Ghent University officially opens the 2026-2027 academic year

In her rectoral address, Rector Petra De Sutter looked ahead. How can we better connect our freedom, talent and curiosity at Ghent University? How can we make clear choices while leaving room for different perspectives, open dialogue and responsibility?

This academic year, we are launching a strategic exercise to address these questions. It should lead to a shared vision and clear priorities. It will serve as a compass for our university.

Our Student Centre already shows what greater connection can look like in practice. It brings information, advice and guidance for students together in one place. In its first year, our colleagues answered almost 10,000 questions and held more than 7,000 conversations with students.

We want to strengthen this way of working: bringing people and expertise closer together across faculties, services, disciplines and campuses.

Our university certainly does not lack talent, knowledge, ideas or different perspectives. That pluralism is one of our strengths. The challenge is to bring those strengths together more effectively and jointly determine where we, as Ghent University, want to make a difference.

With that ambition, we begin a new academic year.

The academic opening ceremony took place on Friday 18 September.