20 years dedicated to students, research and society
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the University of Luxembourg. An opportunity to celebrate milestones and accomplishments, but foremost to acknowledge the people who have contributed over the years in making the University a success.
In August 2003, the Higher Education Act was adopted in Parliament, and thus started an exciting journey to create Luxembourg’s only public university. The new institution was set to be research-oriented, international and multilingual. Its role was to attract talent and to offer higher education in areas of interest for the country and society, with the long-term aim to contribute to Luxembourg as a knowledge society.
20 years on, the University has stayed true to these original pillars. What began as an academic start-up, is now an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character and encouraging positions in global University rankings. Today, the University includes 6,000 students, thereof 1,000 doctoral candidates, as well as 1,000 users of continuing education, all together from 130 nationalities. The University employs more than 2,400 people, and its alumni network includes 14,000 graduates working in Luxembourg and abroad.
Third perception survey of the University of Luxembourg
“Today, the University serves the country as a strategic partner helping Luxembourg to shape the future and is one the largest employers of the Grand Duchy”, said rector Jens Kreisel. “The journey to achieve this was made possible by our staff, students and graduates, partners and the entire country, and the University extends its gratitude to all those who had confidence in this vision and contributed to its development.”
According to the third national perception survey carried out recently by ILRES on behalf of the University, 99% of respondents consider it an excellent, very good, or good thing that Luxembourg has its own university (85% consider it excellent or very good). Furthermore, 86% consider that it contributes to attracting talent to the country and 69% agree that holding a University of Luxembourg diploma is an advantage on the job market. Roughly 70% of respondents think that the University has a positive or very positive impact on respectively the economy, national education and employment in Luxembourg.
Science for everyone: New Public lecture series “20 Years of Ideas”
On 14 September, the University kicks off its anniversary activities with an official celebration for partners, supporters and members of civil society on Belval campus, in the presence of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke.
All interested citizens can discover research and people at the University through a public science lecture series. Researchers will present findings and solutions in diverse topics of interest for society. Join the lectures of your choice: From fintech to public law, from computer vision to the housing market, from biomedicine to digital history, from digital ethics to inclusive finance and many more.
The lectures will take place in different languages from 21 September until the 29 February 2024.
Download
Portes Ouvertes Luxembourg on 17 September
This Sunday 17 September, go behind the scenes at the Kirchberg campus as part of Portes Ouvertes Luxembourg. The Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) of the University will showcase their activities in science and technology. Visitors can interact with drones and a robot dog, build spectrometers, learn about wastewater treatment and satellite communication, and even experience zero gravity.
Moreover, video testimonies of 20 alumni will be published online over the coming weeks, showing the broad variety of studies and exciting careers of University Bachelor, Master as well as PhDs graduates, in Luxembourg and abroad.
Visit the 20 years webpage to find all events and activities.
Press kit
- Public lecture series list (Word document)
- University Fact sheet
- 20 years visual (jpg)
Milestones
Numerous milestones have shaped the 20 first years of the University. The start was the creation of its faculties (today the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance).
In 2005, the first four-year strategic framework is presented and Belval – at the time an industrial urbanisation project – is named as the future headquarter and main campus of the University.
In 2009, two research centres are created, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) and the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB). In 2016, the third research centre is inaugurated, the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History(C²DH), and in 2024 the University will host two more research centres.
In 2012, the doctoral education framework is approved, leading to the creation of the first Doctoral school (of Law).
In 2015, Belval campus is inaugurated with an official ceremony in the presence of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke.
In 2018, the University signs its first collective agreement with OGBL union. The University library, the Luxembourg Learning Centre, is inaugurated in Belval.
In 2020, in the context of the pandemic, the University switches temporarily to full virtual teaching and working mode. In September, the long-awaited medical studies programme kicks off with a Bachelor in Medicine.
More milestones can be found on the University website.