Ghent University
Encyclopedia
Ghent University is a Dutch
-speaking public
university
located in Ghent
, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish
universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector
is Paul Van Cauwenberge
.
It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands
. After the Belgian revolution
of 1830, it was administered by the newly formed Belgian
state. French
became the academic language until 1930, when Ghent University became the first Dutch
-speaking university in Belgium. In 1991, the university was granted major autonomy and changed its name from State University of Ghent (Dutch
: Rijksuniversiteit Gent, abbreviated as RUG) to its current name.
. In the first year, it had 190 students and 16 professors. The original four faculties consisted of Humanities (Letters), Law, Medicine and Science, and the language of instruction was Latin
. The university was founded by King William I as part of a policy to stem the intellectual and academic lag in the southern part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
, later to become Belgium. The university in Liège
was founded as part of the same movement.
After peaking at a student population of 414, the number of students declined quickly following the Belgian Revolution
. At this time, the faculties of Humanities and Science were broken off of the university, but they were restored five years later, in 1835.
In 1882, Sidonie Verhelst became the first female student at the university.
French became the language of instruction, taking the place of Latin, after the 1830 Revolution. In 1903, the Flemish politician Lodewijk De Raet
led a successful campaign to begin instruction in Dutch
, and the first courses were begun in 1906. A Flemish Institute (Vlaemsche Hoogeschool) was founded in 1916 but was disestablished due to the ongoing First World War
. Cabinet Minister Pierre Nolf
put forward a motion in 1923 to fully establish the university as a Dutch-speaking university, and this was realized in 1930. August Vermeylen
served as the first rector of the first exclusively Dutch-language university in Belgium.
In the Second World War
, the German administration of the university attempted to create a German orientation, removing faculty members and installing loyal activists. However, the university became the focal point for many resistance members as the war progressed.
After the war, the university became a much larger institution, following government policy of democratizing higher education in Flanders during the 1950s and 1960s. By 1953, there were more than 3000 students, and by 1969 more than 11,500. The number of faculties increased to eleven, starting with Applied Sciences in 1957. It was followed by Economics and Veterinary Medicine in 1968, Psychology and Pedagogy, as well as Bioengineering, in 1969, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The faculty of Politics and Social Sciences is the most recent addition, in 1992.
The university officially changed its name from Rijksuniversiteit Gent (RUG) to Universiteit Gent (UGent) in 1991 following an increased grant of autonomy by the government of the Flemish Community
.
On 22 March 2005, Paul Van Cauwenberge
succeeded Andreas De Leenheer as rector.
, or the Freethinking Vrije Universiteit Brussel
, Ghent University considers itself a pluralist university in a special sense (i.e. not connected to any particular religion or ideology, hence its motto Inter Utrumque or 'In Between Both Extremes').
and the QS World University Rankings
)list of the top 200 universities in the world, Ghent University was ranked in 136th place. In the 2010 QS World University Rankings
it was ranked 192nd, whereas the 2011 rankings placed it at 165th. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
of 2010, it was ranked 124nd. An overview of the last years:
Ghent University was ranked 89th among world universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities
in 2011. An overview of the last years:
Ghent was also placed among top 95 universities in the world according to the Russian based Global University Ranking.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), commonly known as the Shanghai ranking, is a publication that was founded and compiled by the Shanghai Jiaotong University.The rankings have been conducted since 2003 and then updated annually, where the University of Ghent is ranked 90th together with another university for the year 2010.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
-speaking public
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Ghent
Ghent
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. It is one of the larger Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
is Paul Van Cauwenberge
Paul Van Cauwenberge
Paul Van Cauwenberge is a Belgian academic. He has been the rector of Ghent University since 1 October 2005.-Career:...
.
It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
. After the Belgian revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
of 1830, it was administered by the newly formed Belgian
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...
state. French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
became the academic language until 1930, when Ghent University became the first Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
-speaking university in Belgium. In 1991, the university was granted major autonomy and changed its name from State University of Ghent (Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: Rijksuniversiteit Gent, abbreviated as RUG) to its current name.
History
The university in Ghent was opened on 9 October 1817, with JC van Rotterdam serving as the first rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. In the first year, it had 190 students and 16 professors. The original four faculties consisted of Humanities (Letters), Law, Medicine and Science, and the language of instruction was Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. The university was founded by King William I as part of a policy to stem the intellectual and academic lag in the southern part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
, later to become Belgium. The university in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
was founded as part of the same movement.
