Ghent University is involved in numerous collaborations and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders within its ecosystem. At the institutional level, we primarily consider the Ghent University Association, the partnership between Ghent University, HOGENT, Howest, and Artevelde University College, as well as the University Hospital. These partnerships are of the highest priority. Additionally, Ghent University is a significant partner for other Flemish universities and university colleges, and is involved with organisations such as the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), the Flemish Education Council (VLOR), and the Flemish Higher Education Council (VLUHR). We are also part of numerous other national and international networks and alliances. We place great value on collaboration and believe that working with other institutions strengthens us.
Collaboration with local governments (City of Ghent, Province of East Flanders) and the Flemish government, along with its agencies, is equally essential. This also applies to collaborations with the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and institutes such as VIB, IMEC, VITO, and VLAIO. The same goes for the good relationships with the business community, including through VOKA. All these partnerships are crucial for Ghent University to optimally fulfil its mission and further strengthen its position in Flanders. Moreover, in a rapidly changing world, local, regional, and intra-European collaborations are of strategic importance to Ghent University.
These collaborations are addressed in various parts of our programme. We focus on strengthening existing synergies, as well as creating new collaborations to tackle challenges in education, research, sustainability, and more.
A specific and extremely important partnership deserves our explicit attention, that with the Ghent University Hospital. Since 2017, UZ Gent and Ghent University have formed a single legal entity, and the hospital has been reintegrated into the university. This administrative collaboration has led to a win-win situation where both institutions strengthen each other in terms of education, research, and clinical practice.
UZ Gent is a crucial partner of Ghent University, partly due to the large number of students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, over 9,000, and the significant number of researchers belonging to the faculty, over 1,000. Many of these professors not only provide education and research at Ghent University but also excel in important clinical practice. The synergy between clinic, education, and research is vital for both institutions and has ensured that UZ Gent and Ghent University find themselves at the top regionally, nationally, and internationally in both the healthcare and research landscapes.
The strategic transversal themes described in the future plan of UZ Gent include excellence in patient care, but also for employees; innovative research and entrepreneurship; human-centredness, both for patients and employees; and efficiency, including financial policy. These themes perfectly align with the strategic goals of Ghent University itself. Where possible, Ghent University can and should help realise these strategic objectives. Like many institutions, UZ Gent experienced a negative result in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and was forced to make cuts in personnel and operational resources. At the same time, UZ Gent faces a significant investment need to realise the new construction plans (project U).
UZ Gent and Ghent University are working closely together on the restructuring and modernisation of the hospital campus. An important part of this collaboration is the implementation of the master plan, which provides for a centralised new construction of approximately 75,000 m², a new above-ground parking building, optimisation of mobility, and redesign of outdoor spaces. The master plan focuses on clustering care and hospital functions in a central care zone to increase efficiency and strengthen interconnectedness. Financing of the project will be done with own resources, government subsidies, and public-private partnerships, all in close collaboration with Ghent University. The biggest challenge in realising this plan is the necessary pre-financing of this project, and solutions must be sought for this. A dialogue with higher authorities is therefore imperative.
In the future plan 2025-2028, project U and financial restructuring are crucial, but UZ Gent also wants to focus on networking, further community formation with UZ members, and leadership training. The organisational model (Pegasos) is also due for evaluation and renewal. UZ Gent aims to focus on networking and collaborations at local, regional, national, and international levels according to a concentric model. A future-proof electronic patient record is also among the priorities. In the coming years, UZ Gent will face similar challenges as Ghent University, including the use of data and AI in both clinical practice and research. This will require both staff training and new software developments.
It should also be remembered that the Campus UZ is an essential part of the planned campus reform ‘UGent Verbeeldt 2050′. Ghent University has developed a long-term vision to house its eleven faculties in three clusters by 2050. One of these clusters will be located around De Sterre and UZ Gent and will include the faculties of Science, Medicine and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Psychology and Educational Sciences. This plan aims to restructure the university campuses to create a more sustainable and efficient environment. This relocation will also impact UZ, and we must involve them in these plans.
The synergy between UZ Gent and Ghent University offers enormous benefits for both institutions and for healthcare in general, and certainly also for education and research. By continuing to build on this collaboration and by supporting Ghent University in implementing the future plan of UZ Gent, both institutions can further consolidate and expand their position as leaders in education, fundamental scientific and clinical applied research, and clinical practice.