2016

Let’s shape the future

The University of Antwerp is a research university where pioneering, innovative research is conducted at an international level. Research and education are closely linked. Educational innovation is a constant focus, and special care is also taken to welcome and guide each of the 20 000 students spread across our nine faculties.

The University of Antwerp is not an island: we build bridges to secondary education, to industry and, by extension, to society as a whole. With over 5000 members of staff, the University of Antwerp is one of the most important employers in Antwerp, Flanders’ largest city.

www.uantwerp.be

2016

Dear readers

Numbers: they offer structure, something to hold on to, and allow us to form well-founded impressions of companies, organisations – and universities, too. That’s why, this year, we’ve opted for an annual report that is made up mainly of numbers and statistics.

Meaningful statistics, if we may say so. The numbers show that UAntwerp has made giant leaps forward over the last decade. Student numbers have been increasing steadily for several years, we produce more PhDs every year, the university library’s collection is growing all the time, ... The list goes on.

Rising figures are not an aim in themselves. But they do make it clear that our university is always evolving. We can also draw inspiration from them, to keep on giving it 100%, in all relevant areas: teaching, research and service to society.

Making progress, looking ahead and putting our plans into action – it’s in our DNA, after all. Shaping the future is what it’s all about at UAntwerp.

Happy reading!

Herman Van GoethemRector of the University of Antwerp

Times Higher Education Millennial universities 2017: 3rd place worldwide

QS Top 50 Under 50 2016-2017: 10th place worldwide

Facts & figures

20 164 students (19% international,

116 nationalities)

10 111 Bachelor students 4203 Master students 1445 Bridging and

preparatory students 753 Advanced Master

students 1825 PhD students 713 Postgraduate students

60 000 alumni

5398 membersofstaff (17% international,

88 nationalities)

624 professors (12%) 290 assistants (6%) 2933 researchers (57%) 1270 administrative and

technical personnel (25%)

3650 scientificpublications per year

18 institutes and centres

Programmes

143 programmes

30 Bachelor 67 Master 20 Advanced Master 26 Postgraduate

24 English-language programmes

16 Master 6 Advanced Master 2 Postgraduate

2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017

Faculty Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total

Pharmaceutical, Biomedicaland Veterinary Sciences 135 334 469 133 304 437 114 385 499 129 383 512

Medicine andHealth Sciences 145 154 299 149 172 321 131 122 253 142 159 301

Arts 144 253 397 125 219 344 133 242 375 100 204 304

Design Sciences 107 178 285 115 171 286 126 171 297 134 167 301

Law 132 240 372 149 268 417 136 239 375 140 213 353

Social Sciences 62 140 202 54 102 156 68 88 156 59 116 175

Applied Economics 311 226 537 314 206 520 316 197 513 267 224 491

Applied Engineering 184 7 191 150 20 170 179 22 201 179 19 198

Science 185 71 256 171 73 244 184 89 273 165 84 249

Total 1405 1603 3008 1360 1535 2895 1387 1555 2942 1315 1569 2884

2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017

Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total

Total 9307 10 845 20 152 9297 10 980 20 277 9105 11 001 20 106 9033 11 183 20 216

First-time students per faculty

Total number of students

Number of degrees conferredNumber of Bachelor degrees conferred 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences 222 231 219

Medicine and Health Sciences 226 236 285

Arts 299 263 260

Design Sciences 166 205 233

Law 198 217 236

Social Sciences 122 126 110

Applied Economics 327 305 353

Applied Engineering 165 130 143

Science 100 114 84

Total number of Bachelor degrees 1825 1827 1923

Number of Master degrees conferred 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences 153 158 132

Medicine and Health Sciences 244 250 277

Arts 314 377 327

Environment and Sustainable Development 41 30 41

Design Sciences 224 267 184

Law 218 213 236

Social Sciences 305 312 404

Applied Economics 449 454 416

Applied Engineering 207 196 182

Science 100 114 84

Total number of Master degrees 2255 2371 2283Total number of degrees (Bachelor and Master) 4080 4198 4206

Strategic policy themes

Activating, student-centred and competence-driven educationOur competence-driven education is characterised by interaction with practice, through project work, group work and portfolios. These activating forms of teaching increase students’ motivation and attention, and help them process the study material on a deeper level.

Active pluralismPhilosophical diversity is an integral part of contemporary society. In responding to this diversity, the University of Antwerp takes an actively pluralistic approach. We also believe strongly in freedom of expression and academic freedom.

Diversity and participationThe university is keen to emphasise the added value of diversity. In all its forms (gender, culture, nationality, faith, background, etc.), diversity is a source of creativity. The variety of different insights and viewpoints it affords can enrich our view of the world.

EntrepreneurshipOur university aims to target companies and entrepreneurs, and incorporates modules on entrepreneurship in many of its programmes. A special statute was created for student- entrepreneurs, with provisions including an extensive range of coaching services.

Internationalisation and the regionInternationalisation is absolutely essential to guaranteeing relevance and quality in teaching, research and services. The university also believes in the importance of networking, both in the Antwerp region (port, city, province, industry, policy makers and politicians) and further afield.

MetropolitanismIn today’s social development, Antwerp plays an important role. Metropolitanism goes to the very heart of our identity and offers exceptional opportunities for positioning ourselves internationally and providing direction to the community. We strive to develop our teaching, research and services further in the great laboratory that is Antwerp.

Research universityAll of our faculties are involved in high-quality, high-level research. In nine domains, our research is among the best in the world. Lecturers and professors work closely with the research field and share their expertise with their students.

SustainabilitySustainability serves as a benchmark in every administrative initiative. The aim is to valorise the university’s mission of providing education, research and services whilst never losing sight of potential improvements to social welfare, an ecological approach to the world and an economy that reflects our society.

