Els Witte
Encyclopedia
Els Witte is a Belgian
historian. She was professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
and honorary rector of the university. Els Witte was the first female rector of a Belgian university. She was a member of the Coudenberg group
, a Belgian federalist think tank
.
, Belgium
). In 1974 she joined the in 1969 newly founded Vrije Universiteit Brussel
as a fulltime historian
. Between 1994 and 2000, she was Rector
of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In the course of her career, she was also President of the board of the Belgian Radio and Television
(now: Flemish Radio and Television Network VRT).
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
historian. She was professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
and honorary rector of the university. Els Witte was the first female rector of a Belgian university. She was a member of the Coudenberg group
Coudenberg group
The Coudenberg group was a Belgian federalist think-tank, it was named after the place where the members met, the Coudenberg, one of the seven hillocks on which the centre of Brussels has been built...
, a Belgian federalist think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
.
Career
She started her career as an assistant at the University of Ghent (GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). In 1974 she joined the in 1969 newly founded Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
as a fulltime historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. Between 1994 and 2000, she was Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In the course of her career, she was also President of the board of the Belgian Radio and Television
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
(now: Flemish Radio and Television Network VRT).