After peaking at a student population of 414, the number of students declined quickly following the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
. At this time, the faculties of Humanities and Science were broken off of the university, but they were restored five years later, in 1835.
In 1882, Sidonie Verhelst became the first female student at the university.
French became the language of instruction, taking the place of Latin, after the 1830 Revolution. In 1903, the Flemish politician Lodewijk De Raet
Lodewijk De Raet
Lodewijk De Raet was a Flemish economist and politician. He played an important role in the Flemish movement. He was co-founder of the Vlaamsche volkspartij , and was a proponent of the use of Flemish instead of French at the University of Ghent in Flanders...
led a successful campaign to begin instruction in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, and the first courses were begun in 1906. A Flemish Institute (Vlaemsche Hoogeschool) was founded in 1916 but was disestablished due to the ongoing First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Cabinet Minister Pierre Nolf
Pierre Nolf
Pierre Nolf was a Belgian scientist and politician.In 1940, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, but the prize was not granted that year. In 1940 he received the Francqui Prize for Biological and Medical Sciences.-External links:* *...
put forward a motion in 1923 to fully establish the university as a Dutch-speaking university, and this was realized in 1930. August Vermeylen
August Vermeylen
August Vermeylen was a Belgian writer and literature critic. In 1893 he founded the journal Van Nu en Straks . He studied history at the Université Libre de Bruxelles , and became a professor of literature and of art history at the ULB...
served as the first rector of the first exclusively Dutch-language university in Belgium.
In the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the German administration of the university attempted to create a German orientation, removing faculty members and installing loyal activists. However, the university became the focal point for many resistance members as the war progressed.
After the war, the university became a much larger institution, following government policy of democratizing higher education in Flanders during the 1950s and 1960s. By 1953, there were more than 3000 students, and by 1969 more than 11,500. The number of faculties increased to eleven, starting with Applied Sciences in 1957. It was followed by Economics and Veterinary Medicine in 1968, Psychology and Pedagogy, as well as Bioengineering, in 1969, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The faculty of Politics and Social Sciences is the most recent addition, in 1992.
The university officially changed its name from Rijksuniversiteit Gent (RUG) to Universiteit Gent (UGent) in 1991 following an increased grant of autonomy by the government of the Flemish Community
Flemish Community
The term Flemish Community has two distinct, though related, meanings:...
.
On 22 March 2005, Paul Van Cauwenberge
Paul Van Cauwenberge
Paul Van Cauwenberge is a Belgian academic. He has been the rector of Ghent University since 1 October 2005.-Career:...
succeeded Andreas De Leenheer as rector.
Faculties
Ghent University consists of eleven faculties, composed of more than 130 departments:- Faculty of Arts and Philosophy
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
- Faculty of Bio-science Engineering
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Faculty of Political and Social Sciences
Characteristics
In contrast to the Catholic University of LeuvenKatholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, or the Freethinking 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"...
, Ghent University considers itself a pluralist university in a special sense (i.e. not connected to any particular religion or ideology, hence its motto Inter Utrumque or 'In Between Both Extremes').
Rankings
Ghent University is consistently ranked among the best universities in Belgium (top 3) and worldwide (top 200). In the 2009 THE–QS World University Rankings (From 2010 two separate rankings will be produced by the Times Higher Education World University RankingsTimes Higher Education World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information...
and the QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
)list of the top 200 universities in the world, Ghent University was ranked in 136th place. In the 2010 QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
it was ranked 192nd, whereas the 2011 rankings placed it at 165th. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information...
of 2010, it was ranked 124nd. An overview of the last years:
| Year | Rank (Change) |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 218 |
| 2006 | 141 ( 77) |
| 2007 | 124 ( 20) |
| 2008 | 136 ( 12) |
| 2009 | 136 |
| 2010 | 192 ( 56) |
| 2011 | 165 ( 27) |
Ghent University was ranked 89th among world universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities
Academic Ranking of World Universities
The Academic Ranking of World Universities , commonly known as the Shanghai ranking, is a publication that was founded and compiled by the Shanghai Jiaotong University to rank universities globally. The rankings have been conducted since 2003 and updated annually...
in 2011. An overview of the last years:
| Year | Rank (Change) |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 99 |
| 2004 | 101–152 |
| 2005 | 101–152 |
| 2006 | 102–150 |
| 2007 | 102–150 |
| 2008 | 101–152 |
| 2009 | 101–152 |
| 2010 | 90 |
| 2011 | 89 |
Ghent was also placed among top 95 universities in the world according to the Russian based Global University Ranking.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), commonly known as the Shanghai ranking, is a publication that was founded and compiled by the Shanghai Jiaotong University.The rankings have been conducted since 2003 and then updated annually, where the University of Ghent is ranked 90th together with another university for the year 2010.
