The International Admissions and Mobility Unit is an important contact point for international students and researchers. It provides intercultural guidance and admin- istration services for international admissions and bursaries. The unit also coordinates Orientation Days, a programme of events designed to help newly arrived international Rector Rik Torfs and lecturer Naïma Lafrarchi students and researchers get settled in to their new home away from home. Additionally, the unit plans other initiatives Starting in the 2014-2015 academic year, KU Leuven will offer a throughout the year aimed at providing a practical, culturally one-year programme in Islamic Theology and Religious Studies. enriching and accessible introduction to the city and the “This is not an imam seminary but rather an academic introduction university. focusing on the interaction between Islam, other religions and Western culture,” explained Professor Lieven Boeve, Dean of the Faculty of Outgoing international mobility is strongly promoted Theology and Religious Studies. through active participation in the Erasmus programme, which enables Belgian students to study abroad for up to The new programme is tailored both to Muslims looking to deepen a year at a foreign university. their knowledge of Islam and others who encounter Islam on a regular basis – theology teachers, cultural consultants, educators, businessmen and health professionals with Muslim clients, and anyone else with STUDY STRUCTURE AND STUDENT an interest in Islam within the Western context. Students will become ADVISING acquainted with conceptions of faith and lifestyle within Islam.

KU Leuven implements the concept of ‘diploma space’, which combines a clear study structure with flexibility. Students have significant freedom in planning out a personalised path to graduation. To ensure a timely grad- uation perspective, students can make use of specialised EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND INNOVATION advising services, which offer binding and non-binding study plan frameworks. The Study Advice Service assists The research-oriented nature of a university education more than 6,000 students each year and offers guidance guarantees its substantive renewal, while the integration to non-traditional and transfer students. Additionally, each of technological tools and innovative pedagogy ensures faculty has monitors and counsellors on staff who play a that the university’s educational perspective remains up- key role in student advising. to-date. The Leuven Institute for Media and Learning (LIMEL) supports the university in its mission to provide qualitative academic education based on high-level scientific research with a view toward service to society. Simultaneously, it provides innovative educational concepts and new technology resources to ensure that the university's curricula reflect the state of the art.

27 EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE

Extended master’s programmes LIFELONG LEARNING

The Flemish government has approved A university education does not end with a diploma. the first applications for extended master’s Lecture series, short and long training courses and programmes. The programmes in Arabic postgraduate programmes, pursued part-time or on the Studies, Japanese Studies, and Chinese weekends, are an ideal way for ‘graduates’ to keep Studies will become two-year programmes abreast of new developments and skills in their field. starting in the 2017-2018 academic year. The flexibility of today’s education structure provides many “In 2004, we rolled out the current new and varied opportunities for non-traditional students. bachelor-master structure. Previously, Lifelong learning has an important place in this new structure. pre-doctoral programmes were arranged Holders of a bachelor’s degree can continue on to various in two-year ‘candidatures’ followed by two-year ‘licentiates’. With an master’s programmes (possibly subject to a preparatory eye to conforming to European norms, this structure was replaced programme). Transitional pathways are in place to accom- by three-year bachelor’s programmes. For budgetary reasons, most modate many kinds of non-traditional students, including master’s programmes were limited to one year,” explains Vice Rector holders of a professional bachelor’s degree seeking to for Education Didier Pollefeyt. advance on to an academic master’s programme, transfer students wishing to switch disciplines, working students, etc. “We have learned from experience that this is not ideal. Firstly, most master’s programmes elsewhere in Europe are two-year programmes. Secondly, one year is simply not enough time to transfer the com- petences needed to attain an internationally competitive level. UNIVERSITY LIFE And thirdly, experience shows that more and more students spread their master’s studies over two years anyway in order to add a Leuven is a relatively small city of approximately 100,000 semester abroad or do an internship. All this makes adding a second inhabitants, of which approximately 30,000 live in the city year to master’s programmes a clear priority.” centre. Add to this a large university with more than 40,000 students at its main campus and the result is a truly unique environment far more international and youthful than a ‘normal’ city of similar size. Leuven is also Toledo is the university’s online learning platform. It has home to several university colleges (KHLeuven, Lemmens become an irreplaceable tool in the modern learning Institute, Group T), making the student presence in the city process. Kotnet provides high-speed Internet to all univer- unmistakable. sity residences. Special arrangements are also in place to provide students living in privately owned housing with KU Leuven’s Housing Service helps students find a Internet access at affordable rates. comfortable place to live while in Leuven. With several thousand student rooms under university management, Students as well as members of the teaching staff enjoy KU Leuven offers extensive housing options for all living specialised services directed toward optimising education, situations. Many students also find housing on the private including teacher training, curriculum development and market. The Housing Service maintains a database of exposure to new teaching tools and methods. available university and private student rooms at www.kotwijs.be. A system of internal evaluations and external peer review ensure that excellence in teaching is maintained. Many students take their meals at an Alma. The university’s network of student restaurants serves nearly 2 million meals each year at very affordable prices.

