For some people, their first job is an immediate success and sets the stage for a rewarding career. Others look back on their first steps into the labour market with mixed feelings. But how important is that first job, really? According to labour economist Professor Stijn Baert, it matters more than most people think.
In 2014, Pieter Deknudt organised the first edition of Reveil at the cemetery of his hometown Deerlijk: an intimate tribute to his late friend Robbie, illuminated by candlelight and accompanied by guitar music. What began as a personal farewell has since grown into a movement advocating a warmer, more open culture around grief and remembrance.
AI can write text, generate code and summarise mountains of information in seconds. Useful, certainly. But what happens when technology starts taking over the very parts of our jobs that give us a sense of accomplishment?
It is a piece of music history, yet chances are you have never heard of it: the EMS Synthi 100. Only a handful of working units remain worldwide, and one of them is housed in Ghent. But what makes this analogue synthesizer so legendary? And what do Ghent University and Soulwax have to do with it?
These days, you may know Sarah Vandeursen as a television and documentary maker, artist, lover of Flemish dry-cured sausages, or perhaps still as Conny Komen of the band Kenji Minogue. What is less well known is that her story at Ghent University began in Political and Social Sciences. Eventually, she found her way to social work.
Ghent University (UGent) faces a historic transformation over the coming decades. UGent Verbeeldt 2050 (Ghent University Imagines 2050) will see campuses renovated, relocated and connected. Chief Logistics Officer Jeroen Vanden Berghe and policy advisor Tristan Verleyen share insights into the short- and longer-term plans. “It’s a strong vision for UGent’s future. And the path to get there? We’ll walk it together.”
Master's student Dayana Garzón swapped the Ecuadorian Amazon for Ghent University (UGent). Here, she turns her passion for sustainability into concrete solutions under the guidance of Professor Thomas Hermans. “With basic knowledge of land and water use, you can save lives.”
Since May, Mara Santi has been co-heading Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC) in South Korea. Together with student Terry Park, she looks ahead to a new academic year. A long-distance call about international connectivity, boundless ambition, and Korean culture.
UGent Campus Kortrijk is gearing up for an academic year packed with creative ideas, sustainable innovation, and warm encounters. A joint interview on inclusive design and the power of diversity: “Cultural differences can actually bring people closer together.”
Moving to another country for your job is a big step, but two researchers from Italy quickly found their footing in Ghent. “I love your red bricks.”
Thinking of starting a business as a student? Emilia De Graeve and Hannes Van Cauwenberghe would recommend it to anyone. Emilia, a psychology master’s student and co-founder of Blokmap, and Hannes, an alumnus of Ghent University and founder of several companies, take a moment to reflect on their lives as Gentrepreneurs. “Ghent University only makes your ideas more outlandish.”
According to Ghent University criminology researcher Dayle Harvey, we still focus too much on visible figureheads in criminal networks. “The most crucial connection isn't always found at the top.”
