The most important rector elections of the century: 'What authentic story do you still have to tell?'

After the call for candidate rectors was launched on Tuesday, February 25, vice rector for International Policy Peter Lievens and gastroenterologist Severine Vermeire announced their candidacy that same day. A few days earlier, vice rector for Education Policy Tine Baelmans had already done so. She chose to move forward and did not wait for the official call. 

Candidates still have a month to make themselves known, but it is already difficult to step out of the shadows of the three who have already done so. 'All combinations of profiles are possible with this,' says media communication professor Baldwin Van Gorp. 'Those who want experience can vote for Baelmans or Lievens. Those who want a fresh breeze can choose Vermeire, and for those for whom gender is an important topic, there are two female candidates.'   

'These are the most important rector elections at KU Leuven of this century,' says Knack editor Walter Pauli, who has been following the university for years. 'Sels was the first rector to complete two terms since Oosterlinck. He has provided necessary stability. This line must now be continued given the turbulent times in which the university and the world find themselves. The next rector should therefore ideally serve two terms again.' Looking at the age of the three candidates already known, only Vermeire could do that. 

Stuck to Sels

The two vice rectors from Luc Sels' policy team are both playing the experience card. 'We find ourselves in a complex economic and geopolitical context. Therefore, we need a rector with policy experience,' said Baelmans at her announcement in Veto. Lievens spoke in his announcement interview about 'developments within the university and society that call for strong policy'.

'The positive evaluation of Sels will reflect on his vice rectors,' says Van Gorp. 'Those who were satisfied with Sels' policy now have the chance to choose for continuity of the current management team.'

Baelmans and Lievens are in a tricky situation because they are both running. 'They have to profile themselves against each other, while they can never stray too far from Sels' policy. This makes it harder for them to position themselves. Vermeire, on the other hand, can fully play the card of renewal and much more easily set herself apart from the other two,' says a professor.

This also happened during the rector elections of 2013. At that time, candidates Bart De Moor, Karen Maex, and again Tine Baelmans came from the rectoral team of Mark Waer. Outsider Rik Torfs eventually won the contest in a very close duel with Karen Maex. 'You saw that the vice rectors were somewhat in each other's way back then,' the professor recalls.

Pauli questions the value of the management experience of Baelmans and Lievens in a rapidly changing world: 'Using that argument is a weak point: "Trust us, because we know." Such upheavals are coming that past experience is no longer relevant. It's like Honecker (former head of state of East Germany, ed.) who preached just before the fall of the Berlin Wall that it would remain standing for decades.' 

A dean does point out the importance of a political network. For example, Tine Baelmans was involved behind the scenes in lobbying on behalf of KU Leuven in her role as vice rector. 'Higher education is not a top priority for the Flemish government, so you need someone who can immediately find their way through that maze,' it sounds. 'But Baelmans was also a candidate back in 2013,' says Pauli. 'Now, twelve years later, she is running again in a totally changed university. What authentic story do you still have to tell? It seems as if she continues to chase the ambitions of the past.'

Struggle between exact sciences

The fact that Lievens and Baelmans both come from the same group - Science & Technology (S&T) - makes it extra difficult. 'I think they will get in each other's way,' says Professor of Geology Manuel Sintubin. 'That divides the votes within S&T.' 

To distinguish them from each other, their achievements from the past policy period are immediately examined. With international policy, Lievens had a very visible domain. When he first took office, KU Leuven's international policy was somewhat in the doldrums. Eight years later, many steps forward have been made, with a near doubling of the number of international degree students, joint-bachelor programs within the framework of UNA Europa, and a strengthening of KU Leuven's position in international rankings.

Yet, a dean suggests that perhaps progress was made too quickly: 'In terms of student guidance, the administrative hassle of some programs, and for example the HR policy towards internationals, there are still some issues. These need to be corrected now, and there is quite a bit of dissatisfaction about that.'

Baelmans can look back on a fairly successful policy period as vice rector, albeit less in the spotlight. She helped lead the university through the COVID pandemic, with a significant digitalization effort in its wake, made strides in educational innovation by consolidating expertise in the KU Leuven Learning Lab, and implemented the milestone. 'The developments there are of essential importance, but perhaps less visible,' says another dean. 'That could work to her disadvantage.'