In Leuven, you are never far from A to B. Getting around is easy on foot, by bicycle or by public bus. The city centre is decidedly pedestrian-friendly, which makes walking a pleasure and driving somewhat of a pain.

28 EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE

The university also provides various services for students CULTURE seeking financial, legal and employment advice. The Social Services Office provides information and guidance regard- Leuven’s cultural landscape is as varied as it is rich. From ing student finances, including need-based scholarships. large-scale to small-scale, highbrow to art-house, classical The Legal Office specialises in fielding social-juridical to techno, the city has something to fit everyone’s fancy. questions about students’ particular socio-legal status. The university strives to do its part to nurture this and The Student Employment Office helps place students gives students and staff every opportunity to participate in part-time, temporary and holiday jobs. The service also in the rich cultural life of the city. provides information on laws governing the social and fiscal aspects of student employment.

For primary medical care, student walk-ins are welcome at the Student Health Centre, which is staffed by excellent general practitioners with decades of experience treating young adults. The centre also provides health information and education tailored to a student audience.

Additionally, the centre offers outpatient psychotherapy and psychiatric care for individuals and groups. Students visit the centre with study-related issues such as exam anxiety, chronic procrastination and concentration problems. Students experiencing depression, anxiety and relationship issues can also seek support here.

An harassment prevention counselor provides support and guidance to students experiencing harassment and violence of a sexual or non-sexual nature.

SENSE OF PURPOSE

The philosophical and religious aspects of university life take on various forms in our multicultural university community. The University Parish provides Catholic worship services in Dutch and coordinates a number of other initiatives inspired by a social or philosophical purpose. It organises workshops, common residences, retreats, volunteer projects and more.

Catholic worship services are also organised in English, French and Spanish. Protestant, Evangelical, Orthodox and Muslim members of the university community organise additional worship services and activities. Modern dance in the Jubilee Hall, classical singing on the foyer stair- All degree programmes include the course ‘Perspectives case, an experimental video projection through a curtain of Barbie on Religion and Meaning’. dolls in the Promotion Hall – the Faculty STARs pooled their artistic forces on 15 May for an engaging closing event in the University Halls, the pinnacle of their experience as the student artist-in-residence for their respective faculty.

29 EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE

LOKO

LOKO, KU Leuven’s umbrella student organisation, plays a central role in student life at the university. Approximately thirty student organisations, organised by faculty, find a common voice through LOKO.

LOKO appoints student representatives to various leader - ship bodies inside and outside the university, including the Executive Board, the Academic Council and the Board of Governors. LOKO also dispatches representatives to the university’s various social services and to Acco, The city’s thoughtful cultural policy – the result of a coop- the ‘academic cooperative’ that supplies course readers, erative effort by the city, its cultural organisations and the textbooks, books and study materials at competitive university – and a widely varied infrastructure create an prices. LOKO is also represented in the various education- excellent framework for active participation and expression. related advisory and policy bodies.

Two university carillons, eight ensembles, museum-calibre LOKO organises a full schedule of activities including the exhibitions, a centuries-old patrimony, performances by annual 24-hour Run, the Student Marathon, the Ithaca Arts rising and established stars ... the cultural richness of the Festival and more. LOKO International caters specifically city and the university literally fills volumes. to international students, ensuring a warm welcome in Leuven as well as student representation.

