In previous years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has opened the academic year at a series of special locations in Brussels – Abattoir in Kuregem, the Gare Maritime, Jubelpark and Bozar. This year, rector Jan Danckaert and chair of the board Karsten De Clerck are inviting students, colleagues and prominent guests to the opening of the 2023-2024 academic year in a setting that’s iconic for the whole of Europe: the hemicycle of the European Parliament.
In this room where the most significant European debates take place, Jan Danckaert will deliver his opening speech, called “Europe, EUTOPIA, and the need for a new Renaissance.
Danckaert: “The European Parliament is the ideal location for an academic opening session under the banner of our EUTOPIA network. My message is: Europe and the world need a new Renaissance and a new Enlightenment. Alliances like EUTOPIA contribute to this.”
EUTOPIA is an alliance of 10 European universities with VUB as a founding member. Based on European values such as inclusion, openness, sustainability and the defence of academic freedom, EUTOPIA aims to provide answers to the major challenges of our times. With this opening session under the banner of Europe and EUTOPIA, and with testimony from the entire EUTOPIA network, VUB aims to emphasise the crucial importance of European cooperation for excellence in teaching, research and innovation. During the session, Jan Danckaert and the rectors of the other nine EUTOPIA universities will sign an agreement that will make EUTOPIA a true reference point for academic partnership and connection across Europe.
The academic opening at the European Parliament will take place on Friday, September 29th. You should have already received a personal invitation email. The ceremony will be live-streamed, and the link for viewing the stream will be announced here at a later time.