Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Dutch: [ˈvrɛiə ʔynivɛrsiˈtɛid ˈbrʏsəl] ; lit. 'Free University of Brussels'; abbreviated VUB) is a Dutch-speaking research university in Brussels, Belgium. It has four campuses: Brussels Humanities, Science and Engineering Campus (in Elsene), Brussels Health Campus (in Jette), Brussels Technology Campus (in Anderlecht) and Brussels Photonics Campus (in Gooik). The Vrije Universiteit Brussel emerged from the 1969 split of the Free University of Brussels, which was founded in 1834 by the lawyer and liberal politician Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen. The founder aimed to establish a university independent from state and church, where academic freedom would prevail. This is still reflected in the university's motto Scientia vincere tenebras, or "Conquering darkness through science", and in its more recent slogan Redelijk eigenzinnig, or "Reasonably self-willed". Accordingly, the university is pluralistic; it is open to all students on the basis of equality regardless of their ideological, political, cultural or social background. It is also managed using democratic structures, which means that all members—from students to faculty—participate in the decision-making processes. The university is organised into eight faculties that accomplish its three central missions: education, research, and public service. The faculties cover a broad range of fields of knowledge including the natural sciences, classics, life sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. The university provides bachelor, master, and doctoral education to about 8,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students.