SPORT

Tucked away in the green Arenberg Park is the University Language tests for lecturers gains international accreditation Sport Centre. This expansive and modern complex offers students and staff members access to numerous indoor Last year, lecturers at all Flemish universities – including 999 at and outdoor sports, both recreational and competitive, KU Leuven – were required by the Flemish government to demonstrate ranging from tennis to climbing and basketball to paragliding. proficiency in English as a prerequisite for using the language as a medium for instruction. For fitness enthusiasts, personal trainers are on staff at the fully equipped fitness centre. There is also a swimming But implementing the test was just the first half of the story: would pool, tennis courts, several soccer fields and an all-weather the method itself gain international accreditation? The answer – track, among other facilities. published in a report for Education Minister Pascal Smet submitted on 14 May by the Flemish Council for Universities and University Topsport ABC, which includes a high-altitude simulation Colleges (VLUHR) – is yes. The VLUHR is an organisation of universities, room among its facilities, provides sports medicine expertise university colleges and associations that jointly determines external (exercise physiology, nutrition, sports rehabilitation) for quality assurance standards. “Three internationally recognised Belgian and international elite athletes. Student-athletes experts in the field of academic language attestation thoroughly wishing to combine their studies with a competitive sport reviewed the portfolio method and issued a positive evaluation,” can arrange to do so in consultation with the centre’s explains Vice Rector for Education Didier Pollefeyt. “The panel’s Student Services Office. findings were also accepted by the other universities. In other words, we can now certify that those who passed the test possess a good The Bakala Academy Athletic Performance Center is command of English equivalent to a C1 level in the Common European dedicated to stimulating innovation in exercise, training Framework. That is not to be understated.” and sport. The state-of-the-art facility for sport science research and education serves both professional and recreational athletes.

30 EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE

ALUMNI

The link between the university and its students persists long after graduation. KU Leuven alumni establish and maintain connections via 35 alumni chapters, all of which are members of Alumni Lovanienses, the umbrella alumni association founded in 1968. Central to its tasks is the management of a mailing list numbering more than 160,000 alumni. The individual alumni chapters and the umbrella association coordinate a wide range of activities, including lecture series, concerts, reunions and group trips.

Together with the International Office, Alumni Lovanienses also coordinates the chapters for international alumni. KU Leuven graduates regularly reconnect in their home countries, usually on a regional basis. There are alumni branches in Russia, Kenya, Canada and the United States. The KU Leuven China Alumni Club was founded three years ago, becoming the first university-wide alumni chapter for an entire country. This network not only brings former students together, but also significantly increases the university’s exposure in China, strengthens existing and potential partnerships and assists in selecting new students and researchers.

Alumni are KU Leuven’s ‘ambassadors’. They make a very real contribution to the university’s image in all areas of society. This is especially true abroad. In a recent survey of 4,000 alumni, the overwhelming majority of respondents was resoundingly positive about the education they received at KU Leuven and said that their KU Leuven degree Both the International Office and the services of Alumni Lovanienses are prepared them well for life and work beyond the university. housed in the Atrechtcollege.

31 INTEGRATION AND ASSOCIATION

INTEGRATION OF THE ACADEMIC bachelor’s programmes on the one hand and academic PROGRAMMES OF THE KU LEUVEN bachelor’s and master’s programmes on the other. ASSOCIATION INTO KU LEUVEN That second category included all university-level degree programmes as well as the ‘long-type’ degree programmes at the university colleges. The decree also stipulated that As of 1 October 2013, KU Leuven has campuses spread academic degree programmes be strongly grounded in across eleven cities in Flanders. This is the result of the research. For the university colleges’ long-type degree integration of the academic degree programmes of a programmes, this entailed a dedicated effort to build a number of university colleges into the university, which, full-fledged research component into the curriculum. in turn, came about in response to the Bologna Declaration This effort was called ‘academisation’. of 19 June 1999. The declaration aims to harmonise the reciprocal mobility, international competition and appeal In order to develop and strengthen research in the academic of higher education across Europe. This called for wide- degree programmes, the university colleges joined forces reaching reforms, including the implementation of a uniform with a university within the framework of an ‘association’. framework of qualifications based on bachelor’s and The KU Leuven Association – a network consisting of master’s degrees. the university and several university colleges throughout Flanders – was established on 10 July 2002. Previous to Bologna, the Flemish higher education system was organised according to a three-tier structure: in addition Under the guidance and stimulus of the Association, to university-level degree programmes, two-cycle and one- cooperation between the university colleges and the university cycle degree programmes were offered at the university flourished. colleges (in Dutch, hogescholen). This system was poised to change after Bologna. The Flemish Structural Decree of 2003 stipulated how: a two-tier structure with professional

