Current figures: a steady rise in women at VUB
At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ‘woman’ has long since ceased to be a footnote. The figures say it all. In the lecture halls, 59% of students are women. Half of all staff – academics and support staff – are women, and women also have a visible presence in the boardrooms. At the same time, a new generation of young female researchers is knocking on the door of the top.
The feminisation of the student body can fairly be called revolutionary; you see it at all universities. At VUB, in a few faculties it has even flipped into a clear majority. The Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences is the most striking example, with 84% women, followed by Law & Criminology (73%), Medicine & Pharmacy (69%) and Arts & Philosophy (66%). At the bottom of the table is the traditionally male-dominated Engineering programme, with one quarter women.
At the start of an academic career at VUB, women and men are in balance: half of all doctoral candidates are women. They’re queuing up at the gate. After they have defended their thesis, the path narrows: among postdocs the share falls to 40.5% women. A step higher up, within the professoriate (the independent academic staff), 35.5% are women. At the very top of that ladder, the full and associate professors, the figure is 21.6%. If the current trend continues, VUB will reach a fifty-fifty balance in 2037. That will still take some time, of course, but in Flanders, VUB and UHasselt are out in front when you look at the number of women among academic staff.
The engine of the organisation
Behind the scenes, VUB is clearly female: among the Administrative and Technical Staff (ATP), 906 of the 1,414 employees are women. In this engine room, department heads also help set the course: for example, as director of VUB TechTransfer, Sonja Haesen heads the operational service of the Vice-Rectorate for Innovation & Valorisation. At the Vice-Rectorate for Research, director Mieke Gijsemans is meanwhile developing research policy and the central research administration.
Governing bodies with broad intake
VUB aims for 1/3rd women in its governing bodies. In 2025, women made up 38% of the University Council, 32% of the Academic Council and 30% of the Board of Governors. The figures look even stronger in the domain councils: the Education Council, Research Council and International Policy Council all have more than 50% women. The Innovation and Valorisation Council stands at 31%. The latter includes many professors, but most governing bodies also have ATP representatives, students and external members at the table — among them female members such as renowned legal expert Natasja Degrieck and ICT top executive Martine Tempels.
What helps young women researchers advance?
Equality and diversity are now embedded in the organisation. The latest Gender Equality Plan 2023–2027 focuses on unbiased recruitment, progression and a respectful work culture. When you apply to VUB, you’re assessed by a diverse panel on the basis of clear criteria. Every candidate is entitled to transparent feedback. New staff receive broad support: a warm welcome, quick access to offices and equipment, and even a buddy.
Young researchers are offered training in writing and leadership, mentoring and regular career development discussions. VUB monitors workload, limits teaching duties and, for parents, provides flexible schedules and, where necessary, extra time or contract extensions. A clear code of conduct, designated confidants and swift mediation ensure a safe working environment. In this way, VUB aims to create the right conditions for young female postdocs to stay rather than drop out.
A university that truly sees women — in the lecture hall, in the organisation and at the controls — creates role models, accessible procedures and decision-making that reflects the community. For the young female researcher, that means: a strong start, clear pathways and realistic opportunities to progress to professor. For VUB, it means: quality that is shared more widely, and impact that lands more quickly.
"At VUB I've never felt I was treated 'differently' because I'm a woman"
Sonja Haesen, director of VUB Techtransfer
Sonja Hansen: “I studied biology at VUB and after my PhD I was able to start working at my alma mater straight away, just at the moment when the valorisation of research — getting knowledge to flow through to society — really took off. It felt like perfect timing: I could connect science with impact, and I never had the feeling my chances were smaller because I’m a woman."
"Only later did I realise how formative my first mentor was: Micheline Kirsch-Volders, my supervisor. From her I learned the refreshing reflex to listen first, not to judge too quickly, and to swap a ‘stubborn’ belief in being right for looking for solutions. Always keeping in mind that you’re working with people who are also trying their very best."
"When I started, the balance was different and luckily a lot has changed. At VUB, however, I’ve never felt I was treated ‘differently’ because I’m a woman: merit still turned out to carry more weight, thankfully."
"I don’t have children and I’ve happily thrown myself into my work. That has also meant taking care of my own work-life balance. After COVID, hybrid working brought exactly what I needed: using time more efficiently, among other things by commuting less. Those are hours you win back for more efficient work, time for colleagues, and above all it allows more focus. The fact that VUB allows that flexibility where it can makes a world of difference. It keeps the work human and sustainable.”
"Perhaps I'm just that bit more sensitive to the fair treatment of women researchers"
Mieke Gijsemans, director of Research at VUB
Mieke Gijsemans: “In the 40 years I’ve worked at VUB, I’ve been given opportunities by so many people and worked with countless fascinating personalities. That’s enriching on a human level. I’ve always experienced the constant contact with driven scientists as a gift — it gave me exactly the energy and enthusiasm to keep going."
"What have I been able to add as a woman? Perhaps I’m just that bit more sensitive to the fair or unfair treatment of women researchers. I spot it more quickly, I name it, and I try to do something about it — constructively, without losing the dialogue."
"There were certainly hurdles at the start. In the late 80s and early 90s, as a young woman you found yourself in a predominantly male environment and you had to prove yourself constantly: knowing your stuff extra well and standing your ground in meetings. That sometimes felt tough, but it shaped me. Fortunately, things are different today."
"As for work–life balance: I’ve personally never experienced major problems, also because I’m surrounded by a super-efficient team. Stepping in for one another when needed is almost second nature for us. At the same time, I realise that some roles simply demand a lot of time and commitment — that comes with the territory. With a close-knit team, clear agreements and mutual trust, the work remains not only manageable, but also meaningful and motivating.”