Notable alumni
- Leo ApostelLeo ApostelLeo Apostel was a Belgian philosopher and professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Universiteit Gent. Apostel was an advocate of interdisciplinary research and the bridging of the gap between exact science and humanities.- Biography :Leo Apostel was born Antwerp in 1925...
(1925–1995), philosopher - Leo BaekelandLeo BaekelandLeo Hendrik Baekeland was a Belgian chemist who invented Velox photographic paper and Bakelite , an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic, which marks the beginning of the modern plastics industry.-Career:Leo Baekeland was born in Sint-Martens-Latem near Ghent, Belgium,...
(1863–1944), chemist - Wim BlockmansWim BlockmansWim Pieter Blockmans is Professor of Medieval History at Leiden University.He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Ghent. He has been Rector of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study since September 2002...
(1945–), historian - Thierry BogaertThierry BogaertThierry Bogaert is a Belgian scientist and businessman. He is one of the cofounders and CEO of the Belgian biotech company DevGen.-Education:He graduated from the University of Ghent and received an MSc degree form the University of Manitoba...
, founder of DevGenDevGenDevgen is a Belgium-based multinational agricultural biotechnology company. It uses advanced biotechnology and molecular breeding technologies to develop varieties of major food crops with higher yield or superior envirmonental properties. Its technology is marketed by outlicensing or selling seeds... - Luc BossynsLuc BossynsLuc Bossyns is a Belgian engineer and businessman. He is managing director of Aquafin the Flemish wastewater processing company.-Education:He graduated as a civil engineer in naval engineering from Ghent University...
, civil engineer - Marc BossuytMarc BossuytBaron Marc Bossuyt obtained a Ph.D in Law at the University of Ghent in 1968 and a Certificate of international relations at Johns Hopkins University in Bologna in 1969...
(1944–), judge, professor - Jo BuryJo BuryJo Bury is the Managing Director of VIB and previously held the post of Managing Director of VLAB ....
, pharmacology, General Director of the VIB - Dries BuytaertDries BuytaertDries Buytaert is an open-source software programmer notable as founder and lead developer of the Drupal CMS.- Career :...
(1978–), computer scientist, founder of the DrupalDrupalDrupal is a free and open-source content management system and content management framework written in PHP and distributed under the GNU General Public License. It is used as a back-end system for at least 1.5% of all websites worldwide ranging from personal blogs to corporate, political, and...
CMSContent management systemA content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based... - Robert CailliauRobert CailliauRobert Cailliau , born 26 January 1947, is a Belgian informatics engineer and computer scientist who, together with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, developed the World Wide Web.-Biography:...
(1947–), co-inventor of the World Wide Web - Luc CoeneLuc CoeneLuc Coene is a Belgian economist and Governor of the National Bank of Belgium .-Education:Luc Coene graduated in economics at Ghent University and obtained a postgraduate diploma in European economic integration at the College of Europe .-Career:He started his career at the NBB in July 1973,...
, economy, Governor of the National Bank of BelgiumNational Bank of BelgiumThe National Bank of Belgium has been the central bank of Belgium since 1850...
(NBB). - Marc CouckeMarc CouckeMarc Coucke is a Belgian businessman. He studied pharmacology at the University of Ghent and obtained a Master in General Management from the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School....
(1965–), co-founder of Omega PharmaOmega PharmaOmega Pharma is a Belgian Pharmaceutical company, founded in 1987 by Marc Coucke and Yvan Vindevogel, both former Pharmacy students at the Ghent University.The company is quoted at Euronext Brussels and makes part of the BEL20 index.-Arseus:... - Martin De PryckerMartin De PryckerMartin De Prycker is a Belgian engineer and businessman. He was until December 2008 the CEO of Barco, a Belgian display hardware manufacturer. He currently serves as CEO of Caliopa, a spin-off of Ghent University and IMEC....