OSTEND ANTWERP BRUGES GEEL

GHENT SINT-KATELIJNE-WAVER

AALST LEUVEN DIEPENBEEK KORTRIJK BRUSSELS

32 INTEGRATION AND ASSOCIATION

In 2012, the Flemish Government ratified the Integration The degree programmes remain where they are and their Decree, the next big step in the reform process. The decree regional anchoring remains intact. Existing and future stipulated the integration of the university colleges’ aca - cooperation with regional authorities and companies demised degree programmes into the university proper. remains guaranteed. Each degree programme maintains its unique educational and research signature. In October 2013, the academic degree programmes of nine university colleges integrated into KU Leuven, good Two new KU Leuven faculties were established as a for a total of 42 long-type degree programmes. These result of the integration – the Faculty of Engineering program mes span seven disciplines: architecture, industrial Technology and the Faculty of Architecture. Other degree engineering, business, environmental sciences and programmes integrated into existing faculties. Studying prevention management, applied dentistry, journalism at KU Leuven is now possible on campuses throughout and kinesiology and rehabilitation sciences. Flanders.

KU Leuven is responsible for the research policy, educational policy, quality assurance and staff policy of these degree KU LEUVEN ASSOCIATION AND INTEGRATION programmes, all of which are now full-fledged programmes of the university. The students enrolled in these programmes are KU Leuven students and they receive a KU Leuven The professional degree programmes – formerly ‘short- diploma upon graduation. Staff members affiliated with type’ programmes – did not integrate into the university. these degree programmes are KU Leuven staff. They remain under the purview of the university colleges. However, cooperation and mobility between the professional and academic degree programmes has continued and even deepened, and options for transferring from a professional to an academic programme, and vice KU Leuven unveils plans for new campus in Bruges versa, have been streamlined. These efforts are being spearheaded by the KU Leuven Association.

The academic degree programmes in the arts are also excluded from the integration process. They have joined forces with the professional degree programmes in the arts to form a School of Arts, which has a special, separate structure within the university college system.

The university colleges within the KU Leuven Association have also stepped up cooperation efforts with one another and are in the process of reorganising into four large, regionally embedded university colleges and the LUCA School of Arts. Lessius Antwerp, Lessius Mechelen and KU Leuven is building a new campus in Bruges. Construction is KHKempen have joined forces to form the new Thomas scheduled for completion in September 2016. The project is part of a More University College. In West Flanders, a cluster has master plan for the wider site. The new campus will house the new been formed under the name Vives and cooperation KU Leuven academic programmes currently being hosted at agreements have been signed between partners in the Catholic University College of Bruges-Ostend (commonly known Leuven and Limburg and Brussels and Ghent, respectively. by its Dutch initials, KHBO), namely, Industrial Engineering and The KU Leuven Association plays a central role in the Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences. The degree programmes logistic coordination of its members. in Industrial Engineering will relocate from Ostend to Bruges in 2016.

33 UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS LEUVEN AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS

University Hospitals Leuven (UZ Leuven), KU Leuven’s external audit in 2010 conducted by the independent network of research hospitals, is part of the university but accreditation organisation Joint Commission International functions as an autonomous healthcare organisation. (JCI). JCI accreditation was renewed in 2013, affirming Leuven University Hospitals’ core business philosophy: Gasthuisberg, ‘the city on the hill’, is the flagship campus to constantly strive for better and safer patient care. of University Hospitals Leuven but the network also includes the St. Raphael, St. Peter, Lubbeek (as of November 2012, a psychiatric care centre) and Pellenberg campuses. An overview of several important medical indicators provides an idea of the network’s scope: in 2013, the university hospitals handled 63,885 in-patients; 99,711 out-patients; 53,428 emergency room visits; 658,491 consultations; 50,744 operations and 304 transplants. Expressed in full-time equivalents, University Hospitals Leuven employed 6,415 staff members in 2013. In individuals, that number was 8,892.

