Institutional overview: Vzw UC Limburg
Vzw UC Limburg (formerly KHLim) (UCLL) is a HEI in Flanders, collaborating under the name UC Leuven-Limburg with 2 other HEIs: vzw UC Leuven (formerly KHLeuven) and vzw UC Leuven Comenius Lerarenopleidingen (formerly Group T). UC Leuven-Limburg is renowned for the high quality of its teaching, research & regional development. More than 30 professional bachelor, and lifelong learning study programmes are offered in various disciplines, with a focus on health care, social work, business & commerce, teacher education, science & technology. UC Leuven-Limburg’s strong commitment to research ensures state-of-the-art training programmes for its 15 000 students.
Priority domains of the institution are: regional development, blended learning (including development of MOOCs), lifelong learning strategies, internationalisation & research. The research policy is focused on market-driven applied research. Central to the UC Leuven-Limburg’s mission in the field of research is to develop innovative technology for companies, and to transfer new technology to the market. UC Leuven-Limburg also provides consultancy and continuing education for local industries, organisations and governments. UC Leuven-Limburg is member of educational networks across the globe and strongly collaborates with local, regional and national policy-making bodies, resulting in a broad network of stakeholders. UC Leuven-Limburg is and has been involved in a variety of European projects: under FP7 (e.g. OPEN GARMENTS, PATHWAY, JamToday, TRADERS), under LLP (ELENA, SPIN-OFF, EU-Drivers, E-Divide), and other EC programmes (IEE, Daphne, Interreg).
Our projects are closely related to our study programmes. UC Leuven Limburg’s policy aims to maximize the interaction between research projects and education. This means that both students and teaching staff are involved in research practice. We also introduce research in any study program wherever possible. A quarter of our staff are involved in research projects, and 80% of the researchers are involved in teaching. Information and research competences are gradually developed in all study programmes.