Activities
As a Faculty, we organise high-quality education and research around health sciences. We are guided in this by a well-considered policy plan and strategy. In order to achieve our set goals, we divide responsibilities and powers over various bodies. Discover our mission and vision, and what our organisational structure exactly looks like.
Mission and vision
The Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy contributes to a better society by providing top-quality research, education, and life science services. At VUB, the human being takes centre stage. A high level of scientific knowledge, extensive patient experience, and a broad view of society make our alumni outstanding healthcare professionals.
The world needs you
Thanks to partnerships with numerous Brussels healthcare institutions, including UZ Brussel, our students come into frequent and intensive contact with the practice of healthcare in Brussels during their studies. In addition, there are many initiatives by students (associations) who engage for the health and well-being of all Brussels residents, including the most vulnerable. In this way, the Faculty and students give shape to the concept of urban engaged university in a sustainable way.
Organisational structure
Within our faculty, there are a number of bodies and departments charged with taking care of different tasks and responsibilities. Below you’ll find an overview of our organisational structure.
Faculty Board
The Faculty Board is the management body within the faculty responsible for the general direction taken by the faculty. Led by the dean, who is supported by a management team, the Faculty Board is also responsible for implementing overall university policy in individual educational programmes and for managing the quality control thereof. Students and academic personnel are also represented on the Faculty Board.
Faculty Council
The Faculty Council is the highest governing body within the faculty, and is responsible for determining faculty policy on matters relating to education, research and services. The Faculty Council convenes at least four times per year, and consists of professors, assistants, administrative and technical personnel and students. The council provides advice to the university’s governing body on matters such as educational regulations and training programmes, and is charged with taking decisions with regard to the employment of lecturers, the composition of the examination board, etc.
Faculty Office
The Faculty Office is responsible for the day-to-day management of the faculty and consists of at least the dean, vice-dean and the academic secretary.
The Faculty Secretariat (dean’s office)
The main function of the faculty secretariat is to provide administrative support to the students in every aspect of their study programme, from the moment they register as a student until their final graduation. The secretariat also fulfils a number of tasks for the teaching personnel (professors and assistants) with regard to students, including the preparation of teaching programmes, lesson timetables, exam timetables, deliberations, etc.
Faculty Education Committees
Each of our 5 study areas (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, medical social sciences) has its own education committee. Each education committee is responsible for ensuring the quality of the education, practicals and internships on offer. The committees formulate proposals for curriculum renewal, the (re)definition of teaching assignments, modifications to exam regulations, the drawing up of timetables, etc. These proposals are submitted to the dean, who then presents them to the faculty board.
Faculty Research Commission (FNC)
The FNC is charged with promoting high quality scientific research and scientific communication on the VUB Health Campus. Upon request from the OZR (Research Council) the FNC provides advice on research matters and budgets. The commission also provides considered advice upon request to the faculty board or the faculty council and faculty board with regard to research policy.
Commission for Communication and Information (C&V)
The C&V concerns itself with all activities presenting and promoting the image of the campus in general. Attention is in particular paid to ensuring that there is a livable, student-friendly environment on campus. The commission sets out proposals for improving the sports facilities and cultural and social activities, and organises a welcome week at the start of the academic year, as well as info and open days..
Ethics Committee (CE)
The CE handles all matters relating to ethical questions in a clinical environment. The committee is chaired by the dean, although he may also delegate the function to someone else. Members of the CE are proposed by the chairman of the committee in consultation with the dean and the chairman of the medical board, and confirmed by the faculty council.
Ethical Commission for Animal Experiments (CPG)
The CPG focuses on the question of the use of animals in research. The commission is assembled in accordance with the legal requirements and proposed by the FNC (faculty research committee) in consultation with the dean. The faculty committee then confirms the appointment of the commission.
Buildings Committee Jette (GCJ)
The GCJ provides advice on all essential utilities on the VUB Health Campus for which it is responsible, such as advice on buildings and pitch maintenance, cleaning crews, technical services, etc. The GJC provides advice upon request by users of the VUB Health Campus and/or the faculty board. The chairperson is proposed by the dean and appointed by the rector, and confirmed by the VUB board of directors.
Jette Buildings Users Committee (GGJ)
The GGJ provides advice on the building, renovation and maintenance of faculty buildings, which includes advice on the planting and maintenance of green zones, car parking, the renovation of laboratories and auditoria, etc., however this does not include the allocation of classrooms. The GGJ provides advice upon request by users of the VUB Health Campus, the rector, the university central administration and/or the faculty board. The chairperson is proposed by the dean and appointed by the rector, and the appointment then confirmed by the VUB board of directors.
Library Committee (CB)
The CB’s function is to anticipate the needs of teaching and research and to pursue its policy within the budgetary guidelines set out by the central governing body.
Cooperation between our Faculty and UZ Brussels
The cooperation between the Faculty and UZ Brussels, the university hospital of VUB, takes shape in 2 specific consultation bodies. The UMC committee offers non-binding advice to the UZ executive board and to the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy on all matters that relate to both the UZ Brussels and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, in order to develop a coherent and co-ordinated policy for both the UZ Brussels and the university. There is also the joint research council UMCOR.
Departments and research groups
The Faculty consists of 9 departments, each responsible for the educational and research activities within their specialisation. The departments consist of academic staff (professors, assistants, and researchers), a departmental council that determines their performance and departmental chairmen who assume coordination.
The Faculty's research groups are divided into 10 clusters. These groups consist of an international team of researchers who are fully committed to socially relevant research within their specialisation. In this way, the educational offer can be permanently adapted to the latest scientific evolutions.
Faculty associations
Our Faculty has 3 student associations and 2 alumni associations.
Our student associations
Our alumni associations
A question for one of our faculty representatives? Contact us.
In addition, anyone who has graduated from VUB can always join the Former Students' Union.