Université libre de Bruxelles

Université libre de Bruxelles

Seal of the ULB, created in 2013.
Latin: Universitas Bruxellensis
Former name	Université libre de Belgique
Motto	Scientia vincere tenebras
Motto in English	Conquering darkness with knowledge
Type	Independent/Partly state funded
Established	1834
Affiliation	Freemasonry
President	Pierre Gurdjian
Rector	Yvon Englert
Administrative staff	4,400
Students	24,236 (2012)[1]
Location	Brussels, Belgium
Campus	Solbosch, Plaine, Erasme, Gosselies
Affiliations	EUA AUF ENTREE IMCC T.I.M.E. UNICA Atomium Culture
Website	http://www.ulb.ac.be/

The Université libre de Bruxelles (in English: Free University of Brussels), abbreviated ULB, is a French-speaking private research university in Brussels, Belgium.

It was established in 1834 by Belgian lawyer Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, it is one of the most important Belgian universities. A major research center open to Europe and the world,^[2][3] it has about 24,200 students, 33% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.^[1] In 2018, ULB was globally ranked 175th by The Times Higher Education, 151th by Shanghai Ranking (AWRU).

Name[edit]

Brussels has two universities whose names mean Free University of Brussels in English: the French-speaking Université libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Neither uses the English translation, since it is ambiguous.

History[edit]

Portrait of Théodore Verhaegen, founder of the ULB

When the Belgian State was formed in 1830 by nine breakaway provinces from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it had three state universities, in Ghent, Liège and Leuven, but no university in the new capital, Brussels. Since the government was reluctant to fund another state university, a group of Freemasons and intellectuals led by Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen and Auguste Baron planned to create a private university, which was permitted under the Belgian Constitution. After the Catholic Church sponsored the foundation of the Catholic University of Mechlin in 1834, the Université libre de Belgique (Free University of Belgium) opened on 20 November 1834. In 1836, it changed its name to Université libre de Bruxelles.^[4]

The school's football team won the bronze medal at the 1900 Summer Olympics.^{[citation needed]}

As part of its commitment to academic freedom, the ULB closed down in 1941 rather than collaborate with the Nazi occupation of Belgium.^[4]

Since 1935, some courses have been taught in both French and Dutch. Beginning in 1963, all faculties offered courses in both languages. In October 1969, shortly after the language dispute at the Catholic University of Leuven, the French and Dutch entities of the ULB separated into two distinct universities. With the act of 28 May 1970, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université libre de Bruxelles officially became two separate legal, administrative and scientific entities.^{[citation needed]}

November 20, called Saint Verhagen (often shortened to St V) for Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, is a holiday for students of both the Université libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.^{[citation needed]}

Campuses[edit]

The main building on the Solbosch campus

The ULB comprises three main campuses: the Solbosch campus, on the territories of Brussels and Ixelles municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region, the Plaine campus in Ixelles, and the Erasmus campus in Anderlecht, beside the Erasmus Hospital.

The main and largest campus of the university is the Solbosch, which hosts the administration and general services of the university. It also includes most of the faculties of the humanities, the École polytechnique, the large library of social sciences, and among the museums of the ULB, the Museum of Zoology and Anthropology, the Allende exhibition room and the M. De Ghelderode Museum.

The Plaine campus hosts the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Pharmacy. There are also the Experimentariums of physics and chemistry, the Museum of Medicinal Plants and Pharmacy and student housing. This site is served by the metro station: Delta.

The Erasmus campus houses the Erasmus Hospital and the Pôle Santé, the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Public Health and the Faculty of Motor Sciences. There is also the School of Nursing (with the Haute école libre de Bruxelles - Ilya Prigogine), the Museum of Medicine and the Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology. This site is served by the metro station: Erasmus.

The university also has buildings and activities in the Brussels municipality of Auderghem, as well as outside Brussels, namely in Charleroi on the Aéropole Science Park and in Parentville, Treignes [fr] and Nivelles.

Faculties, schools and institute[edit]

The Erasmus campus in Anderlecht

• Institute for European studies^[5]
• Interfacultary School of Bio-Engineering
• School of Public Health [fr]
• High Institute of Physical Education and Kinesiotherapy
• Institute of Work Sciences
• Institute of Statistics and Operational Research
• Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics

International Privileged Partnerships^[6][edit]

University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Université de Montréal, Waseda University, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris VI, BeiHang University, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Université de Lausanne, Université de Genève, University Ouaga I Pr. Joseph Ki-Zerbo, University of Lubumbashi

Rankings[edit]

Notable alumni and faculty[edit]

Francois Englert, Nobel Prize in Physics (2013)

Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium

Amélie Nothomb, Belgian Francophone novelist

Nobel Prize Winners[edit]

• Henri La Fontaine (1854–1943): Nobel Prize for Peace in 1913.
• Jules Bordet (1870–1961): Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1919.
• Albert Claude (1898–1983): Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1974.
• Ilya Prigogine (1917–2003): Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977.
• François Englert (born 1932): Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013.
• Denis Mukwege (born 1955): Nobel Prize for Peace in 2018.

• 

  Henri La Fontaine, Nobel Prize for Peace (1913)

• 

  Jules Bordet, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1919)

• 

  Albert Claude, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1974)

• 

  Francois Englert, Nobel Prize in Physics (2013)

See also[edit]

• Aéropole Science Park
• Atomium Culture
• BioVallée
• Institut Jules Bordet
• Science and technology in Brussels
• Solvay Business School
• Top Industrial Managers for Europe
• University Foundation
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Royal Statistical Society of Belgium

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• Despy, A., 150 Ans De L‘Ulb Universite Libre De Bruxelles, Brussels, 1984
• Noel, F., 1894 Universite Libre De Bruxelles En Crise, Brussels, 1994
• The ULB, a university born of an idea
• ULB, at a glance

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Université libre de Bruxelles.

• Official home page

Coordinates: 50°48′42″N 4°22′52″E / 50.81167°N 4.38111°E / 50.81167; 4.38111