(1955–), engineer. - Franz CumontFranz CumontFranz-Valéry-Marie Cumont was a Belgian archaeologist and historian, a philologist and student of epigraphy, who brought these often isolated specialties to bear on the syncretic mystery religions of Late Antiquity, notably Mithraism. Cumont was a graduate of the University of Ghent...
(1868–1947), historian - Jean DaskalidèsJean DaskalidèsJean Daskalidès , was a Belgian of Greek descent who became famous for his chocolates under the name Daskalidès and Leonidas. He was also a gynecologist, film director, jazz musician, hospital director and lecturer at the University of Ghent.-Source:*...
(1922–1992), gynecologist, founder of Leonidas chocolates - Els De Bens, philologist, media specialist
- Bert De GraeveBert De GraeveBert De Graeve is a Belgian businessman and since 20 May 2006 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Bekaert, where he succeeded Julien De Wilde.-Education:Bert De Grave studied at the Sint-Barbaracollege in Ghent....
, law, businessman - Rudy DekeyserRudy DekeyserRudy Dekeyser is the Managing Director of VIB and heads the technology transfer team of the institute. He obtained a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Ghent....
, molecular biologist, Assistant Director of the VIB - Jozef De Ley, the founder of the Laboratory of Microbiology at the Faculty of Sciences
- Wim De WaeleWim De WaeleWim De Waele is a Belgian economist and computer scientist. He is Director of the Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology located in Ghent ....
, economy and computer science, Director of the IBBTIBBTThe Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology, is a Flemish non-profit organization, founded by the Flemish Government. It was founded as a research institute, with a focus on information & communication technology in general, and applications of broadband technology in particular.... - Martin DobelleMartin DobelleMartin Dobelle was a veteran orthopedic surgeon.Born in New York City December 25, 1906, the son of Harry and Ida Kaplan Dobelle, he grew up in Brooklyn, New York. An alumnus of Boys High School, he received a track and field scholarship to and graduated from Fordham University in 1926 where he...
, veteran orthopedic sergeon - Paul FredericqPaul FredericqPaul Fredericq, was a Belgian historian at Ghent University active in the promotion of the use of the Flemish language in Belgium.-Biography:...
, historian - Walter FiersWalter FiersWalter Fiers is a Belgian molecular biologist.He obtained a degree of Engineer for Chemistry and Agricultural Industries at the University of Ghent in 1954, and started his research career as an enzymologist in the laboratory of Laurent Vandendriessche in Ghent. In 1956-57, he worked with Heinz...
(1931–), molecular biologist - Leopold FlamLeopold FlamLeopold Flam was a Belgian philosopher. Together with Alphonse Dewaelhens, Chaïm Perelman and Rudolf Boehm, he was one of leading philosophers of Belgium from the sixties until the eighties....
(1912–1995), historian, philosopher - Dirk FrimoutDirk FrimoutDirk Dries David Damiaan, Viscount Frimout is an astrophysicist for the European Space Agency. He flew aboard NASA Space Shuttle mision STS-45 as a payload specialist, making him the first Belgian in space....
(1941–), physicist, astronaut - Derrick GosselinDerrick GosselinDerrick Philippe Boduin Gosselin is a Flemish - Belgian engineer and economist. Currently Head of Cabinet of the Minister President of the Flemish Government. He is a specialist in energy and in international strategy and marketing....
(1956–), engineer, economist, business manager - Joseph GuislainJoseph GuislainJoseph Guislain was a Belgian physician and a pioneer in psychiatry.-Education:Guislain started his medical studies at Ecole de Médicine and he was one of the first students to the University of Ghent; he graduated as a medical doctor in 1819.-Career:In 1828 Guislain became head of the psychiatric...
(1797–1860), physiologist and psychiatrist - Jacques-Joseph HausJacques-Joseph HausJacques-Joseph Haus was a Belgian lawyer.He was born in Würzburg, Germany to Ernest-Augustus Haus and Marie-Barbe Stang. He died in Ghent, Belgium. Haus attended school through to university in Würzburg. He achieved a doctor's rank in philosophy on 3 January 1814, two days before turning eighteen...
(1796–1881), jurist - Lucienne Herman-MichielsensLucienne Herman-MichielsensLucienne Adeline Jeanne Ida Herman-Michielsens was a Belgian liberal politician and a member of the Party for Freedom and Progress...
