Rectoral opening speech academic year 2025-2026

Distinguished guests in all your ranks and dignities,

Dear colleagues, students and alumni of Ghent University,

Dear attendees,

Dear friends,

Today marks the start of the new academic year. For our university community, this is always a moment of reflection – an opportunity both to look back and to look to the future.

The place of the university in society

In a rapidly changing world, this is also the right moment to ask ourselves, once again, the fundamental question, what place does our university occupy in this world? What is the role of our university in society – this place where so many of us work and study?

I would like to quote the poet John Masefield, in his speech at the University of Sheffield in 1946:

“There are few earthly things more splendid than a university.

In these days of broken frontiers and collapsing values, when every future looks somewhat grim and the dams are down and the floods are making misery, …, wherever a university stands, it stands and shines. …

It is a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see."

The role of a university is, indeed, essentially about acquiring and disseminating knowledge through the three classic pillars, education, research and community service.

But that alone is not enough. The university must also adapt to social developments – especially when they go against the values of the Enlightenment. In a time of increasing polarisation, the university has a duty to promote adversarial debate. Debate based on mutual respect and listening open-mindedly to other points of view. Honest debate, conducted without seeking to mislead listeners and without either party assuming they are absolutely right. In short, debate conducted with the shared intention of getting as close to the truth as possible.

Even science is increasingly coming under pressure: from political framing, online disinformation and deep-rooted mistrust among citizens. Amid all the clamour and in this climate of doubt, the university cannot remain neutral. It must actively and explicitly defend science. Not as dogma, but as a method – as the best tool we have to understand complex problems and make progress together. This requires the university to step out of its ivory tower and enter the public space, to listen, explain and not shy away from debate – with nuance, with commitment, with passion.

And yes, the university must also defend itself against the tendency to treat opinions as facts. At a time when an individual's ‘feelings’ about climate change or vaccination seem to carry as much weight as years of research, it is all the more urgent that young people learn how to ask critical questions. The university must provide them with the intellectual tools to distinguish fiction from reality: to understand what evidence is, what doubt means in scientific work, and how to revise one's opinion on the basis of better arguments. That does not stop after graduation either. Lifelong learning is central to our university. Through continuing education and professional development, we enable people to grow and keep science vibrant, relevant and resilient.

The defence of science is also an important part of an education in critical literacy. Besides transferring knowledge, a university must also cultivate a curious, critical, questioning attitude. This is the only way to ensure that science remains not just relevant, but resilient as well.

So, first and foremost, dare to think. But dare to doubt too – because doubt is the basis of every scientific question. Without doubt, there can be no progress. Science, doubt and art are the three key words that characterise the GUM, our Ghent University Museum – and that is no coincidence. After all, doubt means that we dare to question our convictions. Because dogmatic thinking leads to stagnation and impoverishment. “Dogma is the enemy of progress,” to summarize the thoughts of what Einstein already said in 1929 during a speech at the Sorbonne.

In addition to the core tasks of research, education and service to society

Dear attendees,

The core tasks of the university – research, education and service to society – remain, of course, our fundamental mission.

Nevertheless, as a university community, we must also make our voice heard in societal debate, especially when our values are under pressure or being questioned. We must dare to play a pioneering role, when necessary, and always put our principles above other interests, when we are forced to make choices. Think of the current situation in Gaza, or President Trump's autocratic interference in the policies of American universities.

The situation in Gaza is worsening by the day. It is inhuman. It is unacceptable. We must not only express our outrage at the genocide that is taking place and call on our governments to take action — we must ourselves act consequently. That is why we are doing everything we can to terminate all ongoing collaborations with Israeli research institutions as quickly as possible.

We must continue to uphold the values that have been our moral compass for decades: the struggle for diversity and inclusion, gender equality, sustainability and respect for human rights. These values are explicitly stated in the university's mission statement. Today, these values are under pressure, sometimes external and sometimes internal pressure. There are even some who claim they conflict with academic freedom.

In this regard, the view of the philosopher Hans Jonas, who states the following in “Das Prinzip Verantwortung” (The Principle of Responsibility) from 1979, is guiding for me:

“The imperative of responsibility demands that scientific progress be guided by ethical considerations, for knowledge without conscience can lead to disaster.” He was paraphrasing Rabelais who wrote, as early as the 16th century, “Science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”

This applies not only to the ethical dimension of the research itself, but also to the broader context: funding, partnerships and valorisation. Each of these aspects must be approached from an ethical perspective.

What we preach, we must also practise ourselves in difficult discussions about academic freedom, international relations, defence, climate and technological revolutions such as AI. Leading by example will demand the utmost from the university community in the coming years.

A new Rector and Vice-Rector take office

Dear attendees,

Today marks not only the start of a new academic year, but also the start of a new term of office. Herwig, the new vice-rector, and I, were elected by our university community with a clear mandate to take over the torch.

