Policy Plan Rector Election 2026
VUB.
Pioneering
university
in the heart
of Europe.
Entering the next phase with confidence, with clear priorities, respect for our community and the ambition to remain relevant and future-oriented, even under pressure.
“Cutting costs is not a vision. The question is not whether circumstances are difficult. The question is how we respond.”
Jan Danckaert
This policy plan is based on
Three convictions
Values as a compass
Our secular-humanist values remain our compass. Free inquiry, critical thinking and respect for human dignity are not slogans. They determine how we make decisions and how we collaborate.
Science and education at the core
We continue to pioneer in research and valorise where it creates societal added value. We build education that not only attracts students but also helps them succeed.
Trust as the foundation of leadership
VUB is a democratic university. Leading here means connecting, not imposing. Not avoiding decisions, but deciding with explanation and accountability.
Four years of results
What we have anchored
Students
22,911
enrolled students in 2025–2026, a record number
Research
€156.5M
research income in 2024
International
Top 20
EU project recipient in Europe
Innovation
14
spin-offs established
Wellbeing & leadership
420
enrolments for Engaged Leading Week (214 unique participants, 5th edition), alongside ~100 alumni of the Academic Leadership Days
AI
4,684
courses scanned for AI fraud risk (first in Flanders)
EUTOPIA
25
active Connected Communities within EUTOPIA involving VUB, 7 led and 3 co-led by VUB
Innovation
228
active patent families
Our course
Vision and policy principles
Secular humanism
Our values are not a thing of the past. They are a daily responsibility.
Europe as strategic space
VUB is deeply rooted in Brussels and in Europe. Internationalisation strengthens our core mission.
Science as foundation
Science is the foundation of societal progress. It requires independence, space and protection.
Focus as prerequisite for quality
Not everything can remain as it is. We set clear priorities based on quality and relevance.
Pioneering means working smarter
Harnessing digital opportunities without losing the human touch.
Shared responsibility
VUB is a democratic university with strong engagement. Staff and students are co-builders.
With openness, perseverance and respect for our community.
The coming years will not be easy. But VUB has never taken the easy road.