At the initiative of Rector Caroline Pauwels, the VUB Institute for European Studies and Vesalius College are launching an alliance under the name Brussels School of Governance (BSoG). This brand-new entity combines interdisciplinary research with a wide range of educational programmes and academic services focused on European and global challenges, including energy & environment, security & diplomacy, migration & diversity, and digitization & democracy. The new School is a collaboration between the Institute for European Studies (VUB), founded in 2001, and the Vesalius College, created in 1986, and hosts more than 200 staff members and 450 students from all over the world.
The new education and research institute aims to take the study of the main European and international challenges to a higher level. The teaching methods of the new School are characterized by a high degree of interactivity, a personalised approach, and a strong focus on the interaction between theory and practice, focusing on the major issues that Europe and the world are currently seeking answers to. In this way, the Brussels School of Governance will not only come up with solutions for contemporary societal challenges, but also train the next generation of policymakers.
During the online opening of the Brussels School of Governance on Tuesday 9 February, the VUB Rector Caroline Pauwels explained why in the ever-changing landscape of higher education, the Brussels School of Governance is part of the VUB’s answer to the challenge of ‘aiming higher’. In her speech she zoomed in on the rationale for this new School, as well as its considerable societal relevance.
VUB Rector then welcomed Prime Minister Alexander De Croo who explained why the creation of the Brussels School of Governance as an academic point of reference for public policy is of such great importance. In addition, he offered three messages as a response to the question of how to govern in a time of crisis.
The President of the Brussels School of Governance, Karel De Gucht gave an opening speech and stated that the Brussels School of Governance provides a link to the dense diplomatic network in Brussels.
“Because of the location of the School in the capital of Europe, our stakeholders benefit from a unique proximity to various national and international policy communities. We further strengthen our internal expertise through an international network from Washington to Tokyo and Seoul, as well as through a close collaboration with a wide network of partners, such as the United Nations University, the University of Warwick and the European university network Eutopia”, says Karel De Gucht, President of the Brussels School of Governance.
With the establishment of the Brussels School of Governance, the VUB strengthens its international pioneering spirit and its position as a hub for international networks. In the ever-changing landscape of higher education, the new School is part of the VUB's answer to the challenge of aiming higher.
Brussels School of Governance Dean, Luc Soete, had the honour of concluding the launch event.
“As two frontrunners in international education, research and academic services, the Institute for European Studies and Vesalius College have been working closely together for many years. We are therefore pleased that this collaboration is now entering a new phase with a formal alliance between the two parties,” says Luc Soete, Dean of the Brussels School of Governance.
In case you missed the BSoG launch event, you can watch below the short overview of the event.