(1926–1995), law, politician - Philippe HerreweghePhilippe HerreweghePhilippe Herreweghe is a Flemish conductor.In his school years at the University of Ghent, Herreweghe combined studies in medical science and psychiatry with a musical education at the Ghent Conservatory, where Marcel Gazelle, Yehudi Menuhin's accompanist, was his piano teacher...
(1947–), doctor, psychiatrist, orchestra conductor - Corneille HeymansCorneille HeymansCorneille Jean François Heymans was a Flemish physiologist. He studied at the prestigious Jesuit College of Sainte Barbe after which he proceeded to Ghent University, where he obtained a doctor's degree in 1920.After graduation Heymans worked at the Collège de France Corneille Jean François...
(1892–1968), physiologist (Nobel prizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner) - Mark JanseMark JanseMark Janse is research professor in Asia Minor and Ancient Greek at Ghent University, where he studied Classics, Hebrew and Linguistics...
(1959– ), classicist & linguist - Friedrich August Kekulé von StradonitzFriedrich August Kekulé von StradonitzFriedrich August Kekule von Stradonitz was a German organic chemist. From the 1850s until his death, Kekule was one of the most prominent chemists in Europe, especially in theoretical chemistry...
(1829–1896), chemist - Jaap KruithofJaap KruithofJaap Kruithof was a Belgian philosopher and writer. His parents were Dutch Protestants. Since the 1960s he was, along with Etienne Vermeersch and Leo Apostel, one of the icons of the Ghent University and the Flemish intelligentsia in general...
, philosopher - Tom LanoyeTom LanoyeTom Lanoye [lan-WA] is a Belgian novelist and poet who works in Antwerp and Cape Town . He gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s as part of the new generation of young Flemish novelists that included Herman Brusselmans and Kristien Hemmerechts...
(1958–), philologist, writer - François LaurentFrançois LaurentFrançois Laurent was a Luxembourgian historian and jurisconsult.-Life and works:He was born at Luxembourg City. He held a high appointment in the ministry of justice for some time before he became professor of civil law in the university of Ghent in 1836...
(1810–1887), jurist - Marguerite LegotMarguerite LegotMarguerite Victorine Zéphirine Anne De Riemaecker-Legot was the first Belgian woman to serve as a government minister, and the first to be appointed Minister of State....
(1913–1977), jurist, first Belgian woman to serve as a government minister - Yves LetermeYves LetermeYves Camille Désiré Leterme is a Flemish Belgian politician, a leader of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party , and the 48th Prime Minister of Belgium.Leterme was the Prime Minister of Belgium from March 2008 to December 2008...
(1960–), Prime Minister of Belgium - Herman LiebaersHerman LiebaersHerman Liebaers was a Belgian linguist. He was director general of the central Belgian Royal Library and Marshal of the Royal Household of the Royal Court of Belgium....
(1919–), writer, former Marschal of the Royal Household. - Suzanne LilarSuzanne LilarSuzanne, Baroness Lilar was a Flemish Belgian essayist, novelist, and playwright writing in French...
(born Suzanne Verbist) (1901–1992), philosopher, jurist, essayist, novelist
- Julius Mac LeodJulius Mac LeodJulius Mac Leod , was a Belgian biologist and professor at the University of Ghent. His father was of Scottish descent....
(1857–1919), botanist - Maurice MaeterlinckMaurice MaeterlinckMaurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck, also called Comte Maeterlinck from 1932, was a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. The main themes in his work are death and the meaning of life...
(1862–1949), jurist, writer (Nobel prizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner) - Paul Mansion, mathematician
- Rudi MariënRudi MariënRudi Mariën is a Belgian scientist and businessman. He is Chairman of the Belgian biotech company Innogenetics.-Education:Rudi Mariën obtained a degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Ghent, and specialized in clinical biology.-Career:...
, pharmacy, Chairman of InnogeneticsInnogeneticsInnogenetics NV is an international in vitro diagnostics company, with headquarters in Ghent, Belgium. The company develops and markets diagnostic assays in the fields of infectious diseases, oncology, neurodegeneration, transplantation and genetic testing, with a special focus on molecular... - Gerard MortierGérard MortierGerard Alfons August, Baron Mortier is a Belgian opera director and administrator of Flemish origin.Mortier has served as general director of La Monnaie and of the Salzburg Festival...
(1943–), artistic director - Jean-Pierre NuelJean-Pierre NuelJean-Pierre Nuel was a Luxembourgian-Belgian ophthalmologist and physiologist who was a native of Tétange....
