Studying and working at UGent can only be effective when the material conditions are conducive for both students and staff. For students, this means having adequate student facilities (student restaurants, dormitories, student psychologists, financial support, etc.). The university has a social responsibility towards its students and must ensure they can make the most of their student life. Bringing together various services in the student centre is a positive development that will increase the visibility of support, but there is still room to improve awareness so that every student can rely on the necessary support.
Additionally, there must be adequate infrastructure for educational and research activities, as well as workplaces for our staff. With ‘UGent Verbeeldt 2050’, the university has a vision of where it wants to be with its building portfolio by 2050. However, we must also ensure the financial feasibility of the associated relocations, new constructions, and renovations. Moreover, the sustainability of our building portfolio remains a concern in light of the climate goals the university has set for itself.
To further improve our student facilities and infrastructure in both the short and long term, making UGent a warm and sustainable learning and working environment, we focus on three policy lines:
- Creating more and better available spaces for study and educational activities
There is a high demand among students for more and longer accessible study spaces, both for individual work and group work. Based on a comparison made by student representatives in the Board of Governors, it appears that UGent has fewer study spaces per student and that the study spaces are less accessible than at other universities. This applies both throughout the academic year and during the exam preparation period. To better meet student demand, we first investigate the feasibility of a system where students can follow online in real-time where and how many study spaces are still available. Secondly, we look into whether we can keep study spaces like libraries open longer with the help of volunteers or possibly student workers. In some faculties, this is already a practice that we want to expand further.
Secondly, UGent has several buildings, particularly older ones, that are not physically accessible to all students. In 2025, it is no longer justifiable that not every student can participate in educational activities due to accessibility limitations, such as students in wheelchairs. As an inclusive institution, we ensure that the accessibility of existing buildings is increased in the short term. In the construction or renovation of buildings, it should also be a given that they are accessible to everyone.
In the context of digitalisation, we must continue to invest in further and better equipment for classrooms and auditoriums that meet the needs of lecturers and students. In-person education is still extremely important today and will remain so in the future. The digitalisation of education, however, allows for combinations of in-person and online education. This requires even more that the technical infrastructure remains up-to-date so that lecturers can use it smoothly and students can have a high-quality learning experience. This includes high-quality recording and streaming equipment, more recording studios so that lecturers can more easily create knowledge clips and recordings, etc.
- Ensuring affordable and sustainable student facilities
Student numbers will continue to rise in the coming years, increasing the need for quality and affordable student housing. The renovation of three dormitories is already planned, and the construction of more student rooms under our own management is already in prospect. These are important efforts because, in addition to the increased demand for student housing in general, there is also an increased demand for more affordable student rooms. Within the limits of what is financially feasible, we will continue to focus on this line in the coming policy period. The more we as a university invest in this policy, the more we can influence the market.
Regarding other student facilities, these will be brought together in the student centre on Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat, near the rectorate. This will improve the visibility of all the services we offer to students—student psychologists, loaning materials such as laptops, financial support, etc. However, many students do not have classes on the central campuses. We must therefore actively ensure that students who attend classes on Campus Merelbeke, Campus Ardoyen, Campus UZ, etc., know what help they can access and where to find it. More targeted information is needed so that every student knows what facilities are available and can find the help they need.
In line with our sustainability policy, we will also continue to focus on the energy efficiency of student housing. The same applies to meal provisions: they must be healthy, tasty, and ecological. Moreover, we must offer every UGent member a hot meal in sufficient proximity to their work or study place. Together with students and staff, we will continue to work towards this and ensure that the offerings are also affordable.
- Building and renovating future-oriented workplaces
With ‘UGent Verbeeldt 2050’, the university has a future plan for its building portfolio. This enormous operation aims to bring together the university’s various campuses into three clusters: in the city centre, around UZ, and at the science park in Zwijnaarde. However, the financial feasibility of this plan must still be further investigated to ensure that the university does not make financial commitments it cannot sustain. During the coming policy period, it is therefore a priority to ensure that the infrastructure plans are also financially feasible. Only then can we guarantee that when new buildings are constructed, they meet the educational and research needs of students and staff.
While 2050 is still far away, and the plan does not imply that all current buildings will be abandoned or that all university buildings will be renovated, we must continue to invest in further sustainability of our buildings to meet our climate goals. In the same exercise, we need to work with the involved staff to assess whether the infrastructure still meets current needs during construction projects. Work is becoming increasingly flexible, so we need to ensure there are spaces where individuals can concentrate and work, areas for collaboration, flexible workspaces, and informal meeting places for colleagues. The same applies to infrastructure for education and research. During renovations, we must ensure that auditoriums, classrooms, laboratories, etc., meet current and future educational and research needs. Sometimes small adjustments can make a big difference, such as providing more power outlets for students using laptops; sometimes larger interventions are needed that must be discussed with staff and students. Of course, we must also be realistic: financial feasibility remains a determining condition.