Higher Education in Belgium Flemish Community French Community

Higher Education in Belgium Flemish Community French Community Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 1

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CHAIR Piet Van Hove, University of Antwerp Piet. vanhove@ua. ac. be SPEAKERS Jan Geens, Flemish Council of University Colleges, Directors Conference jan. geens@vlhora. be Kevin Guillaume, Ministry of the French Community, Attaché kevin. guillaume@cfwb. be Joëlle Pletinckx, Flemish Interuniversity Council, Rectors Conference joelle. pletinckx@vlir. be Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 3

Content • Key features of Belgium • Structure of the educational system • Facts and figures, organisation Ba. Ma, study • • choice, admission requirements for the HEI’s Associations in the Flemish Community Institutional co-operation in the French Community Bologna-process: realisations and challenges beyond 2010 Conclusion Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 4

Belgium, interestingfeatures • Belgium gained independence in 1830. • It is a constitutional parliamentary monarchy -headed by King Albert II. • Has become a federal state with three Communities: Flemish-, French-, and German-speaking and three Regions: Flanders, the Wallonia and Brussels Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 5

Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 6

Belgium, some features • The federal state and the federal • • government is responsible foreign affairs, national security and welfare. The Communities are responsible for people -related matters such as education and welfare. The Regions deal with territorial matters such as economics, environment and transport. Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 7

Belgium and the. European Union • Belgium is one of the founding fathers of • • the European Union and of the European Monetary Union. The country counts 10, 4 million people. Brussels is the capital and is at the same time headquarters of the EU, NATO and many international organisations. Currency: EURO (€) Information: www. belgium. be Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 8

Belgium: educational system 1. Public funding for higher education – Same basic financing for all accredited institutions (based on # of students) – Very low tuition fee (~500 euro/year) – System of need based state scholarships 2. Basic mission of all HE institutions: – Education/Teaching – Research (fundamental, applied) – Service to society Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 9

Structure of the educationalsystem Nursery education age: 2, 5 till 5 Primary education age: 6 till 12 Secondary education age: 12 till 18 Higher education start: age 18 and different forms of adult education Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 10

Structure of Higher Education : Flemish community Academic PHD programme Professional Advanced master programme min. 60 ects Advanced bachelor programme min. 60 ects Master programme min. 60 ects Professional bachelor programme 180 ects Academic bachelor programme 180 ects Admission requirement: diploma of secundary school Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 11

Structure of higher education French Community 12

Facts and Figures 2005 -2006 Flanders University college University Nonuniversity Number of students 59 913 103 390 66 963 83 268 313 534 Staff (FTE) 8 948 7 824 8 072 7 533 32 377 Number of institutes 6 22 9 50 Totality of public funding 747 237 X 1000 EURO 589 212 X 1000 EURO 536 231 X 1000 EURO 405 373 X 1000 EURO Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 French Com. Total 15 univ. 72 coll. 2. 278. 053 X 1000 EURO 13

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University Colleges in the Flemish community Non-university institutions in the French community Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 15

Organisation of the BAMAreform 22 University colleges Flemish community offers two types 50 non-university institutions French community offers short-& long-type Professional bachelor (180 ECTS) Advanced bachelor (60 ECTS) Short-type programmes in a single professionalizing cycle: bachelor (180/240 ECTS) Academic bachelor (180 ECTS) Academic master (60 ECTS) Long-type programmes in two cycles: bachelor (180 ECTS) / master (60/120 ECTS) Doctoral programmes at one of the universities Bridging programme to give access to masters for professional bachelors Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 Bridging programme from nonuniversity to university, and reverse 16

Aim Professional Bachelor • The degree of professional bachelor is only awarded • • • after succesfully completing 180 ECTS-studypoints at a university college. Prepares students for professions in industry, education, commerce, agriculture, health and rehabilitation, social work, informatics, applied arts or the media. Courses are practice-oriented and include periods of work placement and internships. As agreed in the Bologna declaration these bachelorstudies are relevant to the labour market. Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 17

Students: study choice 2005 -2006 Flemish community University Colleges French community Non-university institutions Business/ Office: 24. 292 M: 12 692 F: 11 600 Teacher Training: 18 796 M: 4 942 F: 13 854 Teacher Training: 18 937 M: 5 262 F: 13 675 Business/Economics: 17 570 M: 9 013 F: 8 577 Health Care: 10 537 M: 1 568 F: 10 537 Health Care: 15 308 M: 3 484 F: 11 824 Science & Technology: 9 526 M: 8 409 F: 1 117 Science & Technology: 9 892 M: 8 832 F: 1 060 Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 18

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Universities in the Flemish and French Community Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 20