(1847–1920), physiologist - Peter PiotPeter PiotBaron Peter Piot, MD, PhD FRCP is a former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, former Executive Director of the UN specialized agency UNAIDS, and a professor at Imperial College London...
(1949–), doctor, assistant secretary-general of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... - Henri PirenneHenri PirenneHenri Pirenne was a Belgian historian. A medievalist of Walloon descent, he wrote a multivolume history of Belgium in French and became a national hero....
(1862–1935), historian - Karel PomaKarel PomaKarel Emiel Hubert, Baron Poma is a Belgian liberal and politician for the PVV. He is a son of Carolus Poma, who was a lieutenant of the Antwerp fire brigade, and subsequently council member and mayor of the town Wilrijk. He is married to Juliana Walgraeve, and together they have two children; a...
(1920–), chemist and politician - Adolphe QueteletAdolphe QueteletLambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet was a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist. He founded and directed the Brussels Observatory and was influential in introducing statistical methods to the social sciences...
(1796–1874), statistician - Godfried-Willem RaesGodfried-Willem RaesGodfried-Willem Raes is a Belgian composer, performer and instrument maker. He is the founder of the Logos Foundation of which he is still the president. He holds a PhD from Ghent University and is professor of experimental music composition at the Ghent Royal Conservatory.Godfried-Willem Raes was...
(1952–), composer, performer and instrument maker - Jacques RoggeJacques RoggeJacques Rogge, Count Rogge , is a Belgian sports bureaucrat. He is the eighth and current President of the International Olympic Committee .-Life and career:...
(1942–), doctor, president of the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic CommitteeThe International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president... - Gustave Rolin-JaequemynsGustave Rolin-JaequemynsGustave Henri Ange Hippolyte Rolin-Jaequemyns was a Belgian attorney at law, diplomat and Minister of the Interior as a member of the Unitarian Liberal Party...
(1835–1902), jurist, diplomat and cofounder of the Institut de droit internationalInstitut de droit internationalThe Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers... - Jozef SchellJozef SchellJozef Stefaan Schell was a Belgian molecular biologist.Jozef Schell studied Zoology and microbiology at the University of Ghent, Belgium. From 1967 to 1995 he worked as a professor at the university...
(1935–2003), molecular biologist - Ferdinand Augustijn SnellaertFerdinand Augustijn SnellaertFerdinand Augustijn Snellaert was a Flemish writer. He studied medicine at the University of Utrecht and became officer of health in the Dutch army . After his dismissal, he graduated in medicine at the University of Ghent , and became a general practitioner in Ghent...
(1809–1872), physician and writer - Luc Van den BosscheLuc Van den BosscheLuc Van den Bossche is a Belgian socialist politician and father of Freya Van den Bossche.He graduated as a Doctor in law at the University of Ghent in 1970. Luc Van den Bossche was a Member of Parliament for a number of years and cabinet member in several federal and regional governments in Belgium...
(1947–), law, politician - Guido van GheluweGuido van GheluweGuido Richard van Gheluwe is a Belgian lawyer and founder of the Orde van den Prince. He founded the Orde van den Prince on 2 November 1955, and was its president from 1955 until 1964. Since July 1965 he bears the honorary title of President Founder of the Orde van den Prince.-Education:Guido Van...
(1926–), jurist and founder of the Orde van den PrinceOrde van den PrinceThe Orde van den Prince or Order of the Prince is a Flemish-Dutch society of men and women who do their best for the promotion of language and culture of the Netherlands . Each month members meet on fixed locations, except during summer.-History:The organization was founded in November 1955, by the... - Herman Vanderpoorten (1922–1984), politician
- Hugo Van HeuverswynHugo Van HeuverswynHugo Van Heuverswyn is a Belgian molecular biologist, biotech pioneer, entrepreneur and businessman. He has been the chairman of the VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, since its inception in 1995.-Education:...
(1948–) chemist, biotech pioneer and businessman - Ann Van GyselAnn Van GyselAnn Van Gysel is a Belgian scientist and businesswoman. She was communications manager of the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology and became the General Manager of FlandersBio on 1 June 2008, where she succeeded Els Vanheusden....
, zoology - Karel van de WoestijneKarel van de WoestijneKarel van de Woestijne was a Flemish writer and brother of the painter Gustave van de Woestijne. He went to highschool at the Koninklijk Athenaeum at the Ottogracht in Ghent. He also studied Germanic philology at the University of Ghent, where he came into contact with French symbolism...