Let me begin by thanking the outgoing rector and vice-rector,  Rik and Mieke, for the work they have done in recent years. They kept our university on track during the difficult years of the covid pandemic. And, in these times of austerity, they made difficult decisions and implemented reforms – the reorganisation of the university services and the introduction of basic funding, for example.

All the figures indicate that our institution has grown significantly in recent years. Taking on a leadership role within a university is no easy task. It requires vision, courage and commitment. Rik and Mieke, thank you for all your hard work.

Looking ahead to the new term of office – plans

Dear colleagues,

I would like to look forward now, to this new term of office.

As I have said, the university is growing, and that brings challenges in terms of the workload and the well-being of our staff. We have to do more with less, which has its limits. So, we will have to make choices. Tasks will have to be reviewed. We will make those choices together. Carefully.

Today, we would like to start a fundamental exercise with you: what is our university’s job in 2025? What is our vision and mission – in our city, in our province, in Flanders, in Europe and in the world? What strategy do we need to achieve that aim? What is appropriate and what is not?

How can we organise ourselves to ensure there is better synergy between the university services and the faculties? The question is not “recentralisation” or “further decentralisation”, but how we can collaborate better – based on a common strategy and our shared university identity. That is what our staff and students expect from us.

Or, to put it in contemporary terms: less red tape, less control, but more trust, more community, more sense of belonging.

Noble intentions, I hear you thinking, fine words, it sounds good. But how do we ensure that we go beyond words and take real steps forward?

In search of answers, I would like to briefly focus on who we are today and the direction in which we want to evolve in the coming years.

Diversity and inclusion: turning words into action

Colleagues and friends,

Just look around this room. In terms of inclusion and gender equality we are not making enough progress. Despite many people’s efforts, the results remain limited. The percentage of female professors, for example, has hovered around 20% for ten years. That figure is and remains far too low. In addition, the proportion of incoming students with a migrant background remains around 10%. This figure does not reflect our society.

So, there is still a lot of work to be done in this area. If we want to be a university where everyone is welcome and has equal opportunities, it is not enough to simply open our doors. Nor is belief in a pure meritocracy sufficient. We must fully commit to outreach, scouting, mentoring and coaching. Together, let us make a major effort.

Mental well-being: restoring balance

At the same time, we also sense that many of us are struggling with their mental well-being. The situation is worrying - not only among staff and students within our institution, but throughout society. People feel overworked, unsafe, unhappy with their lives. They drop out.

The causes are diverse: work pressure, loneliness, social media, toxic leadership, inappropriate behaviour. The feeling that a work or learning environment is not safe also plays a role.

At the same time, we must not slip into a situation of hypersensitivity and mistrust, in which everyone eventually feels unsafe. Care must therefore go hand in hand with working on resilience.

Today, however, I would like to emphasise the care that is crucial for a number of groups.

Vulnerable groups: administrative and technical staff, and students

Let us consider, for example, our administrative and technical staff, a group that makes up half of our employees. In these times of austerity, difficult decisions have been made, and the anxiety is understandable. We will continue to seek solutions that take into account the budgetary reality on the one hand, but also, on the other hand, take the interests and well-being of the administrative and technical staff seriously. We want to do this constructively, with respect for social dialogue. So that we can all, together, be proud of our university.

We are also thinking of our students, of course. What would a university be without students?

The continuous generation of new knowledge through research guarantees high-quality education – and obviously that remains one of our core tasks. But here too, we need to pay even more attention to mental well-being, inclusion and diversity. And there is more, affordability and housing are also becoming increasingly acute problems.

Dear students,

We completely understand that you can only have an unforgettable time at Ghent University if you feel the university supports you in dealing with this kind of issue as well. Our Student Centre and our involvement in the Care Campus are examples of our university’s far-reaching desire to provide you with even more and better support. This support is a necessary condition to ensure that you not only acquire knowledge, but also skills that will make you resilient for life after university. A life in which you will be ambassadors of the values that Ghent University stands for: critical thinking, multi-perspectivism and open debate.

These core values – critical thinking, multi-perspectivism and open debate – bring me to the second issue we want to address. How does Ghent University want to position itself in the world in the coming years?

Relationship with the city

Our university is located in the most beautiful city in Flanders – and is an integral part of it. Ghent would not be Ghent without its university, and without Ghent, the university could not flourish. We want to further strengthen our excellent relations with the city.

Ghent, as a city of culture, is the perfect breeding ground for a university that bridges the gap between science and art. Science and art are two different ways of describing reality. They are complementary, and both are essential. Science uses reason – with logic and mathematics as its tools – and seeks to understand and master reality. Art starts from the irrational, the intuitive, and seeks to evoke emotion and transcend reality.

