Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Campus Kortrijk
Encyclopedia
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Campus Kortrijk (Catholic University of Leuven Campus Kortrijk), or KULCK is the only university in the Belgian
province of West-Flanders. Until recently, the KULCK was known as the KULAK, “Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Afdeling Kortrijk" (Catholic University of Leuven Branch Kortrijk). Although the university buildings were upgraded from a mere branch or dependence to a real campus in the late 1990s, the designation of "KULAK" is still used. The main reason for this is that it rolls off the tongue much easier than the new letter construction with its three consonants ending. Located in the city of Kortrijk
in Flanders, the K.U.L.A.K. is officially a Dutch-speaking institution.
affiliated with the Catholic University of Leuven
situated on the southern rim of Kortrijk
. The idea behind this campus is twofold. First of all, Leuven
always had a strong portion of its students coming from the West-Flanders region. Yet, many prospective students are wary of moving to Brabant
for an adventure that would involve an almost complete rupture with their familiar surroundings. (Also many parents are uncomfortable with the idea of sending their son or daughter straight out of school to a town known for its student bars and parties.) Secondly, the majority of students who quit university do so in their first year. Typically, depending on the studies, the first two years (which give a general but thorough introduction into the whole scope of the subject) draw two to three times as many students as the last three or four (in which the student specializes in one specific field of his subject).
By giving their West-Flemish students the possibility to complete their first two years in Kortrijk, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
(KUL) offers them a smaller, easier to manage environment closer to their homes (and to their parents' controlling influence). Leuven also benefits as more students in Kortrijk means lesser students in the chronically overcrowded first year lectures in Leuven. Students that have completed the first two years will still move to Leuven (or to any other university, for that matter) to specialize but by then they will be more mature, confident and up to the challenge of a true university town.
With its primary purpose of getting students through the first years of their studies, the KULCK only offers two years of general bachelor studies for the most popular courses, being languages, law studies and medicine. Almost twenty years ago, economics was added to this list, in co-operation with the university of Antwerp. Now many other subjects, sciences and pedagogics, are available as well. With the first two years giving a general layout of the subject, there are no specializations, only general chairs, which again adds to the streamlining of the education process.
While the KUL is a patchwork of chairs, lecture halls and departments spread out all over Leuven, the KULCK campus only consists out of one university park with several buildings located on a shallow hill in the "t'Hoge" (the heights) region just south of the citycentre of Kortrijk. About half of the students live either in the university dormitory or in a rented room nearby. The other half lives with their family in the greater Kortrijk region, close enough to drive (or even bike) to the university in the morning and return home for the evening.
From 1984 onwards, students could enroll in the "Informatics" (ITC) courses, from 1985 in the "Farmacy" courses and from 1986 in the "Biology" and "Bio-Engineer" courses. In the academic year 1991-1992, the "Economics" department started ('Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen').
In 1982, a new building phase started which comprised the erection of a 'student village' and the building of a new Library, Faculty of Science and administration buildings.
In the early 1990s, the new Building B, designed by architect Stéphane Beel, was opened. In 2007 a new enlargement phase started. This phase consisted in the construction of a new student residence, named Corona, to house 81 students and a new building, Building D. Also, the long corridor between Buildings A and B, the so-called "Spina", was enlarged until the new Building E.
The KULAK organises a full (three years) academic bachelorcourse in
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of West-Flanders. Until recently, the KULCK was known as the KULAK, “Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Afdeling Kortrijk" (Catholic University of Leuven Branch Kortrijk). Although the university buildings were upgraded from a mere branch or dependence to a real campus in the late 1990s, the designation of "KULAK" is still used. The main reason for this is that it rolls off the tongue much easier than the new letter construction with its three consonants ending. Located in the city of Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
in Flanders, the K.U.L.A.K. is officially a Dutch-speaking institution.
Background
As the name implies, it is a university campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
affiliated with the Catholic University of Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
situated on the southern rim of Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
. The idea behind this campus is twofold. First of all, Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
always had a strong portion of its students coming from the West-Flanders region. Yet, many prospective students are wary of moving to Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
for an adventure that would involve an almost complete rupture with their familiar surroundings. (Also many parents are uncomfortable with the idea of sending their son or daughter straight out of school to a town known for its student bars and parties.) Secondly, the majority of students who quit university do so in their first year. Typically, depending on the studies, the first two years (which give a general but thorough introduction into the whole scope of the subject) draw two to three times as many students as the last three or four (in which the student specializes in one specific field of his subject).