(1878–1929), writer - Prudens van DuysePrudens van DuysePrudentius van Duyse or Prudens van Duyse was a Flemish writer. He started his career a clerk of a notary, but afterwards studied law at the University of Ghent, where he graduated in 1832. In 1836, he became the archivist of the city of Ghent...
(1804–1859), writer - Henry van de VeldeHenry van de VeldeHenry Clemens Van de Velde was a Belgian Flemish painter, architect and interior designer. Together with Victor Horta and Paul Hankar he could be considered one of the main founders and representatives of Art Nouveau in Belgium...
(1863–1957), architect - Marc Van MontaguMarc Van MontaguMarc Van Montagu is a Belgian molecular biologist. He was full Professor and director of the Laboratory of Genetics at the faculty of Sciences at Ghent University and scientific director of the Genetics Department of the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology...
(1933–), biotech pioneer - Désiré van MonckhovenDésiré van MonckhovenDésiré Charles Emanuel van Monckhoven was a Belgian chemist, physicist, and photographic researcher. He was also an inventor and author. He wrote several of the earliest books on photography and photographic optics...
(1934–1882), physicist - Jules Van PraetJules Van PraetJules Van Praet was a Belgian diplomat and personal secretary of King Leopold I of Belgium. He was born in Bruges, and died in Brussels aged 81.-External links:* *...
(1806–1887), statesman - Piet VanthemschePiet VanthemschePiet Vanthemsche is a Belgian veterinary surgeon and civil servant. In 2008, he succeeded Noël Devisch as President of the Boerenbond in Leuven.-Education:...
, veterinary surgeon - Guy VerhofstadtGuy VerhofstadtGuy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who was the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.- Early career :...
(1953–), former Prime Minister of Belgium - Dirk VerhofstadtDirk VerhofstadtDirk Verhofstadt is a Belgian social liberal theorist and brother of former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. He has a keen interest in political philosophy, and his philosophical outlook is influenced by Karl Popper, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Paine, Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum...
(1955–), publisher - Etienne VermeerschEtienne VermeerschEtienne Vermeersch is a Belgian philosopher, skeptic, opinion maker and debater. He is one of the founding fathers of the abortion and euthanasia law in Belgium. He is also former Vice-Rector of the Ghent University.Vermeersch became an atheist after five years with the Society of Jesus...
(1934–), philosopher - Kristiaan Versluys, literary scholar
- André VlerickAndré VlerickAndré, Baron Vlerick was a Belgian politician, businessman, professor and founder of the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. He graduated in economy at the University of Ghent and became a professor at the university...
(1919–1990), economy - Emile WaxweilerEmile WaxweilerEmile Waxweiler was a Belgian engineer and sociologist. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium as well as the International Institute of Statistics ....
(1867–1916), engineer and sociologist - Marc ZabeauMarc ZabeauMarc Zabeau is a Belgian scientist and businessman.- Biography :Marc Zabeau graduated in 1971 as licentiate in zoology at the University of Ghent and obtained a PhD in 1974 on the genetics of Escherichia coli in the lab of Jeff Schell....
(1949–), zoology - Arnoud De MeyerArnoud De MeyerArnoud De Meyer is a professor and Belgian national. He received his PhD from the University of Ghent. He was associated for 23 years with INSEAD as a professor and as Dean for the MBA programme, Executive Education and the Euro Asia Centre. He was also the founding Dean of INSEAD's Asia Campus in...
(presently) Director of Judge Business School University of Cambridge. - Alexander Van Dijck M.D.Pioneer in rare diseases
- Michel de KemmeterMichel de KemmeterMichel de Kemmeter is a Belgian entrepreneur from Ghent and author of books. He started in the field of construction material and since 2005 write about Personal Development, Intangible Assets and Human Sustainable Development.---...
, author and researcher in human sustainable developmentSocial sustainabilitySocial sustainability is one aspect of sustainability or sustainable development. Social sustainability encompasses human rights, labor rights, and corporate governance...
field
Notable faculty
- S.N. Balagangadhara, comparative science of cultures
- Gunnar Brinkmann, professor of computer science
- Jozef De Ley, the founder of the Laboratory of Microbiology at the Faculty of Sciences
- Jan De MaeseneerJan De MaeseneerProfessor Jan De Maeseneer is a Belgian family physician and head of the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care of Ghent University....
