University for sale?

BRUSSELS - One in twelve medical scientists in Flanders admits to fabricating or manipulating data to make it match a hypothesis. Almost six in twelve say they have witnessed such fraudulent practices. They identify high publication pressure as one of the causes.

BRUSSELS - The five Flemish universities have made considerable progress in the area of gender equality in recent years. Yet at this rate it would take until 2050 before there is gender balance among academic staff. Only slightly more than one in four professors in Flanders is female - while there is no shortage of highly educated women.

BRUSSELS - A good 15 percent of all spending within research and development in Flemish higher education comes from companies. Private companies finance research projects and doctorates and purchase licenses. But the line between close cooperation and conflict of interest between university and company is sometimes wafer-thin.