The study programme prepares graduates with specialised expertise in at least one discipline, who can see correlations with other disciplines and engage with them. A critical mindset, diverse perspectives, open-mindedness, pluralism, and tolerance of other opinions are key elements of the study programme's teaching practice. In addition, the study programme also fosters other relevant and/or important generic competencies and instils in its students a lifelong learning attitude.

What? 

Ghent University study programmes train students to think broadly. In addition to their specialised expertise, our students develop a wide range of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable empathic collaboration across disciplines. In other words, they can help solve difficult problems in an ever-changing society.

A critical mindset, diverse perspectives, open-mindedness, pluralism, and tolerance of other opinions are key elements of the study programme’s teaching practice. Our education vision, multiperspectivism, cannot be achieved without them. In addition, study programmes invest in other generic competencies that are important to them. The Programme Committee has the authority to select and incorporate important broad skills into the graduation profile, and to assess them. Study programmes regularly consult their stakeholders to align their vision and objectives. In doing so, they ensure all programme competencies (in Dutch: OLR), including generic competencies, remain topical.

To promote "broad thinking”, both students and lecturers should engage in exploratory and confrontational (i.e. experiential) learning. This, in turn, calls for a safe learning environment in which reflection and meaningful feedback take centre stage. Developing generic competencies is a gradual process that requires a coherent curriculum that leaves room for (inter)active learning experiences of varying intensity. The choice of teaching methods (guest speaker, authentic examples, case-based teaching, excursion, simulation, collaborative learning, challenge-based education...) should foster students’ active participation in their learning process. This makes them aware of their growth and cultivates a lifelong learning attitude.

 

Why? 

In Ghent University’s dynamic education context, our six strategic education objectives guide decision-making on education policy, both now and in the future. At Ghent University, we continually benchmark our ambitions for education against these objectives. In doing so, we consistently deliver state-of-the- art education.

At Ghent University, we expect each study programme to align with and implement our six strategic education objectives. One of these objectives is to “Think Broadly”.