The review of resourcing of higher education in the Flemish Community of Belgium was prepared as part of the OECD Resourcing Higher Education Project at the request of the Flemish authorities responsible for higher education and research policy. The review was supported financially by the European Commission.
The OECD is grateful for the support of the Flemish project team within the Flemish Government’s Ministry of Education and Training (O&V) and Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI). The project team members were Linda De Kock (O&V), Pieter-Jan De Vlieger (O&V), Els Haesaert (EWI), Liesbeth Hens (O&V), Ann Raiglot (O&V) and Els Vermander (EWI). They provided invaluable information to the OECD team, organised the team’s round virtual consultations with higher education institutions and stakeholders, provided input to discussions of preliminary findings and thoughtful comments on draft chapters. The OECD would also like to thank the members of the wider project advisory group in the Flemish Community for their feedback on the draft report. The advisory group was composed of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Training; the Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation; the Flemish Council of University Colleges (VLHORA); the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR); the Flemish Government Commissioners for Higher Education, the Flemish Education Council (VLOR) and members of the cabinets of the Flemish Government ministers responsible for Education and Training and for Economy, Science and Innovation.
Our warm thanks go to the representatives of higher education institutions and stakeholder organisations who dedicated their time to online interviews with the review team between 22 March and 2 April 2021 and who contributed feedback on the preliminary findings presented and discussed on 25 May 2021. Further thanks go to colleagues in the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation and the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Student Grants (AHOVOKS) who provided additional information, data and factual clarifications to the review team.
The OECD extends particular thanks to Sheena Duffy and Ruaidhrí Neavyn (Higher Education Authority, Ireland) and to Tomi Halonen (Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland) for acting as peer experts in the review, for participating in the institution and stakeholder interviews and for contributing their insights to the development and refinement of key findings and recommendations.
While the report draws on data and analysis from the OECD, Flemish sources, and a range of other published sources, any errors or misinterpretations remain the responsibility of the OECD team.
Simon Roy and Gillian Golden led the institutional and stakeholder interview. Simon Roy prepared the report, with research support from Céline Frik. Bruce Golding provided advice and statistical support for the finalisation of the report. Thomas Weko, team leader and senior analyst of the OECD Higher Education Policy team, provided advice throughout the project. Paulo Santiago, Head of the Policy Advice and Implementation Division in the Directorate of Education and Skills and Andreas Schleicher, Director of the Directorate for Education and Skills, reviewed the publication and provided feedback.
Marika Prince edited the report and provided administrative support for the finalisation of the project. Rachel Linden assisted with the editorial and production processes.