Integrated Policy Plan for Internationalisation

Vision

Ghent University first identified its priorities regarding Internationalisation in an Integrated Policy Plan for Internationalisation (IPPI) for the period 2014-2018. The IPPI 2019-2023 builds on this 1st policy plan and aims for Ghent University to take a leading role in Europe  as a university that excels internationally in education and research, where all members of the Ghent University community, regardless of their background, feel at home and where students are optimally prepared for the challenges of today's globalized society and labour market, across national borders.

Why make structural investments in internationalisation?

  • Internationalisation is a driving force for innovation
  • Internationalisation creates synergies, inside and outside the institution
  • Internationalisation leads to a higher quality of education, research and service to society
  • Internationalisation provides content to the social and global responsibility of Ghent University
  • Internationalisation strengthens the reputation of Ghent University

An institutional vision on internationalisation

For Ghent University, internationalisation offers important opportunities to tackle the challenges it is confronted with, both internally and externally, and to optimize the quality of its education, research and services to society. At the same time, Ghent University aims for a greater international visibility and competitiveness and for an impact on external policies (Flemish, Belgian and European) in the field of international cooperation. In the pursuit of these ambitions, other considerations need to be made, such as the possible limitations that may arise with regard to human rights when selecting partner institutions and how to reconcile these ambitions with a pioneering role regarding sustainability. To this end, a holistic and ethical framework is used in order to guide Ghent University’s internationalisation policy within the existing international context.

Ghent University applies a model of embedded internationalisation, in which internationalisation is inextricably linked to other university-wide policy visions and plans, and is embedded within the existing central and faculty structures. The implementation of the IPPI, for example, will greatly contribute to the achievement of the university-wide objectives.

In order to achieve the intended leadership role and to realize these ambitions, 12 priority areas have been defined within the IPPI 2019-2023, subdivided into 4 clusters:

Ghent University and the international context

  • Making effective strategic choices regarding qualitative partnerships
  • Strengthening the current operations regarding Regional Platforms, International Thematic Networks & Strategic Institutional Partnerships
  • Rolling out the pilot project "U4Society, an inclusive European University for all"
  • Expanding the Ghent University Global Campus in South Korea (GUGC)
  • Strengthening Ghent University's international image

Internationalisation as motor of broad innovation & social engagement

  • Strengthening the innovative role of internationalisation within Ghent University through monitoring and reporting
  • Collaborate with universities and research centres in the Global South

Focus on quality of inflow and outflow of students, researchers & staff members

  • Expanding the offered opportunities for internationalisation experiences for students, researchers and staff members
  • Active talent recruitment
  • Improving welcoming and supervision services for international staff, researchers and students
  • International alumni policy

Internal Ghent University structure regarding internationalisation

  • Optimize the positioning, composition, responsibilities of the internationalisation structures, both at central and faculty level

Download the full Integrated Policy Plan for Internationalization 2019-2023

Contact

Prof. dr. Guido Van Huylenbroeck
Director of Internationalization
'Het Pand', Onderbergen 1
B-9000 Gent - België
T +32 9 264 31 17

Internationalisation Council

The Internationalisation Council acts as an advisory body to the Board of Governors or the Executive Board and can formulate advice on all transversal aspects related to internationalization at Ghent University, both at their request and on its own initiative. It draws up a transversal policy plan on internationalisation (Integrated Policy Plan for Internationalisation), evaluates and adjusts the implementation of this policy in consultation with all actors involved. All transversal internationalization themes can be discussed. For education and research-related aspects within the transversal themes, the Internationalisation Council is obliged to obtain advice from the Education Council and the Research Council respectively.

Composition

Chair

  • Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Director of Internationalization

Vice-Chair

  • Mike Nachtegael, Chief Academic Administrator

Members

  • Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice-rector
  • Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Director of Education
  • Ignace Lemahieu, Director of Research
  • Dominique Van Acker, Director of Student Facilities 

  • Representatives of the faculties (professorial staff ):

    • Lieve Van Hoof (Faculty of Arts and Philosophy)

    • Georges Martyn (Faculty of Law and Criminology) 

    • Marleen De Troch (Faculty of Sciences) 

    • Kristiane Van Lierde (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) 

    • Kim Verbeken (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture)

    • Luc Van Ootegem (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration) 

    • Dominiek Maes (Faculty of Veterinary Sciences) 

    • Kris Rutten (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences) 

    • Mieke Uyttendaele (Faculty of Bioscience Engineering) 

    • Marthe De Boevre (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences) 

    • Peter Stevens (Faculty of Political and Social Sciences) 

  • Representatives of the assistant academic staff:

    • Eva Degraeuwe

  • Representatives of the administrative and technical staff:
    • An Desmet (α-faculty cluster)
    • Wim Hoste (β-faculty cluster)
    • Tanya Struik (γ-faculty cluster) 
    • NN (Department of Communication and Marketing) 
    • Frederik De Decker (Department of Educational Policy) 
    • Dirk De Craemer (Research Department)
    • Tineke De Bock (Department of Personnel and Organization) 
    • Francis Ascoop (Department of Student Facilities) 
  • Student representatives:
    • Carlotta Constanze Rohrbach (α-faculty cluster)
    • Beatrice Moscoloni (β-faculty cluster)
    • Fien Cox (γ-faculty cluster) 
  • External representatives:
    • Claire Tillekaerts
  • Members with advisory vote:
    • Geert Van de Merckt (Department of Infrastructure and Facility Management)
    • Evelyne De Cordier (Information and Communication Technology Department)
  • Secretary/note taker

Pieter Pauwels

COS

The Commission Development Cooperation (Dutch: Commissie Ontwikkelingssamenwerking - COS) is the advisory body to the Executive Board and the Board of Governors in the matter of university development cooperation. Besides this advisory role, the COS also advises the Flemisch Interuniversity Council, University Development Cooperation (VLIR-UOS).

Composition

Chair

  • Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Director for Internationalisation

Members

  • Mike Nachtegael, Chief Academic Administrator
  • Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Director of Education
  • Ignace Lemahieu, Director of Research Department
  • Eric Vanhaute, Inge Brinkman - Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
  • Yves Jorens, Eva Brems - Faculty of Law and Criminology
  • Kristine Walraevens/Wim Bert - Faculty of Sciences
  • Olivier Degomme, Kristiane Van Lierde - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Luce Beeckman, Leo Kestens - Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
  • Jacob Vermeire, Saskia Crucke - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
  • Geert Janssens, Sarah Gabriël - Faculty of Veterinary Sciences
  • Kris Rutten, Ine Lietaert - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
  • Pascal Boeckx, Ann Verdoodt - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
  • Marthe de Boevre,Katrien Remaut - Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Karen Büscher, Bert Suykens - Faculty of Political and Social Sciences
  • Luce Beeckmans, Peter Decat - AAP representative
  • Dieter Roefs, Rudy Gevaert - ATP representative
  • Zoë Vandamme, Jasper De Smedt - student representative

Members with advisory vote

  • Yannick De Clercq, Government Commissioner
  • Nancy Terryn, Research Department, Research Coordination Office
  • Representative Ghent University College: Kathleen Van Heule, NN
  • Representative Artevelde University College: Séverine Van der Stighelen, Eric Van der Meirsch
  • Representative HoWest University College: Isabelle Pertry, Kurt Debaere

Secretary

  • Nancy Terryn, Research Department, Research Coordination Office