, medicine, family medicine - Georges De MoorGeorges De MoorProfessor Georges J. E. De Moor is a Belgian MD and head of the Department of Health Informatics and Medical Statistics of the University of Ghent .-Education:...
, medicine, medical informatics - Walter FiersWalter FiersWalter Fiers is a Belgian molecular biologist.He obtained a degree of Engineer for Chemistry and Agricultural Industries at the University of Ghent in 1954, and started his research career as an enzymologist in the laboratory of Laurent Vandendriessche in Ghent. In 1956-57, he worked with Heinz...
, molecular biologist - Corneille HeymansCorneille HeymansCorneille Jean François Heymans was a Flemish physiologist. He studied at the prestigious Jesuit College of Sainte Barbe after which he proceeded to Ghent University, where he obtained a doctor's degree in 1920.After graduation Heymans worked at the Collège de France Corneille Jean François...
, physiologist (Nobel prizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner) - Joseph Plateau, physicist
- Xavier SaelensXavier SaelensXavier Saelens is a Belgian scientist and currently his main research interest is finding a universal influenza vaccine. He is a Lecturer in Virology and Group Leader of the Molecular Virology Unit at the University of Ghent...
, biotechnology - Johan Rudolf Thorbecke, statesman
- Marc Van MontaguMarc Van MontaguMarc Van Montagu is a Belgian molecular biologist. He was full Professor and director of the Laboratory of Genetics at the faculty of Sciences at Ghent University and scientific director of the Genetics Department of the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology...
, biotech pioneer - Jeff Schell, biotech pioneer
- August VermeylenAugust VermeylenAugust Vermeylen was a Belgian writer and literature critic. In 1893 he founded the journal Van Nu en Straks . He studied history at the Université Libre de Bruxelles , and became a professor of literature and of art history at the ULB...
, author, art historian, statesman - George de HevesyGeorge de HevesyGeorge Charles de Hevesy, Georg Karl von Hevesy, was a Hungarian radiochemist and Nobel laureate, recognized in 1943 for his key role in the development of radioactive tracers to study chemical processes such as in the metabolism of animals.- Early years :Hevesy György was born in Budapest,...
, Nobel Prize winner, Chemistry - Alexander Van Dijk, pioneer in rare diseases
- Adolf von BaeyerAdolf von BaeyerJohann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Baeyer was a German chemist who synthesized indigo, and was the 1905 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Born in Berlin, he initially studied mathematics and physics at Berlin University before moving to Heidelberg to study chemistry with Robert Bunsen...
(1835–1917), chemist (Nobel prize winner), visiting scholar - Erwin SchrödingerErwin SchrödingerErwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger was an Austrian physicist and theoretical biologist who was one of the fathers of quantum mechanics, and is famed for a number of important contributions to physics, especially the Schrödinger equation, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933...
(1887–1961), physicist (Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner), visiting scholar
See also
- Science and technology in FlandersScience and technology in FlandersScience and technology in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium , is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes...
- List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)
- List of universities in Belgium
- Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)
- Belgian Co-ordinated Collections of Micro-organismsBelgian Co-ordinated Collections of Micro-organismsThe Belgian Co-ordinated Collections of Micro-organisms is a Belgian government funded consortium of four scientific institutions, who manage and exploit a collection of fungi, bacteria and plasmids...
(BCCM) - Ghent Bio-Energy ValleyGhent Bio-Energy ValleyThe Ghent Bio-Energy Valley is a joint initiative, started in 2005, of Ghent University, the city of Ghent, the Port of Ghent, the Development Agency East-Flanders and a number of industrial companies. The initiative aims at the development of biofuels and bio-enzymes...
- Greenbridge science parkGreenbridge science parkThe Greenbridge science park is a business incubator and science park of Ghent University and is located on the Plassendale site in Ostend...
- Zwijnaarde science parkZwijnaarde science parkThe Zwijnaarde science park is a science park of Ghent university, located in Zwijnaarde near Ghent . The science park has an area of 52 hectare and comprises the Ardoyen campus of the University of Ghent and the Ardoyen science park . The Ardoyen campus comprises several institutes of the...
- University FoundationUniversity FoundationThe Belgian University Foundation was founded in 1920. The goal of the Foundation, as was put forward by Emile Francqui, is to promote scientific activity at Belgian universities....
- Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC)