The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) kicked off its orientation week with a campus festival in Etterbeek. Through various informational sessions and fun activities, the university introduces its new cohort of students to the VUB, student life, and each other. More than three out of four new students have registered for this warm welcome.
The event begins with a welcome show in auditorium Q, followed by a series of outdoor activities, including graffiti art, giant darts, food trucks, and a bar with a stage. As is the annual tradition, VUB organizes this orientation week to provide its new Belgian and international students with a smooth start. Since 2022, this has taken the form of a campus festival:
“We notice that new students still have a strong need for a warm welcome into our university community, especially after the difficult COVID years,” says VUB Rector Jan Danckaert. “Through various informational sessions and fun activities, we introduce the new cohort to the VUB, student life, and each other. In this way, we build connections together. When classes officially begin next week, they will already be somewhat familiar with their new environment. This contributes to a smoother start and better study results.”
Settling into student housing
The first day of orientation week is also the moment when 800 students move into their VUB student rooms on campus. Among them is Maïté Goris, a Psychology student, who shares her experience:
“I was feeling quite stressed about this moment. It's a big step to live on your own for the first time, far from home. Luckily, the welcome was very pleasant. After I received my key, the resident assistant guided me to my room. It was a relief to see that it was spacious and fully furnished. On Friday, I’ll come back with my parents to set it up. Hopefully, this place will soon feel like a second home.”
According to Bart Geelen, head of Student Housing, this is an absolute priority:
“We find it very important that students feel at home from the start in their rooms. That’s why our staff, including the specially appointed resident assistant Justine, are ready to answer all their questions. Even during the academic year, students can reach out to them. After office hours, the concierge takes care of them. This way, they always have someone to rely on during their stay at the VUB.”
English-language bachelor's programs popular
The registration period at the VUB is still ongoing, but the university has already noticed that its English-language bachelor's programs in ‘Business Economics,’ ‘Linguistics & Literary Studies,’ and ‘Social Sciences’ continue to perform well. This is a positive development, says Rector Jan Danckaert:
“Since its inception, the VUB has been an international university due to its location in the capital of Europe, with about 25% international students. In addition to Dutch-language programs, the VUB also offers English-language programs that take supply and demand into account. This offering is part of the university’s ambition to attract international students, thereby maintaining its global appeal. This demand is encouraged by Flanders and Europe, and is also driven by the labor market’s need for profiles that we must also be able to recruit internationally.”
Programs such as Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Law, and Psychology are also performing well. The registration period for the 2024-2025 academic year remains open until September 30.
Students at the orientation day in the auditorium of the VUB