Increase in number of successfully completed doctorates at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel

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1 Electronic Newsletter 9 March Research Increase in number of successfully completed doctorates at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel The number of successfully completed doctorates at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has increased considerably over the years: from 70 in to 118 in (+ 40%). Broken down per faculty, the Science, Medicine & Pharmaceutical science and Engineering science faculties are in the lead with 28, 30 and 32 defended doctorates respectively in Over the entire period these faculties have also performed well. Since more than 100 doctorates have been successfully completed in each of the three faculties. Vrije Universiteit Brussel acknowledges three objectives for Industrial Research The Vrije Universiteit Brussel has decided to spend the research funds of the Industrial Research Fund (Industrieel Onderzoeksfonds), that the Flemish Government established in 2004 for application-oriented research with economic finality, on three labs with excellence level: Applied Physics and Photonics (TONA), Electronics and IT (ETRO) and the research group surrounding Industrial Microbiology and Food biotechnology (IMDO). In doing so the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has opted resolutely for the support and development of so-called IOF objectives. The three groups will receive long-term funding (5 years) to support their growth for excellence on world level. In 2006 a new call will be launched and the aforementioned IOF objectives can request additional funding but other growers will also be given an opportunity to obtain the IOF objective label. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel already performed well according to foreign experts (a study for the Flemish Interuniversity Council) with regard to its research culture and transparent way of allocating research funds. This allocation is based on relevant parameters and pays attention to equal opportunities for the different fields of science. Research group "Zorg rond het Levenseinde" (Care at Life s End) publishes in renowned American magazine In the context of a European study the 'Zorg rond het Levenseinde' research group of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Professor Luc Deliens and Professor Johan Bilsen), together with colleagues of UGent (Professor. F Mortier) and five other European countries, recently published two new articles in 'Journal of Pain and Symptom Management' a renowned American magazine. One article deals with terminal sedation, the other with pain and treatment of symptoms with possible life-shortening effect. Research to Business meeting, 11 and 12 May in Bologna The Italian Institute for Foreign Commerce announced that the Research to Business

2 (R2B) meeting will be held on 11 and 12 May in Bologna. ( and Collaboration between research centres, spin-offs and companies is promoted. If interested, please get in touch with Barbara Chiapinni or 02/ ) Education Vrije Universiteit Brussel reaches agreement with the Faculty for Comparative Religious Studies The Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Faculty for Comparative Religious Studies (FVG) have reached a master agreement. Within this Master agreement a first specific collaboration agreement has already been reached that makes joint training components accessible. Or in other words, Philosophy and Moral science students of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel are able to follow subjects such as Introduction to Islam, Introduction to Buddhism or Introduction to Christianity. And vice versa, FVG students are able to follow optional subjects at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. These include Philosophy and criticism of religion, Contemporary Philosophy of culture, Logic and Reasoning or Ethics. Students of the two institutes can also request the assistance from lecturers at the other institution for their master's. In this way, lecturers at the FVG can be co-promoters (but not promoters) and vice versa. The master agreement also opens the door in the future for other forms of co-operation, e.g. regarding educational reform, quality control, social provisions or the use of infrastructure. Eric Dirix, Françoise Tulkens and Rik Pinxten hold Chairs A number of chairs were recently awarded for the academic year: -On the proposal of the Law and Criminology faculty the Belgian Francqui-chair was given to Eric Dirix, Justice at the Supreme Court and associate professor at the Law faculty of KULeuven. -On the proposal of the Law and Criminology faculty the VUB-chair was given to Françoise Tulkens, a judge at the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg and associate professor at the Université Catholique de Louvain. - On the proposal of the Economic, Social and Political Sciences faculty & Solvay Business School the Willy Calewaert-chair was given to Rik Pinxten, full professor at Ghent University and eminent anthropologist. More bandwidth for universities The university network will have a capacity of 10 gigabit per second next year. Belnet, the national research network that provides Internet access to universities, schools, research institutes and public authorities, will quadruple the speed of the network next year. It will offer a capacity thousands of times higher than commercial broadband Internet in Belgium. BELNET s decision follows recent evolutions on the European front. Belgian universities communicate with each other and with research institutes

