With the launch of its brand-new Student Entrepreneurship Fund, Vlerick Business School aims to give new entrepreneurs a boost in the early start-up phase, not only through its degree programmes, but now also financially. So far, €750,000 has been raised from 11 donors. Alumnus and engineer Wim Van Roy, CEO and co-founder of SnowVision, was the first to receive €5,000 in support.

Vlerick sets great store by sustainability. We’ve been doing it for years, on all our campuses. “Sustainability is sometimes a question of one far-reaching decision, such as a heat pump or a new boiler, but equally often it involves a series of small, consistent interventions and sustained efforts.” Interview with our operations manager Steven Clemminck.

The Board is extremely proud to announce that Frans Muller, CEO of Ahold Delhaize and member of the Vlerick board since October 2017, has accepted to become Chairman. With Frans, the school has another non-Belgian leader of a large international company as chairperson who brings a passion for education and particular experience in consumer goods, digital, customer delight and international food retail market.

End of April, the General Council of Vlerick Business School has unanimously approved the reappointment of Marion Debruyne as Dean of Vlerick Business School. Her second term of 4 years will officially start in August. This decision followed upon the positive recommendation of both the Partner Council as well as the Board of Directors of the school, and with an overwhelming support from all stakeholders and faculty.

AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – has recently decided to extend its accreditation of Vlerick Business School for a further period of five years. With this extension, Vlerick remains the only school in Belgium to hold the “triple crown”, made up all three major international management education accreditation labels.

UK Power Networks Services has joined forces with the Vlerick Energy Centre for a two-year partnership. They deliver world-class engineering, power systems operation, distributed energy resources and industry-leading consultancy for some of the most energy-reliant and complex organisations in the UK. According to Director Ian Smyth, this collaboration will enable them to implement best practice and continue to keep their clients ahead of their competition and ensure value for money in their investments. “It’s our mission to increase productivity, reduce carbon emissions and integrate new technologies for the benefit of our clients, and this partnership will ensure we achieve this.”

Can you learn how to become an entrepreneur? It's perfectly possible. However, the most valuable lessons are often learned in practice. Vlerick Business School has collaborated with the business sector for many years and we are lucky to be able to count on an extremely diverse group of entrepreneurs and investors who are willing to share their stories, knowledge and experience with our students completely voluntarily. The huge value of this synergy between academia and practice has now also been given official recognition with the new title of ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ or ‘Investor in Residence’.

Are you an enthusiastic woman entrepreneur who is passionate about running her own business? Are you keen to inspire others by sharing the story behind your business success and your vision with them? Register now for the WOMED Award and give business successes achieved by and for women a face.

“If you have a business and want to grow, you need money. And investors are constantly in search of interesting opportunities”, says Yannick Dillen, senior research associate and coordinator of the iGMO platform and Vlerick Venturing. “Once a year, we bring our students and alumni who have founded a start-up in contact with venture capitalists and business angels through [email protected]” Yannick takes a brief look back with Dries Wijnen, the co-founder of Securafin and runner-up in [email protected] 2017.

In the context of the 11-day event Vlaanderen Feest! and on the occasion of the Flemish public holiday on 11 July, the Flanders-Europe Movement will be presenting awards to deserving Flemish citizens as it does every year. Louis Verbeke, honorary chairman of Vlerick Business School, will be presented with a Golden Spur for Economic Excellence.