Research number of PhDs - number of publications

PhDs Publications on Web of Science

2006 101 1307

2007 105 1466

2008 134 1593

2009 143 1733

2010 136 1827

2011 174 1971

2012 216 2055

2013 191 2118

2014 259 2175

2015 215 2383

2016 244 2238

Frontline research domains

Drug researchThe University of Antwerp has gathered considerable expertise in all phases of drug research. Our research teams collaborate closely with various university hospitals and international partners, working to identify potential targets for therapy, investigating candidate drugs and carrying out clinical trials.

Ecology and sustainable developmentThis research domain investigates environmental issues and links concern for nature preservation to social and economic challenges. UAntwerp has secured Methusalem funding and an ERC Advanced Grant, and is participating in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI).

Harbour, transport and logisticsOur university is located in the most important economic region of Flanders, the heart of which is the Port of Antwerp – the key to the region’s economic and industrial dynamics. UAntwerp is carrying out research on logistics and mobility, and maintains structural partnerships with key players such as the Port of Antwerp.

ImagingUAntwerp pools its many years of biomedical imaging expertise in the Expert Group Antwerp Molecular Imaging (EGAMI). This expertise is also reflected in the study programmes, which include the European Master in Molecular Imaging (EMMI) and the Erasmus NeuroMRI programme.

Infectious diseasesWhen it comes to research into infectious diseases and the development of new therapeutic approaches, UAntwerp plays a pioneering role. Many of our projects are carried out in highly competitive, international contexts, and include partnerships with hospitals, industry and the Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Materials characterisationUAntwerp is home to excellent research laboratories and centres for materials research. Our expertise has produced international research excellence in a number of specific domains, including nanophysics. Some of the equipment on our campuses, such as the electron microscope, is unique in the Flemish research landscape.

Emerging research domains

Multilevel Governance, Globalisation & FederalismMulti-level governance, or the multi-layered nature of government, has become an important research topic, partly under the impetus of the European integration process. Advancing globalisation and international political economics, too, have been instrumental in giving this topic new prominence.

OncologyUAntwerp is home to several multidisciplinary cancer research teams. Their research topics range from molecular studies to etiology and the factors that influence cancer, as well as the development and evaluation of new treatments and large-scale epidemiological screening studies.

Proteomics, Genomics & MetabolomicsA swift succession of technological innovations has resulted in a host of new techniques which enable researchers to map the genome and/or transcriptome reliably and cost-effectively. UAntwerp has accumulated considerable expertise in this new domain.

www.uantwerp.be/emerging-research-domains

NeurosciencesUAntwerp has a longstanding tradition with international impact in the field of neurosciences. Research projects take an integrated approach, following the principle of ‘from patient to bedside and back’. Our expertise in neurosciences is reflected in the study programmes, for example in our participation in the Network of European Neuroscience Schools (NENS).

Socio-economic policy and organisationHow should welfare states respond to socio-economic and demographic changes? UAntwerp is performing multidisciplinary research in an attempt to answer this question. We have accumulated expertise in social law and developed an approach to mapping labour and social relations coherently.

Urban history and contemporary urban policyUrban research relates both to the city in its historical context and to the challenges faced by contemporary metropolises, such as policy, migration, intercultural issues and poverty. These topics often transcend the boundaries of research disciplines.

www.uantwerp.be/frontline-research-domains

The University LibraryCollections (number of items)

2014 1 556 434

2015 1 575 639

2016 1 577 885

Electronic resources2014 34 501

2015 38 471

2016 42 852

Visitors2011 836 846

2012 863 409

2013 864 571

2014 842 937

2015 811 482

2016 764 375

Budget (in euros)2011 3 596 197

2012 3 496 904

2013 3 533 491

2014 3 904 745

2015 4 087 577

2016 4 310 072

The figures show the donations made to each faculty (in euros).www.universiteitsfonds.be

The University Fund

Medicine and Health Sciences  202 719

Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences  60 000

Law 364 179

Arts 140 500

Applied Economics 85 645 

Social Sciences 40 000

Science  155 000 

The year in numbers

staff costs68.6%

€187.2 m operatingexpenses

99.7%€272.9 m

financialexpenses

0.2%€0.7 m

extraordinaryexpenses

0.1%€0.2 m

totalexpenses€273.8 m

other costs31.1%

€85.7 m

operating costs24.8%

€67.6 m

depreciation & provisions6.6%

€18.1 m

The University of Antwerp ended 2016 with a positive result of 3.7 million euros. This positive result is the combined consequence of both structural and specific factors.

Expenditures

operating subsidy 47% - €130.4 m

core funding50.6%

€140.3 m

governmentfunding77.2%

€214.3 m

non-government

funding22.8%

€63.2 m

totalrevenues€277.5 m

research26.6%

€74.0 m

other government subsidies 3.6% - €9.9 m

fundamental research 12.6% - €35.1 m

applied scientific research14% - €38.9 m

contract research andscientific service provision

5.7% - €15.8 m

other revenues (core tasks)11.4% - €31.7 m

other revenues4.2% - €11.7 m

financial revenues0.9% - €2.6 m

extraordinary revenues0.5% - €1.3 m

Revenues

2013 2014 2015 2016

AAP Academic Assistant Staff 296 305 291 320

ATP Administrative and Technical Personnel 1276 1306 1307 1338

BAP Contract Research Staff 2493 2719 2845 2835

OP Teaching Staff 283 217 186 168

ZAP Senior Academic Staff 589 625 650 665

Members of staff per category

University of Antwerp

Prinsstraat 13

2000 Antwerp

T +32 3 265 41 11

F +32 3 265 44 20

www.uantwerp.be

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