Ghent University attracts increasing numbers of Chinese students and researchers

Ghent University has attracted increasing numbers of Chinese students and researchers in recent years. Today, over a thousand Chinese are registered with the local authority, 622 of whom are studying in the East Flanders capital, Flemish public broadcaster VRT reports.

Chinese students have become the largest group of international students at Ghent University, ahead of Dutch, Spanish and Italian students. The university, Belgium's second-largest with nearly 50.000 enrolled students, has over a hundred cooperation agreements with Chinese partners, including exchange programmes, joint research projects and special grants.

"We have noticed that sciences, bioengineering, civil engineering and architecture studies generate the most interest"

"Ghent University has a tradition of working with China," UGent's Inge Mangelschots told VRT. "We also have a representative in China who defends our interests and maintains contacts with Chinese bodies and government".

At the end of last year, 1,086 Chinese citizens were registered in Ghent - up over a third compared to four years ago - well over half of whom (622) are students. In 2022, 273 new Chinese students or researchers arrived in the city. "We have noticed that sciences, bioengineering, civil engineering and architecture studies generate the most interest, though there are Chinese students at all faculties," says Mangelschots.

(BRV)

^{#FlandersNewsService | A lecture at Ghent University © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}