The term Open Source refers to software that allows any user to use it, examine it (through access to source code), modify or adapt it and redistribute it. The Open Source movement promotes a collaborative model where a community of developers contributes to the development and improvement of the software. In contrast: proprietary software, for which it is mandatory to purchase a user license and which can not be modified.
University of Louvain wants to take part to the free software movement on the one hand by developing software shared under an open source license and on the other hand by promoting, yet without dogmatism, the use of Open Source software in teaching, research and administration.