VUB students may get direct voting right

The board of directors at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) would like to see all their students given the right to vote directly in the election of a new rector. A definitive decision on the possible reform of the election procedures will be made on 16 September. The VUB would be the first university in Flanders to introduce this policy.

“Students are the reason of existence for the university and the VUB has always been a democratic university,” VUB rector Paul De Knop told De Morgen. “Students therefore should be involved in the decision-making process on the policy of the university. This would expand their commitment.”

In the rector elections, the student population would have about 10% of the votes. Students will probably be able to vote directly for the first time in 2016, to choose De Knop’s successor. The board of directors has already given its principal agreement on the proposal; now staff and students can judge the new regulation. 

Photo: VUB rector Paul De Knop (left) taking over from predecessor Ben Van Camp in 2008. Courtesy VUB/Flickr