For the Beyond Boundaries season finale, Way Kuo speaks to University of Louvain rector Vincent Blondel about the historic institution’s legacy of resilience
The University of Louvain in Belgium is one of the oldest universities in Europe. Over its 600-year history, the institution has witnessed countless historic religious and political events, all of which have helped shape the present-day university’s prestigious status and values.
At a time when many modern universities are faced with the global challenges of internationalisation and pressure to compete in an innovative space, the rich history of ancient universities such as Louvain can offer some important lessons for leaders.
In the final episode of the second season of Beyond Boundaries, an interview series produced by City University of Hong Kong, CityU president Way Kuo met with University of Louvain rector, Vincent Blondel, to hear more.
CityU is an international institution that emphasises the integration of teaching and research. In Beyond Boundaries, Kuo invites fellow university presidents to discuss contemporary education issues from an international perspective.
Opening the conversation, Kuo asked Blondel to reflect on how Belgian universities differ from other international higher education systems. Blondel explained how, “in Belgium, there is no [examination] selection on entry to university. In addition to that, education is almost free”, he said, meaning students pay “only a very small fraction of the actual costs of their studies”.
The system has clear advantages, he added, but “one of the disadvantages is that many students start studying something they are not very well prepared [for]”.
One similarity between Louvain and other international institutions is its offering of online courses such as Moocs. Blondel recognised the opportunities these courses provided while working in the United States a decade ago and introduced the idea to Louvain.
“It wasn’t easy,” Blondel reflected. “For the professors, it really asks [what is] their purpose and what role they should have in teaching”.
The experience meant that Louvain was better prepared than many to make the shift to remote teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic, but some challenges remain. “It raises a very good question for universities in the future [about] what is completely essential,” Blondel said.
“When the students are present physically, they need to have [the benefit] of something that they don't [get online],” he said. “Otherwise they will not come [to universities] anymore”.
Kuo and Blondel agreed that part of the solution to this challenge is to celebrate internationalism on campuses, making universities a unique place for students to learn from other cultures.
“We want them to be exposed to the world, so it means…we bring part of the world to campus,” said Blondel.
Louvain is proudly international in its approach to teaching and research, and this is reflected in its diverse community of staff and students – around 20 per cent of whom are from overseas. Students are also encouraged to spend time abroad on exchange programmes with Louvain’s many partner institutions.
Looking to the future, Blondel said that funding and securing Louvain’s reputation as a leader for innovation remains a key focus. The university’s strong legacy of overcoming challenges meant leaders felt confident about the future. “Through 600 years, we've gone through so many difficulties, but there is resilience in universities,” he concluded. “I think they will survive through these troubles.”
Find out more about CityU’s Beyond Boundaries series.
