Pintra (EN) Blog
For many people, cybersecurity sounds technical – something for ICT specialists sitting at computers guarding lines of code. Until you receive a suspicious email. Or leave your laptop on the train. Or a system suddenly stops working. Then it becomes something that concerns all of us. We spoke with Sabine Marichal, our ICT Security & Risk Officer, about what is done every day to keep UAntwerp digitally secure and why your behaviour is crucial in that respect.
Did you know that UAntwerp has been developing its own software for institutes of higher learning, heritage institutions and museums in Belgium and abroad for more than 25 years? What started as a collaboration between five partners has grown into a unique network and a powerful set of digital solutions. For many years, these were known as Anet and Brocade. With the name change to Wander, that story is now more visible than ever. Head of service Véronique Rega explains why this change is happening and what it means.
What do we stand for as a university? In challenging times like these, that question matters more than ever. Our mission and vision are more than lofty statements, and you help bring them to life every day – often without realising it. With the online Mission in Motion quiz, you can refresh your knowledge of our mission, vision and lines of strength in a quick and enjoyable way. You’ll also discover what we bring to the table together.
Take the quiz
In the section ‘The Feather’, a staff member puts a colleague in the spotlight. This time, Nadia Boutrfass passes the compliment to Elio Berardocco, head of the the Purchasing Office.
Last Friday, we kicked off the new year together at the annual New Year’s Gathering. Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability took centre stage alongside the University Fund. And possibly the most important question: who are the winners of the quiz?
As of this academic year, smoking is no longer permitted anywhere on our campuses, indoors or outdoors. This makes us the first university in Belgium with such a comprehensive anti-smoking policy, stricter than what the government imposes. ‘A smoke-free generation is what we should all continue to strive for,’ says Professor Filip Lardon, head of the Center for Oncological Research (CORE) and dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Would you like to support a research project at our university before the end of the year? Or is your New Year’s resolution for 2026 to raise funds through an initiative? As of recently, doing so has become very easy via the University Fund action platform, which has relaunched this year with a new, enthusiastic team.
Whoever steps into the right wing of the 16th-century Hof van Liere finds themselves in an oasis of calm on the Stadscampus. Behind the historic façades lies the Universiteitsclub: a refined restaurant where quality, hospitality and sustainability come together. Head chef Aaron De Ceuster and unit coordinator Nele Crabbé take us behind the scenes.
Our university cut its CO₂ emissions by 16.5 per cent in five years. A solid result, but we aren’t on track yet to meet our targets. Although many services and departments are already on board with the climate agenda, we still need to step things up: ‘The collective support is there; now’s the time to turn that into action.’
A feather in your cap: the feather is a prize passed on from one UAntwerp colleague to another in recognition of their efforts or achievements. This time, the Rector’s Office passes the feather on to Nadia Boutrfass.
What makes a city healthy? And how can the university contribute to this health from different disciplinary perspectives? These were the questions behind an interfaculty reflection session organised by Lieven Janssens (Social Sciences), Jasna Loos (Medicine and Health Sciences) and Caroline Masquillier (Social Sciences & Medicine and Health Sciences). Sixty academics from a wide range of disciplines, as well as colleagues from Antwerp University Hospital and our association partners AP and KdG, exchanged ideas on how interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration can help make Antwerp a healthy city.
The brand-new Building G.W on Campus Groenenborger was officially opened on 14 October. Behind the facade lies a future-oriented building where innovation, sustainability and safety come together. The new chemistry laboratories housed here are taking sustainable chemistry research to the next level. Prof. Vera Meynen, chair of the Department of Chemistry, and Herman Van Looveren, domain coordinator Lab, show us behind the scenes.