To be fully human we need both. And we are convinced that both have a place at a university. Ghent University, for its part, attaches great importance to art and culture. We have our university orchestras and choirs, the Ghent University Museum, the VANDENHOVE centre for architecture and art, the Book Tower and many researchers and projects that connect art and science. We want to build a vibrant cultural platform at Ghent University, with a clear vision and strategy — a place where everyone who wants to participate is welcome. This platform will not only coordinate but also connect. It will bring together all the university’s artistic and cultural initiatives, thereby strengthening our collective creative power. Together with the city, we are building the thriving educational and cultural landscape that Ghent is known for.

Equally important is our contribution to the entrepreneurial climate, the success of the port, and Ghent's high ranking as a tech city. Ghent has positioned itself firmly on the world stage as a European capital of technology, with a thriving ecosystem of start-ups and spin-offs. We rank 9th in Europe and 19th worldwide, partly thanks to Ghent University. As a driver of innovation and knowledge, the university stimulates scientific breakthroughs, trains talent and produces spin-offs that help the city and the world move forward. However, we must combine this with constant awareness of the consequences of our university's growth, for housing, for nuisance, for safety.

Dear Mayor, dear Aldermen – you know that we are a constructive partner, in all respects.

It is crucial for us that this cooperation remains optimal. After all, the ambitious project UGent Verbeeldt 2050 is now in progress. This project will restructure our university into three large campuses. In the long term, this will yield significant benefits, but the implementation also presents challenges, in terms of financing, housing and mobility. Together we will have to do everything we can to bring this project to a successful conclusion.

The partners

The University Hospital, UZ Gent, is of course a privileged partner of Ghent University. I would like to confirm once again that we will do everything we can to support UZ Gent in the process of radical change that is currently underway. The construction of a new hospital and the guarantee of a healthy financing model are crucial. As the parent institution, Ghent University will assume its responsibility at all times, as laid down in the unification agreement of 2018. 

Ghent University is also part of the Association of Ghent University, together with HOGENT, Artevelde University College and HoWest. We want to strengthen this partnership, too. Likewise, in order to fully fulfil our mission in East and West Flanders, we want to further develop our campuses in Kortrijk, Bruges and Ostend.

Internationalisation

Obviously, at Ghent University, we look far beyond the city, provincial and national borders. That is why I would like to focus explicitly on the importance of internationalisation today. Ghent University is doing well in this respect. We have numerous international partnerships, thematic networks, regional platforms and, of course, the GUGC, our campus in Korea.

But internationalisation is not something we have to do – it is something we have to be. It must be embedded in our identity, in our DNA. Everything we do must be viewed through the lens of internationalisation. Only then can our impact continue to grow worldwide.

I realise that rankings are not everything, but we cannot ignore the current downward trend in some rankings. Let us make internationalisation a priority during our term of office.

We would like to express our high expectations for our campus in Korea. This unique hub in Southeast Asia is about to enter a new phase, with the introduction of a master’s programme and the regional valorisation of the research conducted there.

My special thanks go to everyone who aims to contribute further to the success of this unique project.

I would like to address a few words in English to our international community — our students, researchers, and staff from abroad.

Dear students and colleagues, thank you for placing your trust in Ghent University. By choosing to come to Ghent to study, teach, or conduct research, you have enriched our academic community. It is our responsibility to ensure that you feel welcome on our campuses and to support you in integrating and becoming an active part of the Ghent University family. Please know that we deeply value your presence, and we remain attentive to your specific needs. I especially want to mention the international house and the international school. I wish you a most rewarding and successful stay at our university. 

To our colleagues at GUGC in Korea, although you may be geographically distant from our home campus, you are an integral part of our community. Thank you for your dedication and commitment.

Closing thoughts

Dear Prime Minister, dear Ministers, dear Members of Parliament,

Thank you very much for your presence and for your support for our university. We live in challenging times, but universities are the foundations of our society. We will continue to need your support – and hope that we can continue to count on you.

Dear fellow rectors and representatives of all Flemish universities and colleges present here,

Thank you for being here. “We may go faster alone, but together we go further.” We look forward to good cooperation – both within the framework of the VLIR and VLUHR, and beyond. Based on shared values and equality. Together we can strengthen the higher education landscape in Flanders.

Colleagues, students, alumni and friends,

I am coming to the end of my speech. As you will have noticed, the challenges are considerable, but so are the opportunities. Together, we can make our university grow and flourish. Together, we can create an environment that is conducive to studying and working. Knowledge is an important element. But, as I have said, knowledge alone is not enough. Our job is to impart not only knowledge to our students, but also wisdom. To summarize what Paul Verhaeghe writes so well in his recent essay “Wisdom”:

“Knowledge describes and masters reality; wisdom seeks answers to existential questions – and is connected to culture and ethics.”

May our university be – and remain – a beacon of knowledge and wisdom.

A place where we treat each other with care, form a close-knit community and can be proud of our university.

You can count on Herwig, on me and on all our staff.

We are counting on you.

Because together we are stronger.

Thank you very much.