Organisationof the BAMA-reform Flemish community : 6 universities offer French community : 9 universities offer Academic master (60 -120 ECTS) Transition cycle: bachelor (180 ECTS) Professionalizing cycle: master (60/120 ECTS) Ph. D Doctoral cycle (180 ECTS) organized in doctoral schools Advanced master (60 ECTS) Complementary master (60 ECTS) Bridging programmes: access masterlevel for prof. and academic bachelors Bridging programmes: from nonuniversity to university, and reverse Academic bachelor (180 ECTS) Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 21

Students: study choice 2005 -2006 Flemish community Universities French community Universities Law, Notarial Law & Criminology: 9 381 Applied sciences: 13 897 Economics & Applied Economics: 8 127 Economics: 8 486 Psychological & Pedagogical Sciences: 7 323 Medical Sciences: 7 616 Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 22

Admissionrequirements for HEI’s in Belgium in general the secondaryschool leavingcertificate - Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 23

Admissionrequirements for HEI’s in Belgium Otherwise: - The HE-board can allow admission. - A foreign qualification of which recognition is based - on a Belgian law, EU-directive or international convention. After individual assessment based on a foreign diploma giving acces to HE in the home-country. In the case of a foreign certificate, start: the procedure of equivalence by the Ministry of the French Community (www. equivalences. cfwb. be) the procedure of equivalence by the Ministry of Flemish community (www. ond. vlaanderen. be/hogeronderwijs/NARIC) Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 24

Associations in the Flemish community Académiesand Pôles in the French community Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 25

Universitiesand universitycolleges embedded in « associations » Flemish community The legislation concerning the implementation of the Bologna structure also set up a new organisational structure, called « association » Five associations have been formed, consisting of one university and at least one university college. Their mission is to steer, to plan and to improve, through mutual cooperation the quality and efficiency of the supply of higher education and research. Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 26

Institutional Co-operation French Community Article 90 of Bologna Decree Aiming at reinforcing national/international cooperation, fostering research, improving quality Between university Académie Louvain , Académie Wallonie-Europe, Académie Wallonie-Bruxelles Between universities and non-university institutions Pôle Louvain, Pôle mosan, Pôle Wallonie-Bruxelles Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 27

Timeline Bologna Process (source: Eurydice) 28

Bologna process Realisations & Challenges beyond 2010 Structural reform • Implementation of the Ba. Ma structure (third cycle) • Flexible learning paths • Recognition of prior learning and experiental learning • Matching higher education and research Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 29

Bologna process Realisations & Challenges beyond 2010 Tools for mobility and recognition • Credit system (ECTS) • Mobility (Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus) • Recognition - development EQF • Diploma supplement Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 30

Bologna process Realisations & Challenges beyond 2010 Quality Assurance in the Flemish community • Accreditation is one of the most important elements of the • • • Bologna declaration. Evaluation of the programs, teaching staff, research, student services by panel of experts. Internal quality assurance: autonomy HEI’s External quality assurance: Council of Flemish Universities (VLIR) & Council of University Colleges (VLHORA) Accreditation organisation: integration for the Netherlands and the Flemish community (NVAO) www. highereducation. be Governance: accountability versus autonomy of the HEI’s: no accreditation means no public funding Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 31

Bologna Process Realisations & Challenges beyond 2010 Quality Assurance in the French community • • • Agency created in 2002 and operational since 2004 Internal and external evaluations International participation of experts Strictly speaking no accreditation mechanism BUT “ex-ante” accreditation does exist through recognition and subsidization of HE institutions Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 32

Bologna process Realisations & Challenges beyond 2010 Internationalisation as a Top Priority: • Joint degrees incl. third cycle • Student support services (language training, information and study opportunities in other HEI’s) • Partnerships & Mobility • Widening access – European Higher Education Area • Internationalisation at home Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 33

Bologna process Realisations & Challenges beyond 2010 Innovation • Curriculumreform – Learning outcomes • Lifelong learning • Social dimension • Employability – Engaging partners in the Bologna process + the Lisbon process • Diversity • Quality Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 34

Conclusion: reasons to come to Belgium? For students Variation of programmes Quality assurance high level of education Student facilities For partners Quality assurance international profile Language education Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 35

Bologna Secretariat 2009 www. bologna 2009 benelux. org This website is operated by the Benelux Bologna Secretariat, which supports the Bologna Process in the run-up to the next Ministerial Conference, which will take place on 28 -29 April 2009 at the universities of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve. www. dfes. gov. uk/bologna www. bologna-bergen 2005. no Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 36

Websites of Interest Flemish Community • • • www. flanders. be www. ond. vlaanderen. be www. studyinflanders. be www. vlhora. be www. vlir. be www. highereducation. be French Community • • • www. enseignement. be www. equivalences. cfwb. be www. aeqes. be www. studyinbelgium. be www. ciuf. be Higher Education in Belgium – EAIE 2007 37

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