Top researcher

Vermeire, who enters the race as the least known candidate to the general public, will mainly need to gain name recognition during the campaign. Additionally, she has to contend with the perception that she is not experienced enough. 'But she was previously a department chair and is now a research coordinator. That experience means she doesn't come out of nowhere,' says Department Chair of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences Pieter Annaert. 

Within the group of Biomedical Sciences, she is highly regarded and enjoys very broad support for her candidacy. 'We hoped she would do it,' says Professor of Medicine Inge Zink. 'She is someone with charisma who will absolutely go for it. She will need to familiarize herself with some dossiers, but she can bring more innovation than the other candidates.'

In other groups, however, she is considered a 'noble unknown.' 'She is a top researcher who also seems to be very popular as a teacher among her students,' says a professor. 'But she will now need to clearly define what she stands for. We know very little about her except that she is for less control and more participation. The question will be how she intends to implement that in practice.'

This is also confirmed by a dean from another group: 'Apart from "listening to everyone," we don't really know what Severine Vermeire has to offer the university. She does have an impressive research CV, but it's unclear how much insight she has into other policy areas.'

Looking at Conner

While the other candidates made a more traditional, academic announcement through traditional media, Vermeire's campaign was thoroughly prepared. 'Some people find that refreshing, while others raise their eyebrows,' says a dean. 'A too-politicized campaign is not for me,' says Sintubin. 'I am more a fan of the classic universitas idea with a primus inter pares at the head who wins with substantive arguments.'

Pauli draws a parallel with Luc Sels who, when he ran against Torfs, came forward with a very well-prepared candidacy and could count on media support. 'Also from Vermeire's camp, contacts have already been made early on with various media,' says Pauli. 'This is also necessary now that the university is trying to restrict the extent to which debate can take place.'

'She uses a very modern campaign to convey her message,' says Baldwin Van Gorp. 'Through a campaign website with some fresh photos and an interview conducted by someone with a Veto background, she can control the communication and narrative herself. The broad shareability of such a website is also necessary to quickly gain recognition, something the other candidates need much less.' 

Vermeire presents herself in her announcement as a candidate 'from the grassroots'. 'That is immediately the framing that is being set,' says Manuel Sintubin. 'Because who is that, the grassroots? At this moment, no one knows her outside the group of Biomedical Sciences.' 

By linking her past as a hairdresser's daughter in her announcement interview, she also stays far away from associations with an 'ivory tower' or an 'out-of-touch elite', says Van Gorp. 'She has closely observed political campaigns like that of Conner Rousseau. He also emphasizes his humble origins and comes across as very approachable, like the boy next door. When I look at Severine Vermeire, she could still be my neighbor.' 

After six hundred years, a woman?

Regarding themes, all candidates seem to agree that the workload at the university needs to be addressed. 'But for Baelmans and Lievens, it's a theme that's harder for them to score on,' says a professor. 'If you've had eight years to do something about it, why hasn't it happened? It's not like these signals are from yesterday.' 

The discussion about a reorganization of the academic year also comes back to the forefront of the debates. For instance, Peter Lievens indicated he wants a summer free of teaching for everyone. He may face opposition from the students on this. They were not fans of similar plans put forward by Sels in 2017, due to concerns about workload. 

'I find it a despicable proposal for students with resits,' says Pauli. 'The workload is indeed a problem, but students should not be the victims of professors wanting a long summer vacation.' On february 28th, the general assembly of the Student Council already deliberated on the theme in a closed-door meeting. 

Additionally, discussions about the distribution of internal resources are already emerging. The question of how the university should position itself in society also arises. 'Luc Sels always had things well organized, but when it came to major ethical issues, he wasn't always present. What compass will these candidates use in those dossiers?' a professor wonders.

Perhaps most in the spotlight is the possibility of a first female rector in six hundred years of Leuven university history. 'Peter Lievens is saddled with a handicap there,' says Walter Pauli. 'But it is commendable that he is still running. He should not be excluded in advance because he is a man.' Many expect that the gender element may play less on the surface, but could be decisive when it is close between two candidates.

This article was translated by use of AI and afterwards revised by our own editorial staff.