They assembled in Building D, where they got their Visit.Brussels welcome packs, VUB hats (always useful during the winter months!) and were given information on Belgium, Brussels and the VUB. The afternoon was organised by the VUB International Relations office with Infopunt and OWSA (Education and Student Administration Office), and included presentations from different student bodies as well, such as the Student Council, the International Student Platform (ISP) and ESN VUB EhB Brussels.
After the more formal presentations, there was a campus tour for all the students organised by ESN VUB EhB Brussels. To close the afternoon, the new arrivals were all treated to drinks at the VUB Sports Complex building, where they could meet and mingle with fellow students, returning VUB students back from their exchanges abroad, as well as colleagues from the VUB International Relations office.
This year’s exchange students and interns arriving at VUB for the 2nd semester come from 35 different countries, inside and outside Europe: Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Poland, China, Turkey, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Greece, France, Austria, Bulgaria, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Argentina, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bolivia, Brazil, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Lithuania, Nigeria, Pakistan, South-Korea, Sweden and Switzerland.
Just under 50% of them are studying at the Faculty of Social Sciences & the Solvay Business School. The next biggest draw is the Faculty of Engineering, followed closely by the Arts and Philosophy Faculty, and making up the list are the Faculty of Sciences and Bio-engineering Sciences, Medicine and Pharmacy, Law and Criminology, and Psychology and Educational Sciences.
In addition to these students, 19 interns are joining the VUB as well to gain some work experience in the framework of Erasmus+. They will join the Faculties of Arts & Philosophy, Sciences & Bio-Engineering Sciences, Law & Criminology, Psychology & Educational Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine & Pharmacy at the UZ Brussel.
We welcome them all and wish them all the best for their studies and internships at the VUB! Enjoy your time in Brussels!