KU Leuven launches second alumni chapter in China
Flanders’ largest university opens its 13th alumni chapter abroad, as more international students find their way to the university
Personal and professional links
The Shanghai branch was in fact KU Leuven’s first international alumni chapter to be established. Since its launch in 2013, there have been 11 more. Some of them are in Europe, such as in the UK and the Netherlands, but most are overseas, including the US, Thailand and Brazil.
The new chapter in Beijing brings the total to 13 in 12 countries. “Alumni chapters are an important asset for KU Leuven,” explains Peter Lievens, the vice-rector for international policy. “Internationalisation is very high on the KU Leuven agenda. Two key aspects of our current strategy are recruiting more students from abroad and promoting international mobility. And as more KU Leuven alumni go on to build international careers, we strengthen our global network.”
We also call upon the chapters to establish links with partner institutions and the local economy
International alumni groups attract natives of the country who studied at KU Leuven as well as former Flemish students who are living and working abroad in those countries. As more international students make their way to the university, more chapters are established. Just last year, three were founded – in Thailand, Vietnam and Ethiopia.
“Our international alumni chapters are all about community-building,” says Martine Torfs of KU Leuven’s alumni office. “They are informal networks that help our alumni to establish – or re-establish – and maintain close ties with each other and with KU Leuven.”
The Beijing branch was founded to accommodate the growing number of former students based in the Chinese capital. One of them is Zhang Lin, who obtained his PhD in engineering science. He will chair the steering committee of the new group.
“International chapters create opportunities for our alumni to connect with each other and constitute a direct link with the alma mater,” says Lievens. “We also call upon the chapters for co-operation, student recruitment, academic diplomacy, or to establish links with partner institutions and the local economy.”
Photo: Rob Stevens/KU Leuven
