Chair of the Department of Economics Jan Bouckaert (FBE) became the new chair of the Board of Directors since November. ‘Getting and keeping the right people on board is an important motivation for me,’ he says. Four questions for the new chair.
Can you give us an outline of your career? How did you come to be on the Board of Governors?
‘After studying economics at KU Leuven and UCLouvain, I did my PhD at Tilburg University. After that I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Mannheim and then for about two years at what was then Belgacom. In 1998 I was appointed professor at UGent, moving to UAntwerp three years later. My research concerns how the market works, particularly in terms of competition and regulation. In 2021 I stood as candidate so I could help shape the future of our university. I did so because my heart is with this university, and also because of my interest in internal and external strategy. I liked the atmosphere on the Board of Directors; there are constructive and substantive discussions, with informative and instructive value, always conducted with great respect for each other. There is also a great deal of trust among members, which I find really important.’
Why did you want to run for chair?
‘It wasn’t actually planned: Professor Herwig Leirs’ term was coming to an end and my fellow professors on the Board of Governors asked if I would like to stand as a candidate. I felt honoured, and because my responsibility and commitment were much appreciated, I agreed. With the Board of Governors, we can help ensure that our university can attract and keep the right people on board. That’s a key motivation for me. As a university we are, after all, heavily dependent on our human resources. We have to be able to compete with other universities as well as the business world. I also enjoy the challenge of helping fulfill our ambitions as a university from within the Board of Governors.’
How do you want to shape your role as chair?
‘First of all, I want to work collaboratively. It is essential that every perspective can be addressed within the Board of Governors, from students to academic staff to administrative and technical staff. A good relationship between the different parts of our university – faculties and central services – is crucial. It would be nice if we could further enhance those interrelationships. Being a medium-sized university works to our advantage in that regard.
What’s more, as chair, I want to help achieve the core missions of our university: education, research, service to society and valorisation. I want to help put the mission statement of UAntwerp into practice. My predecessor, our rector and all stakeholders have worked hard on this over the past few years. As a university, we place great value on social commitment, critical thinking, respect for all and pluralism. Finally, I also attach great importance to clear and accessible communication between the Board of Governors and relevant stakeholders.’
What major challenges do you see on the horizon?
‘As Board of Governors we determine the long-term strategy of the university. Where do we want to be as a university twenty years from now? There are numerous challenges that warrant being near the top of the agenda.
Funding of the university and the interaction between industry and science are important topics. How can we maintain a good balance between fundamental research and valorisation? Another key challenge is the physical infrastructure of our university in the light of climate change. On the one hand, we want to see students and lecturers on campus as much as possible, and yet on the other hand, remote working and teaching are becoming more and more important. It comes down to finding a balance between the two and adapting our infrastructure to that new reality. It’s also interesting to know how the outside world perceives us, both in Belgium and abroad. Furthermore, we have an important risk management program underway that identifies the strategic risks of our university, which is undoubtedly a top priority.
Last, but not least, I would very much like to thank my predecessor, Prof. Herwig Leirs. It is a luxury to be able to chair a Board of Governors with such mutual understanding. My thanks also go to our rector and the entire policy team, who in recent years have succeeded in putting UAntwerp as an impressive university even more on the map.’
