Respect • Synergy • Action
If you want to find more time for your work, if you want to be part of an organisation that puts collective and personal development at the heart of its mission, by making the most of in-house expertise and simplifying its operations;
if you want a committed University that is fully invested in its fundamental missions of education, research, informed service to society and clinical practice;
if you believe in an independent University that is capable of making its voice heard in society;
then join me in making these aspirations a reality via the 2024 rectoral election!
My programme is rooted in a fundamental ethical value: respect. It underpins every one of my aspirations in building a programme that serves our community, our work organisation, our partners and society.
Today is also the time to give meaning and motivation to our actions and build community between together and network, individuals and the group, by developing synergies.
Respect, inclusion and the pooling of energies will be the conditions for an ambitious but realistic action plan for our University.
MY PRIORITIES
- Give people back their time so they can do quality work, enable everyone to focus on their activities, job and skills
Several actions contribute to this objective: temporarily or structurally reinforcing the administrative and technical framework in order to guarantee the continuity of our missions; reinforcing the academic framework and rethinking its overall workload; enhancing the value of taking up or exercising representative mandates; guaranteeing sabbaticals with full dispensation from teaching duties; improving promotion processes; carrying out a rigorous and professional simplification of our processes; reducing the number of strategic projects.
- Support the research continuum and mobilise resources to match our scientific ambitions
In order to strengthen all types of research, actions include creating a fund for small research credits, reinforcing technical staff essential to long-term research and, on a larger financial scale, developing a master plan for the acquisition and maintenance of major equipment.
- Make UCLouvain a major player in initial education, continuing education and distance learning (particularly MOOCs).
- Strengthen the framework and tools for language learning and teaching in foreign languages, by building on our international alliances. Couple this policy with improving our policy for hosting international researchers and students.
- Provide a framework for study and work conducive to success, in an environment that encourages every student’s intellectual, social, cultural and athletic development
To this end, we must continue to reduce the cost of course materials, promote access to decent housing and healthy food, and develop new places of well-being, creativity and solidarity.
- Expand the temporary scientific staff (PST) framework and promote PST professional transition
Staffing levels are critical in some areas. An increase in the number of PST is possible, to be distributed in consultation with the sectors and according to regulations adapted to needs. These staff must be placed in better conditions to complete and enhance PhD research.
- Strengthen the continuum between the University and its hospitals
As rector, I intend to become actively involved with UCLouvain hospitals. Under these conditions, the Medical Centre will become a strategic location for the development of our two hospitals. There is a need to work on the attractiveness of a career as a clinical academic, the development of hybrid statuses that fit in with the organisation of local and regional networks, and the networking that the Réseau Santé Louvain provides between our graduates and hospitals. This strengthening also involves a review of the clinical agreement and investment in the new medical and technological campus in Namur.
- Improve accessibility by public transport and the sustainability and user-friendliness of campuses based on a register of needs to be met.
- Evaluate the University’s governance in order to establish cross-cutting policies and multicampus organisation
Our governance must meet the need for overall coherence as well as the autonomy of the decentralised entities, which must remain connected to their specific audiences and environments. Cross-cutting policies will be entrusted to mission pro-rectors who, in addition to current competences, will address “equity-diversity-inclusion”, “sustainable development” and “hospital network” missions. The number of advisors in the rector’s office will be limited.
- Adopt a framework policy on equity, diversity and inclusion, and on combating violence and discrimination
The dedicated pro-rectorate will be supported by an independent representative council, responsible for implementing an action plan based on the priorities identified in the Harcèlement et violences de genre (“Harassment and Gender Violence”) and Équité, Diversité et Inclusion (“Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”) reports.
- Continue our work towards a just transition and a low-carbon, circular economy that respects biodiversity and is less unequal.
- Ensure that you have a robust, secure and sustainable technological infrastructure that is still capable of innovation
Involve users in developments, work on system interoperability and adopt a data management plan.
FOR A UNIVERSITY THAT RESPECTS, UNITES AND ACTS!
With my best regards and in the hope that we can build a promising future together!
Geneviève Schamps