On Friday 11 February 2022, the VUB International Relations office organised an online information session to welcome the 100 new international students and interns who arrived at the VUB to start the 2nd semester through their exchange programmes.
Due to the current coronavirus situation the event was partially held online. The VUB International Relations office information session included presentations from different student bodies such as the International Student Platform (ISP) and ESN VUB EhB Brussels. Our language centre ACTO also presented some useful slides on language-learning opportunities.
Just before the information session took place, the incoming students were able to meet each other in an informal set-up online. Ten VUB students who just returned from their exchange experience abroad joined this session and were enthusiastic to meet the new exchange students.
Those who wanted to, gathered on the VUB Esplanade to join the traditional campus tour in very small groups and with masks. Each participating student was welcomed with a small gift.
This year’s exchange students and interns arriving at VUB for the 2nd semester come from 22 different countries, inside and outside Europe: Morocco, Russia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Turkey. In addition, there are those coming for internships from Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Romania and Turkey.
More than 50% of them are studying at the Faculty of Social Sciences & Solvay Business School. The next biggest draw is the Faculty of Engineering, followed by the Faculty of Sciences & Bioengineering Sciences, and the Faculty of Languages and Humanities.
The interns are predominantly from the Faculty of Sciences & Bioengineering Sciences, followed by the Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, and the Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy at the university hospital UZ Brussel.
We want to welcome them all to Brussels and the VUB, whether they are here in person or online, we wish them all the best especially in these tricky times, and we hope that they will enjoy their studies/internships in Belgium.