Mission statement - UHasselt

Hasselt University is an independent, enterprising university that chooses for active education tailored to the student; top research in spearhead fields, and entrepreneurship and innovation through its role as an academic think tank and through a pronounced international orientation. Academic and scientific freedom, social commitment, attention for ethical norms and interpretation – without ideological distinction- are basic principles of the education and research. For Hasselt University, development of the human potential of its students and employees is central.

1. Active education tailored to students

Hasselt University targets students from the entire Flanders and beyond with attractive study programmes, which stand out because of scientifically thorough content and a modern educational concept.

‘From guided self-instruction to autonomous learning’ is the educational concept of the UHasselt, which stands by active and independent learning with tailored study guidance. Students process the subject matter based on self-instruction tasks and joint projects. These are discussed in seminars and supported in guided practice sessions. Hasselt University demands a lot of dedication of both the student and the professor. The study programmes are composed flexibly and offer the students the possibility to compose a tailored programme gradually. The Bachelor’s programmes with flexible learning tracks optimally prepare the students for a wide array of Master’s programmes in their own university and in other universities in Flanders and the Netherlands.

2. Top research in main fields

The university pursues an active spearhead policy, directed at top research in a number of clear-cut domains.

Research and education are closely linked. Members of staff have educational and research tasks; students are introduced to research in the bachelor’s programme and participate in research during their master’s programme.

The Master’s programmes are supported by the scientific expertise of the research groups and institutes of Hasselt University and its partners.

Besides that, the university also sets up an integral chain of fundamental and applied research inside the Association with the Xios Hogeschool and the Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg.

3. A fascinating place to study and work

A small scale, good contacts between students and staff and permanent care for the quality of education are typical trademarks of our university. The campus with its facilities such as the library, the study area, the self-instruction rooms and the computer infrastructure stimulates the student to study actively and to cooperate.

The proximity of the dynamic student city Hasselt offers numerous possibilities for an intense and varied student life. The students participate at all levels of administration of the university, they have their say in the advancement of education and the safeguarding of quality.

4. Contribute to the knowledge economy in the (EU-) regio as an enterprising university

In the framework of the Association with the Xios Hogeschool Limburg and the Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg, Hasselt University also wants to be a driving force for the knowledge economy in the (EU-) region. It educates young people to highly-skilled people and to entrepreneurs for the knowledge economy and its high-quality research contributes to essential innovations. The university promotes the entrepreneurship among the students and employees of the Association.

Hasselt University profiles itself as an independent knowledge centre with well-defined research spearheads in the Technological Top region Eindhoven-Aachen-Limburg. Within this knowledge region, the UHasselt provides with research, education and technology transfer through cooperation with other universities:

• with the University Maastricht inside the unique cooperation framework of the transnational University Limburg;
   
• with the Technical University Eindhoven for engineer programmes;
   
• with the other Euregio universities of Liège and Aachen with which we promote the international exchange of students, outside the EU as well.  

We cooperate intensively with the other Flemish universities on various fields as well. The university participates fully in interuniversitary research institutions such as IMEC (Interuniversity Micro Electronics Center) and IBBT (Flemish Interdisciplinary research centre for broadband technology).

5. An international gateway for education and research

Hasselt University welcomes students and researchers from various cultures. Exchange programmes with foreign universities are part of the education. Moreover, the university stimulates the international orientation of its students and staff through internationalisation of its research and education. Hasselt University participates in networks in Flanders, the Euregio and the world, which offers students and employees an open window to the world. They are also a leverage for the independence and growth of the university.

6. Mobilisation of talent through equal opportunities

Offering Young people from all groups of society equal education chances is a priority of Hasselt University.

Within the framework of the educational concept and through tailored guidance, the university cooperates with the student in order to improve his study approach, study methods and study planning to improve his chances of success. We particularly pay attention to young people that speak a foreign language or multiple languages at home.

7. A university oriented towards society

The broad academic education that Hasselt University offers integrates socially relevant developments in the educational programmes. Students are stimulated to think about the interpretation of their activities in a spirit of openness for all ideologies, and about their responsibility in society. The academic community of students and employees is more than a study and work environment. The university stimulates participation in sports, student life and social activities.

8. Development of the human possibilities

The further development of the university is the challenge for the future, for which all employees put their shoulder to the wheel. Hasselt University sets up an organisation with its employees where you can work pleasantly. Full opportunities for development, respect for the individuality of each employee, open communication, the participation to the administration on all levels and the appreciation of the efforts are characteristics of the company culture. The university strives for an equilibrium between the personal development of the employee and the efficient performance of the organisation.