Ghent University Association Site Visit

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Ghent University AssociationSite Visit
Welcome
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Programme - morning

• 10h30 Welcome Prof. dr. P. Van Cauwenberghe,
  chairman Executive Committee Ghent University
  Association
• 10h40 Introducing Higher Education in Flanders
  Mr. Tom Dekeyzer, Cabinet Minister of Education
• 11h00 Questions followed by coffee break
• 11h45 Presentations
• Ghent University Association (Frederik De Decker)
• Ghent University (Valère Meus)
• Ghent University College (Sofie Truwant Cyr De
  Rycke)
• University college Arteveldehogeschool (Petra
  Gillis)
• University college West Flanders (Isabelle
  Pertry)
• 13h00 Lunch

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Programme - afternoon

• 14h30
• Walk through Ghent with a focus on the
  associations embedding in the city
• Closing drink in The Bijloke (Ghent University
  College)
• 16h30
• Distribution of Information Packages
• Return to Antwerp (from Bijlokekaai) by bus

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by prof. dr. P. Van Cauwenberghe, rector Ghent
University chairman Executive Committee Ghent
University Association
Welcome
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Ghent University Association
Introducing
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Context

• Bologna Declaration, 1999 catalyst for
  educational reform
• Structural decree 4th of April 2003 legal
  foundation of associations in Flanders
• Collaboration between one university and one or
  more university colleges
• 5 in Flanders
• (Antwerpen Brussel Gent Hasselt Leuven)
• Responsibilities of the associations
• Some determined by decree art. 101 e.g.
  rationalisation of educational programmes,
  academization, study career guidance,
  internationalization,
• Others assigned by the institutions

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Unique form of cooperation in Europe (1/2)

• Establish a clear (binary) educational system
  professional and academic Bachelors and Masters
• Increase the research potential of university
  colleges (referred to as Academization)
• Increase scientific output in Flanders
• Avoid fragmentation of funds for research and
  higher education

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Unique form of cooperation in Europe (2/2)

• Scales advantages
• Democratisation by internal mobility between
  university colleges and university
• Joint quality assurance mechanisms
• Optimal/rational offer of educational programmes
  
• Link to other educational providers,
  local/regional/national authorities

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Members Ghent University Association

• Ghent University
• University College Gent
• University College Arteveldehogeschool
• University College West-Flanders

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Some facts figures

• 60,000 students
• 10,000 staff
• In all scientific and academic fields
• 200 basic courses (Bachelors and Masters)
• 160 postgraduate courses
• fundamental applied research
• services to society
• lifelong learning
• Campuses in Gent, Aalst, Brugge, Kortrijk and
  Oostende (provinces of East and West Flanders)

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Mission Statement

• Creation of higher education area in Flanders
• Broadened centre for knowledge, development,
  research and training
• Active pluralistic co-operation, respect for
  identity of each institution
• Preferential partnership

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Structure Ghent University Association
Chairman Mr. Luc Van den Bossche
General Assembly(49 representatives of the 4
members)
Board of Directors (25 persons from the General
Assembly)
Executive Board (10 persons, charged with daily
management, chairman Rector Ghent University)
Steering Committee Electr. Learning Environment
Technical Experts Committees
Domain Committees
Advisory Committee Social Facilities
Director Executive staff situated in Het Pand
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Education (1/3) creation of higher education
area
Bachelor Master structure
Advanced master
MASTER
University College - University
(at least 60 credits)
Advanced bachelor
LINK programmes
PREPARATORY programmes
PROFESSION ORIENTED BACHELOR
ACADEMICALLY ORIENTED BACHELOR
University College
University College - University
(at least 180 credits)
(at least 180 credits)
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Education (2/3) creation of higher education
area

• Transfer through increased familiarity with each
  others curricula and flexible learning
  opportunities
• Sharper differentiation of course profiles
• Students are able to choose their personal
  learning paths. They can opt for a traditional
  route of 60 credits a year or for an individual
  route.

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Education (3/3) creation of higher education
area

• Students can be exempted from courses based on
  (1) credits acquired elsewhere (another program,
  another institution), and (2) competences
  acquired outside a formal learning context (i.e.
  prior experiential learning)
• Optimalization of educational programmes join
  expertise
• 3 joint master programmes social work, nursing
  midwifery, tourism

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Joint student forces

• GAST the Student council of Ghent University
  Association
• Representatives of all member institutions
• Joint initiatives
• One voice on the Flemish forum

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Research and academisation

• Academization of the 2-cycle programmes at the
  university colleges
• Linking education to the mission research
• Service-to-society and lifelong learning
• Harmonization of regulations between members of
  Ghent University Association
• Stimulation of collaboration in research
• Frame agreement for PhD-students
• Joint research information system
• Association Research Groups Projects

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International cooperation

• Internationalisation key word in our mission
• New initiatives regarding I_at_H, LLP(-principle),
  Erasmus Mundus (External Cooperation Window)
  worked out together
• Fine-tune applications for EUC and ECTS-label ?
  stress the common AUGent factor in
  internationalisation policy
• Joint research potential with international
  standing
• Partner in EC-project Towards an EQF-the
  stakeholders view and experiences
• Common language policy (language acquisition,
  language requirements)
• Development of international strategic alliances

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International Strategic Alliances

• Geo-political aspects
• Cultural historical roots
• Economical context features
• Comparable management structure
• Compatible institutional cultures
• Existing cooperation
• matching partners
• mutual interest joint benefits

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Logistic added value

• Students
• Culture, Libraries, ICT, Accommodation, Meals and
  Drinks, Well-being, Sports, Career, Mobility,
  Student Life
• Staff
• Social facilities (meals, sports) training and
  continuous education Libraries and cultural
  activities ICT-advantages (broadband internet
  connection, cellular phone offer,)

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Special assignments by various Flemish
authorities

• Set up a joint expertise centre for Teacher
  Training
• Organise Recognition of prior (experiential)
  learning
• Enhance Science communication
• DOEN! and Ecocampus projects aimed at
  promoting sustainability in higher education
• Promotion of sports for students in
  higher education

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View on the future 1/2

• 2012-2013 accomplishment of main assignment of
  the Association fulfilment of academization
• Rationalization of educational programmes based
  on quantitative and qualitative parameters
• Clear binary structure
• (academic Bachelors) and Masters in University
• Professional bachelors in University Colleges
• AND close (structural) cooperation between these

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View on the future 2/2

• Current and possible future steps
• Development joint Education and Exams Regulations
• Agreements on Study career guidance and student
  administration more transparency
• United internal quality assurance system for
  education and research, e.g. joint preparation
  for accreditation
• Long-range plan for equal opportunities and
  diversity
• Closer international cooperation as an
  Association with our strategic alliance partners

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Thank you for your attention!

• Meet us at the EAIE Exhibition area (Booth E 40)
• Different brochures available
• Special acts appetizers
• Contact persons from all institutions
• Or check www.augent.be
• (pictures used courtesy of the Ghent University
  Association member institutions)