3 abroad through the Belnet network. From now on, these links will be forged through Géant2, the new European network for research and education. Géant2 has a standard capacity of 10 gigabits per second and was already the most advanced computer network in 2002, with more technological capabilities and a higher capacity than Internet2, its American counterpart. Read more here ( International Relations European Student Barometer 2006 Students are invited to participate in the European Student Barometer 2006! This annual survey is the largest study of student opinions in Europe, with over students from more than 14 countries taking part. The survey is anonymous and is your chance to express what you are looking for in your first graduate job and to give your opinion of companies that actively recruit graduates. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. As a thank-you for your cooperation, we invite you to enter our prize draw where you could win laptops, ipods, digital cameras, magazine subscriptions or much more! To take part, please go to: Miscellaneous Security on campus The Security division of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is responsible for the security of students and personnel, on both the Etterbeek and Jette campus. The security people are on call 24 hours on tel. no. 02/ (campus Etterbeek) or 02/ (medical campus Jette). More information regarding both campuses is available on the website Vrije Universiteit Brussel third world shop (Wereldwinkel) is open again every Wednesday and Thursday from to Good news for anyone who enjoys fair trade food, drinks and sweets. After a short hibernation the third world shop in the student restaurant is open again! Every Wednesday and Thursday between and the third world shop volunteers of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel will sell fair trade products again (products for which farmers in the south were paid a fair price). The shop is in a corner of the restaurant (follow the arrows), near the BSG hall. Vrije Universiteit Brussel sells De Lijn tickets Because Brussels has very few De Lijn advance points of sale, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel now also sells "De Lijn" tickets that are up to 20% cheaper. Available now: De Lijn card for 10 rides at 8 euro; % De Lijn card at 6 euro; ticket for 1&2 zones at 1.2

4 euro; ticket for 3+ zones at 2 euro; day pass for a child at 1.5 euro and day pass adult at 5 euro. The tickets are available from the Crazy Copy Center, tel. 02/ Tram 3000 flashes past Etterbeek campus On 6 March the MIVB launched new tram line 24. The brand new, silent and very comfortable Tram 3000 will operate this service. It connects the train stations of Schaarbeek, Etterbeek and Boondaal. Initially, a limited service will run. Line 24 will only run during the morning rush hour from Schaarbeek via the Meiserplein, the Montgomery and Petillon metro stations along Etterbeek campus and on to Solbosch ULB campus and Boondaal station. During the evening rush hour there will a couple of trams in the reverse direction. An interesting alternative for anyone who lives in Schaarbeek and works/studies on the Etterbeek campus! More information on the MIVB website, Slovakian students to work at Transport Company in Antwerp A Transport Company in Antwerp is looking for Slovakian students who would like to come and work at their company during the Eastern and Summer Holidays. Please contact: Porttransport Bvba, Luithagen Haven 9, 2030 Antwerpen, tel. 03/ , e- mail: porttransport@skynet.be Personalia Professor Hugo Thienpont elected SPIE fellow Professor Hugo Thienpont of the Applied Physics and Photonics (TONA) Department at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has been elected as one of the 33 new fellows of The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE). Thienpont received the title for his scientific research and accomplishments in the field of photonics. Last year the SPIE already gave him the 2005 SPIE President s Award. Read more ( Prof. Caroline Pauwels member of 'Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media' (Flemish Regulator for the Media) Professor Caroline Pauwels of the Communication sciences department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has been selected as a member of the recently launched 'Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media'. This organisation will issue and advise on media certifications and licenses, monitor media regulations and settle disputes regarding these regulations. The 'Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media' will undoubtedly have an important impact on the Flemish media landscape. Laetitia Vereecken wins Belgonucleaire 2005 Prize Laetitia Vereecken, ex-student Master after Master in Environment expertise (2004/2005)

5 has won the Belgonucleaire 2005 Prize. She won the prize to the amount of 2,000 euros for her dissertation Is Belgium's current energy policy realistic: can nuclear energy be completely phased out in 2025?. Agenda To do in Brussels Einstein: A different look, interactive exhibition on the scientist and his theories from relativity to the nature of light. Till Mai 1st Tour et Taxis, 86 C Ave du Port ( ) For more information related to cultural activities in Brussels check the website: das_culturels.shtml You can have a look in the Bulletin magazine (available at the International Relations Office)