University Hospitals Leuven has an important social, scientific and educational mission. It offers high-quality healthcare, plays a prominent role in the training of health professionals and develops new therapeutic and diagnostic insights and Towards personalised cancer therapies techniques in the broad field of health care. Implanting cancer tissue from a patient to mice and studying how University Hospitals Leuven aims to expand its position that tissue responds to various drugs can significantly speed the as a leading European academic medical centre. It strives search for an effective, patient-specific therapy. Professors Frédéric to attain and maintain the highest standards in quality of Amant, Sabine Tejpar and colleagues have made important strides care and patient safety. With this in mind, University Hospitals in implementing this ‘personalised’ model of cancer therapy. To bolster Leuven underwent and successfully passed a rigorous these efforts, they have established the new Fund for Innovative Cancer Research.

“A tumour xenograft is an implantation – a graft – of tumour tissue, which is implanted into a foreign body – hence xeno,” explains Professor Amant. “The tissue is allowed to grow in the foreign body – in our project, mice – until enough of it is available to use for testing medications. In most cases, that process takes a year. This may seem like a long time, but in that time our researchers map the genetic and other characteristics of the tumour. This makes it possible to apply a highly personalised approach to treatment, and that is sorely needed. Once a medication proves effective in the mice, the success rate in a patient with the same genetic

© UZ Leuven characteristics is much higher.”

34 UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS LEUVEN AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS

New centre for proton therapy

KU Leuven and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) are investing 40 million euros in a new research and treatment centre for proton therapy. The venture is also being supported by Ghent University Hospital. Proton therapy has shown to be an effective weapon in treating cancer in children and tumours of the central nervous system. The new centre, Belgium’s first, will be housed at University Hospitals Leuven’s Gasthuisberg campus and will be operated by teams from University Hospitals Leuven and Saint-Luc University Hospital.

Most cancer patients receive radiation therapy. Despite significant improvements in recent years, the method still adversely affects healthy tissue in the proximity of the tumour. Proton therapy offers a promising alternative. Proton therapy uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue, which allows the radiation dose to be intensified at the site of the tumour, while keeping the dose low in the surrounding healthy tissue. This minimises unwanted tissue damage and lowers the probability of relapse. © UZ Leuven

University Hospitals Leuven was also named a ‘Top Employer’ University Hospitals Leuven plays a key role in the KU Leuven for 2012, the fifth time it has earned that distinction. Flemish Hospital Network. This is an alliance of nineteen Flemish hospitals dedicated to optimising quality and Providing high quality patient care and conducting quality efficiency in the areas of patient care, education, research translational research requires an adequate infrastructure. and management. To this end, the Health Sciences Campus is currently being built in Gasthuisberg in a joint effort by the university and the university hospitals to bring patient care facilities, education and advanced research together in one single location. More than 1,000 doctoral and 400 postdoctoral researchers in biomedical sciences carry out their work in at the campus’ research facilities. Their efforts are guided by more than 600 university professors, half of which also practice clinical medicine at University Hospitals Leuven.

The integration of the university’s Biomedical Sciences Group with University Hospitals Leuven constitutes an exceptional added value for translational research, inno- vation, and basic and specialised clinical education. University Hospitals Leuven is one of Europe’s largest hospitals. To advance innovation, an organisational culture was developed to encourage organic structures, bottom-up initiatives and the stimulation of entrepreneurship and individual employee initiative. The HR team that led this transformation was awarded an ‘Employer of the Year’ award in 2014.

35 KU Leuven Newsroom Naamsestraat 22 box 5002 3000 LEUVEN Belgium

tel. + 32 16 32 40 10 fax + 32 16 32 40 14 www.kuleuven.be/communicatie

Editor: Ludo Meyvis Translator: Jack McMartin Production: KU Leuven Newsroom, October 2014 Publisher (v.u.): Sigrid Somers Photos © KU Leuven – Rob Stevens (unless otherwise cited)

KU LEUVEN NEWSROOM Naamsestraat 22 box 5002 3000 LEUVEN Belgium v.u.: Sigrid Somers, Naamsestraat 22, 3000 Leuven v.u.: