Ghent University Regional STEAME Academy

Ghent University

Ghent University was established in 1817 and has 11 faculties, which offer high quality and research-based educational programmes. Ghent University is a pluralistic university open to all. The credo of the institution is ‘Dare to Think’, challenging everyone to question conventional views and dare to take a nuanced point of view.

Currently there are about 15 000 staff members and over 50 000 students at Ghent University. Approximately 15% of the student population is international. Ghent University encourages each of them to seek personal growth and rewards its students and staff for what they set in motion.

Ghent University is a research-intensive university which invests in fundamental and applied and demand-driven research, and has built up a solid scientific reputation over the years. In various international rankings (n° 90 (Shanghai ranking) and n° 112 (Times Higher Education World Universities Ranking)), Ghent University is considered among the ‘world class universities’ and has been at the forefront of the implementation of all European higher education funding programmes since the start of the Erasmus programme. The Erasmus mobility was recognised as a “success story” by the European Commission and UGent obtained the ECTS label from the very beginning.

Since the start of the Erasmus+ programme (2014), UGent is involved in 120 KA2 and KA3 Erasmus+ projects (16 as coordinator), 6 Jean Monnet Activities, 4 Sport projects and 16 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (9 as coordinator). In 2023, the European University ENLIGHT was re-selected for funding. This project is coordinated by UGent and composed of 10 comprehensive, research-intensive universities from 10 European countries. In addition to participation in the Erasmus+ programme, UGent is involved in education projects under other funding frameworks such as EIT-KICs or Digital Europe. The International Relations Office provides guidance and support in the application and implementation phase of EU-funded education projects.

Apart from educational projects, Ghent University is active in many research projects (Horizon Europe), and in a number of collaborative development projects, financed by both national (VLIR, DGDC, BTC) and international organisations (UNESCO etc).

For Ghent University, internationalisation offers important opportunities to enhance the quality of its education, research and services to society. It aims to achieve greater international visibility and competitiveness, as well as to contribute to the development of external policies (Flemish, Belgian and European) in the field of international cooperation.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.