Results

Several unions are planning some strike actions again in the coming weeks. Among other things, this may cause inconvenience on public transportation. So take your precautions and plan your travel(s) wellif you need to be on campus or your internship or workplace on those days. 

• Wednesday, March 12, 2025:De Lijn unions strike👉 Disruption expected throughout Flanders
• Monday, March 17, 2025:railroad unions strike👉 Disruption expected throughout Flanders
• Monday, March 31, 2025:national strike day👉 consequences yet to be seen

The second semester is about to start. Hopefully you obtained good exam results, you are at the start of a nice internship or work period or you just started at Odisee. Welcome (back)!

This message wants to encourage you to take a critical attitude during your studies at Odisee and beyond.

An example: someone informs you that there is a fraud case against you for a certain course and says he can take care of it against payment.

Then know that this is not true and contact the ombuds or your head of training, even when in doubt.

Would you like to become an online ambassador for your degree programme? Online ambassadors are an important link in advising on the choice of a good study programme because they provide information about their degree programme, about Odisee and about all their experiences in higher education. Perhaps you felt the same way yourself when you had to make a decision? 

Online ambassadors

• Odisee wants to further invest in its ambassador work and for that we need your help!
• As an online ambassador you are listed on our website, and you get questions forwarded to you by future students. These are about your study program, but also about the campus where you study!
• We also provide enough info so that you can help these future students.

• Please note, this is a bit like our own Odibuddy operation, but has nothing to do with it per se, although we often see already committed Odibuddy's as ambassadors, and vice versa.

   

More info or apply?

• Register to be a candidate by sending an email to arthur.meul@odisee.be and you will receive further information.
• In case of questions and/or suggestions, there’s just one address you need: arthur.meul@odisee.be 

We feel for all students worldwide who are victims of political unrest, humanitarian disasters, conflicts or human rights violations. The outbreaks of violence in Israel and Palestine and the poignant images sadden us. We think of all the innocent civilians who are suffering because of these tragic situations, and all those who are concerned for family or friends. 

We understand that these events can evoke strong emotions and make students very concerned, even within our own Odisee community. We feel it is important to provide a safe environment and adequate support for all our students who have been touched by the recent developments, including in Brussels.  

Students in need can go to STUVO for personal counseling

Dear student,



Following the National Security Council, we resume our activities tomorrow.

So, your classes, as well as all other activities, can resume.



For today, for safety reasons, we decided not to provide any physical activities on our Brussels campuses. This has gone well. We d like to thank you  expressly for your cooperation and understanding.



To conclude. The situation is being closely monitored and we will of course continue to do so. You can always consult any new adjustment here, on your student platform.

 

Dear Student

The trade unions representing Higher Education staff call on all staff and students calls on all staff at  universities (of applied sciences) to demonstrate in Brussels on October 11 at 1 p.m..

Why October 11? On that day, the effectivedisbursement of money to higher education runs out. However, Flemish Higher Education is yearly entitled to an additional €667,102,836.91 that, because of years of reduced subsidies, has not been paid out. For more info: see the many flyers distributed on the campuses.

In the last 15 years, funding per student dropped from over €9,500 per year to less than €7,500 per year. This means: higher staff workload, less room for investment, less room for student support, staff attrition.

The Odisee union representatives are calling on all colleagues to join this action: we are only asking for the money to which Higher Education is entitled.

Practical for you as a student:

Staff participating in this action will provide an alternative for the cancelled activity.  They will inform you of the specific measures via Toledo. All student services will also function.

Contact:

Brussels: Steven.Vermeiren@odisee.be (COC-ACV)

Gent :Willem.Vandenberg@odisee.be (COC-ACV), Stijn.denorre@odisee.be (ACOD-ABVV)

Aalst:Joeri.vangoethem@odisee.be (COC-ACV)

Sint-Niklaas:Leen.Trommelmans@odisee.be (COC-ACV)

.

A strike at the SNCB covering the period from Tuesday 7 November (starting from 10 PM) to Thursay 9 November at 10 PM will take place. This will therefore concretely impact the lessons on Wednesday 08/11 and Thursday 09/11. About a month later, a second strike will follow, from the evening of Tuesday, December 5 until Thursday, December 7, 10 p.m. Please be aware of the inconvenience during these days. 

Lesson activity on campus

• Where possible, there will be a move to online classes. No classes will be cancelled. 
• Please keep an eye on Toledo, which will communicate whether a class will be held physically or online.

Are you on the day of the strike physically absent from a class that must be held on campus?

• The Education and Examination Ombuds Service is here to help you with any problems you have during class, on campus or with your exams. Thus, this includes absences from campus.
• Public transportation strikes announced at least 1 day in advance are not force majeure.
• Therefore, if a class activity cannot take place online, students should find an alternative to still get to campus. If it is really not possible for students to plan an alternative in advance, they go through the following steps.
  • Notify the ombuds service. 
  • Try to get to campus on the same day.

Contact the Ombuds Service

Planning your trip

The SNCB/NMBS advises you to plan your journey the day before your departure.

Plan your trip on the site of SNCB

Odisee wants to be an inclusive university of applied sciences where all students have equal educational opportunities. This academic year, we will focus on improving our support for students who care for someone close to them. We also want to investigate what we can do to prevent discrimination related to internships, and to intervene if this occurs. That’s why we are making this double call.

As part of the action week “This is us!”, students and staff from Odisee and KU Leuven in Ghent and Brussels share what they are proud of. Discover their stories below and on the digital screens across our campuses—you might even see yourself reflected in someone else’s journey!

With this action, we celebrate the diversity of people and stories on our campuses. 

Want to protect your self-esteem from the influence of social media? Join our workshops on social media and self-image.

Odisee aims to be an inclusive college, where everyone is welcome and valued.

Specifically, this means, for example: we provide inclusive facilities, offerstudent counseling, and ensure that staff members attend training on various inclusion topics. We also do inclusion-related events such as the Action on the International Day Against Racism and Discrimination,... You can find the full overview here.

17th May is IDAHOT, a day when we emphasize that everyone, whatever your gender or sexual orientation, is equally welcome at Odisee - not just on IDAHOT, but every day of the year.

We call attention to the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals without losing sight of the rights of other groups. More than that, as an inclusive college, we strive for inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons from all cultures, language groups, socioeconomic situations, ...

We invite you to reflect today on the rights and position of LGBTQIA+ persons within your student group, community, or family. What do “gender identity,” “gender expression,” and “sexual orientation” mean within that context (more info on these terms can be found here)? Human rights guarantee that everyone can decide for themselves how they interpret these terms. In Belgium, this is supported by further legislation. Did you know that in 2003, Belgium was the second country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage?

Due to the announced strike actions, Odisee will switch to online education as much as possible between February 24 and 28. This means:

• Most classes will be taught online and recorded so that you can watch them again later.
• Some classes may still continue on campus (for example, skills training or midterm tests).

Check your class schedule! 
Your updated class schedule will be available starting Friday, Feb. 21 at noon. Make sure you check in time where and how your classes will take place.

This way we try to limit the inconvenience of possible strike actions as much as possible.

This is an announced strike on which you can organize yourself. So we expect you at mandatory class times, evaluations, project days.... If you are unable to attend due to force majeure, you will follow the absence or force majeure procedure. This information can be consulted at; 

The general ombudspage

Your Odisee dashboard