Belgian universities attracting more foreign researchers

More and more foreign researchers are coming to Belgium to obtain their PhDs, according to daily newspaper De Tijd. Science faculties in particular are very international, partly due to a shortage of experts on a national level, according to statistics from the universities of Leuven (KU Leuven), Ghent and Antwerp.

According to Liliane Schoofs, vice-rector of research policy at KU Leuven, two years ago only 30% of PhDs at the university were taken by foreign students. “Now, the majority of the faculties have 40% foreign PhD students,” she said. “In certain faculties, the ratio of foreign to Belgian PhD students is 50-50.”

In the academic year 2009-2010, foreign researchers in Antwerp accounted for 29% of completed PhDs. Five years later, the number had risen to 35%. In Ghent, the number of foreign researchers increased from 25% to 35% between 2009 and 2013.

The popularity of the Flemish universities is partly due to a reform of financing. Universities are also more consciously seeking foreign profiles, and for scientific and engineering courses, active recruitment is essential.

Photo by Rob Stevens/KU Leuven