More and more foreign researchers are coming to Belgium to obtain their PhDs, according to daily newspaper De Tijd. Science faculties in particular are very international, partly due to a shortage of experts on a national level, according to statistics from the universities of Leuven (KU Leuven), Ghent and Antwerp.
According to Liliane Schoofs, vice-rector of research policy at KU Leuven, two years ago only 30% of PhDs at the university were taken by foreign students. “Now, the majority of the faculties have 40% foreign PhD students,” she said. “In certain faculties, the ratio of foreign to Belgian PhD students is 50-50.”
In the academic year 2009-2010, foreign researchers in Antwerp accounted for 29% of completed PhDs. Five years later, the number had risen to 35%. In Ghent, the number of foreign researchers increased from 25% to 35% between 2009 and 2013.
The popularity of the Flemish universities is partly due to a reform of financing. Universities are also more consciously seeking foreign profiles, and for scientific and engineering courses, active recruitment is essential.
Photo by Rob Stevens/KU Leuven
http://www.xpats.com/belgian-universities-attracting-more-foreign-researchers