By giving their West-Flemish students the possibility to complete their first two years in Kortrijk, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
(KUL) offers them a smaller, easier to manage environment closer to their homes (and to their parents' controlling influence). Leuven also benefits as more students in Kortrijk means lesser students in the chronically overcrowded first year lectures in Leuven. Students that have completed the first two years will still move to Leuven (or to any other university, for that matter) to specialize but by then they will be more mature, confident and up to the challenge of a true university town.
With its primary purpose of getting students through the first years of their studies, the KULCK only offers two years of general bachelor studies for the most popular courses, being languages, law studies and medicine. Almost twenty years ago, economics was added to this list, in co-operation with the university of Antwerp. Now many other subjects, sciences and pedagogics, are available as well. With the first two years giving a general layout of the subject, there are no specializations, only general chairs, which again adds to the streamlining of the education process.
While the KUL is a patchwork of chairs, lecture halls and departments spread out all over Leuven, the KULCK campus only consists out of one university park with several buildings located on a shallow hill in the "t'Hoge" (the heights) region just south of the citycentre of Kortrijk. About half of the students live either in the university dormitory or in a rented room nearby. The other half lives with their family in the greater Kortrijk region, close enough to drive (or even bike) to the university in the morning and return home for the evening.
Beginning
The fist academic year started at the KULAK in 1965. Initially, the courses took place in het 'Vormingsinstituut' for SME's, located at the Hoog-Kortrijk area. The first student administration centre was situated in the King Albert Street, in the city centre of Kortrijk. Later, the 'Guesthouse', known as a meeting and lodingplace for foreign researchers and guest professors, was opened.Courses
From the founding of the university campus till now, the amount of courses has been repeatedly enlarged. In 1965, the Kortrijk University Campus started with "Arts and Phylosphy" ('Letteren en Wijsbegeerte') (including Law). Six years later, in 1971, faculties "Medicine" and "Science" (including Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) were founded.From 1984 onwards, students could enroll in the "Informatics" (ITC) courses, from 1985 in the "Farmacy" courses and from 1986 in the "Biology" and "Bio-Engineer" courses. In the academic year 1991-1992, the "Economics" department started ('Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen').
Building Phases
In 1970, the StuHu was built: a student home containing a restaurant, a meeting room and several living units. In 1971, the Groene Mote (or the 'dorm') was finished. That same year, the faculty or Arts and Philosophy was opened (currently Building A). The Medicine faculty building was finished in 1973 while the Interdisciplinary Research Centrum (IRC) was inaugurated in 1975.In 1982, a new building phase started which comprised the erection of a 'student village' and the building of a new Library, Faculty of Science and administration buildings.
In the early 1990s, the new Building B, designed by architect Stéphane Beel, was opened. In 2007 a new enlargement phase started. This phase consisted in the construction of a new student residence, named Corona, to house 81 students and a new building, Building D. Also, the long corridor between Buildings A and B, the so-called "Spina", was enlarged until the new Building E.
Rectors
Throughout the years, the Kortrijk University has know several rectors:- 1971 - 1991: Mgr Guido Maertens
- 1991 - 1992: Frans Van Cauwelaert
- 1992 - 1996: Vic Nachtergaele
- 1996 - 2001: Marcel Joniau
- 2001 - 2009: Piet Vanden Abeele
- 2009 - now: Jan Beirlant
Faculties
The Campus Kortrijk organises the first two years of the following academic bachelor courses:- Bioscience Engineering
- Business and Economics
- Arts and Philosophy (including languages)
- History
- Law
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Informatics
- Chemistry (+ Farmacy and Bio-engineer)
- Biology (+ biochemics and biotechnology)
The KULAK organises a full (three years) academic bachelorcourse in
- Medicine
- Educational Sciences
Buildings
The Kortrijk University Campus is located in the Hoog-Kortrijk area, in the 'Etienne Sabbelaan'. The campus consists of several buildings, which are all connected with the 'Spina'.- The Spina is a 120-metre-long volume which connects all faculties.
- Building A
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
- Campus Library
- Student Administration
- Central hal
- Faculty of Science
- Rectorat
- 'Impulscentrum voor Onderwijsvernieuwing'
- Building B
- Faculty Business and Economics
- Postacademic Education (PAV)
- Welcome Desk
- Building C
- Faculty Educational Science (Onderwijskunde)
- Interdisciplinary Research Centrum
- Building D (2005)
- Educational Sciences
- Building E
- Medicine
- Students centre
- Students House with restaurant, 'Fakkot'...
- Club