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Mission statement
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, founded in 1425, is
a Flemish University of Catholic signature with an international orientation. It
has the legal status of a private institution.
As a university,
K.U.Leuven is an academic institution at which both groundbreaking research and
knowledge transfer are essential and complementary.
As a university,
K.U.Leuven distinguishes itself from other research centres by its freedom of
inquiry, by the disinterested character of its fundamental research, by its
focus on education and by the fact that it encompasses almost all academic
disciplines within its walls.
As a university, K.U.Leuven distinguishes
itself from other educational institutions by the fact that its teaching is
based on and nourished by its own research and by its interdisciplinary
approach.
It defines its tasks and priorities autonomously and the
members of its academic staff enjoy academic freedom in the exercise of their
duties.
In the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge, K.U.Leuven is guided
only by the demands of scientific methodology and deontology.
In a number
of fields, K.U.Leuven aspires to a place among the centres of excellence in
Europe and in the world.
K.U.Leuven transfers knowledge through high
quality interdisciplinary education. Its programmes integrate professional
training into a broad ethical, cultural and social formation. Rather than
passing on mere factual knowledge, it promotes the skills of identifying,
formulating and solving problems. It creates the necessary conditions for a
stimulating educational experience. Special attention is paid to the permanent
evaluation of its education in order to enhance the students capacity for
independent study, to provide intensive individual guidance and an adequate
evaluation system, to safeguard the excellent pedagogical skills of the teaching
staff and to promote the use of new teaching methods and
technologies.
The K.U.Leuven s first and second cycle undergraduate
programmes contribute to as broad a participation as possible of young people in
a qualitatively outstanding university education, which takes place in an
intellectually stimulating, socially supportive and student-centred environment.
At the same time, K.U.Leuven is continuously oriented towards new target
groups.
In addition, it pays special attention to the training of young
researchers, mainly within the context of their doctoral studies. It also offers
postgraduate programmes in a number of fields, aimed at the broadening and
deepening of knowledge.
Besides education and research, K.U.Leuven
fulfils still other important tasks through its dedication to serving society.
In a spirit of critical service, it places its expertise at the disposal of the
government, of organizations and of industry. It addresses its concern for
public health with special care and with respect for human dignity at the
university hospitals. On the basis of its research results, it ensures the
permanent education of its graduates in their professional lives.
As a
Catholic university, K.U.Leuven is a critical centre of thought within the
Catholic community. As such, it is deeply concerned with the relationship
between science and faith and with the dialogue between the church and the
world.
On the basis of its Christian view of humankind and society,
K.U.Leuven reflects on the axiological, ethical and religious problems emerging
from developments in science and technology and from changes in social and
cultural life. This reflection takes place in a free, open climate and in
collaboration with kindred universities. Special attention is paid to the
personal dignity of human beings, to the protection of the weak and to justice
and peace. K.U.Leuven also creates a spiritual climate which fosters the full
human and religious development of the members of the university
community.
As a Flemish university, K.U.Leuven stimulates the
participation of the Flemish people in the technological and cultural progress
of the world. In co-operation with other Dutch-speaking universities, it
contributes to the development of their common culture.
As an
internationally oriented university, K.U.Leuven is heir to an age-old tradition
of hospitality to foreigners. Thanks to intense inter-university collaboration
and to the exchange of students and faculty members, its development and
transfer of knowledge actively contribute to the enrichment of culture and
science, both in Europe and throughout the world.
In its unique atmosphere,
both at the campuses in Leuven and Kortrijk, K.U.Leuven is committed to the
accomplishment of this mission, together with its alumni and with regional and
national communities. |
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