+ The Flemish academic world is becoming increasingly international and diverse.
+ The growing number of international researchers consists mainly of Europeans.
+ The higher one looks in the institutional hierarchy, the more Belgian it is.
[See more on the Academic Compass webpage of the core theme “Internationalization (FWO)”]
The number of researchers at Flemish universities is increasing, regardless of nationality [1]. However, when we look at funding data from the FWO [2], we see that 87% of all funded applicants in Flanders in 2010 were Belgian citizens, while thirteen years later, by 2023, it had decreased to 63% (see Figure 1). This percentage continues to go down each year.* In the Netherlands, by comparison, 52% of academic staff held domestic nationality in 2023, according to the Rathenau Institute [3]. The composition of the growing number of international researchers in Flanders therefore deserves further attention, with at least two aspects standing out immediately.
Figure 1. The distribution of applicant nationality for FWO funding for those whose projects were funded, ranging from PhD and Postdoc scholarships to (junior and senior) research projects, both fundamental and strategic [2].
First, it is notable that the growing number of (FWO-funded) international researchers mainly consists of Europeans. In 2023, they accounted for 26% of researchers in Flanders, which corresponds to 70% of all international researchers. Furthermore, in 2023 20% of international researchers came from Asia (6.6% of all researchers). This means that only 10% of foreign researchers originated from other parts of the world (North America, South America, Africa, and Oceania).
We can also look at the composition of the European and other continental groups based on data for all research personnel, using staff statistics from the VLIR [4]. Among Europeans, we mainly find Dutch (29% in 2022), German (21% in 2022), Italian (14%), Spanish, and French (both 6%) nationals. In Asia, the composition is as follows: China (25%), India (23%), Iran (19%), and Turkey (11%). For Africa, 19% come from Egypt, while the rest is very diverse. From North America, 64% come from the US and 25% from Canada. In South America, 22% come from Brazil, 19% from Colombia, and then Chile and Ecuador (both 15%). For Oceania, 50% come from Australia.
Figure 2. Distribution of student nationalities at Flemish universities and applicants for different types of FWO funding. The student data is sourced from Dataloep [4], while the other data is provided by the FWO [2].
Second, this distribution also seems highly dependent on the rank of research staff. The higher one looks in the institutional hierarchy, the more Belgian it is. Professorial positions are still mainly held by Belgian researchers, with only 15% of permanent academic staff (ZAP) being non-Belgian in 2023 [5]. The Dutch academic system shows a similar overall trend, with the number of international researchers at the highest level (professor) having increased by 10% between 2007 and 2023 to reach nearly 24%. Notably, other categories of professors in the Netherlands have an even higher proportion of international academic staff: assistant professors consist of just over 50% international researchers while associate professors account for 36% [6].
When we look at funded applications for FWO research projects by professors, we see that the share of international applicants remains limited (only 12%, Figure 2D). This contrasts with the composition of researchers at early stages of their careers, such as predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, where 20% and 50% of applicants are international, respectively (Figures 2B-C). It is also surprising how few researchers from North or South America, Africa, or Oceania come to Flanders. At the student level, we mainly find Belgians (86%, Figure 2A), but it is interesting to note that non-Belgian students come slightly more from outside Europe rather than from other European countries, which contrasts with researchers.
These findings raise several questions about research positions in Flanders. What explains the disparity in nationality between the higher and lower levels of research positions? Given the consistent upward trends among PhD students, postdocs, and lecturers, is it just a matter of time before policies to attract international researchers have their full effect, similar to gender differences [7]? Or are there other factors – linguistic, cultural, or immigration-related – that play a role and pose potential barriers for foreigners (inside or outside Europe) to climb higher in the academic ranks? We can also ask ourselves how we should interpret representativeness in research. Should senior researchers or professors reflect the composition of junior PhD researchers, the group of early-career postdocs, the university student body, or even Belgian/Flemish society as a whole?
However, we must also recognize that registering researchers by nationality has significant limitations in what it can reveal. Instead of nationality, residency at the time of application may be more indicative. For example, the current classification would categorize a Dutch person who both grew up and was educated in Flanders as a ‘foreign’ researcher. Conversely, a Flemish person who completed all their studies abroad but returned for a postdoctoral research grant would be classified as a domestic recipient. Similarly, a foreigner who completed their PhD within the Flemish system and then obtained a postdoctoral position would still be registered as an external researcher.
Moreover, the information currently reported provides only a limited view of the total research work. Many non-Belgians work in Flanders, often on a short-term basis and with non-Belgian funding. Yet many visiting researchers – whether predoctoral researchers in laboratories or senior professors on sabbatical – are not officially registered as university staff, leaving their contributions to the academic landscape hidden. The exact number of visiting researchers remains an open question. There is also a significant difference between researchers with a guest scholarship from their home country outside the EU and those conducting research in Flanders thanks to EU schemes that promote intra-European mobility.
The research landscape in Flanders has changed significantly over the past two decades – and will continue to do so. While the available data reveals part of this evolving picture, more refined and detailed analysis is needed to fully understand the dynamics at play. Therefore, the flow and transparency of open data are of great importance for Flemish research organizations, through global initiatives like the Research Data Alliance, which the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) recently joined [8].
In conclusion, it is clear that the Flemish academic world is becoming increasingly international and diverse. This is a positive development that contributes to the enrichment of academic debate, the exchange of ideas, and global collaboration in research – something emphasized today at the opening of the academic year at KU Leuven [9]. Attracting talent from all over the world enhances the quality and impact of the research conducted in Flanders and demonstrates that the region remains an attractive place for researchers from all corners of the globe.
Paul Michael Kurtz
Young Academy 2022-2027
Ghent University
Lendert Gelens
Young Academy 2018-2024
KU Leuven
* It should be noted here that competitive funding from the FWO is only one part of the picture, although a significant one. There are other funding streams to support predoctoral and postdoctoral research, including external funds (e.g., European projects) and internal university grants (e.g., BOF), some of which do not require open calls for applications [10].
Referenties:
[1] VLIR personnel statistics, see VLIR webpage and Academic Compass.
[2] FWO yearly reports and Academic Compass.
[3] Rathenau Instituut, Ontwikkeling buitenlands wetenschappelijk personeel en herkomstlanden
[4] VLIR, Statistische gegevens betreffende het personeel aan de Vlaamse universiteiten, p. 95
[5] Dataloep: see Dataloep webpage and Academic Compass.
[6] Rathenau Instituut, Aandeel buitenlands wetenschappelijk personeel binnen Nederlandse universiteiten
[7] Academic Compass, Gender (VLIR)
[8] NWO sluit zich aan bij internationale alliantie rond onderzoeksdata
[9] Radio1, Vlaamse onderhandelaars buigen zich over financiering internationale studenten, rector KU Leuven: “Cruciale spelers in onze kenniseconomie”, Interview De Standaard “Rector KU Leuven scherp voor Vlaams beleid: “Elke poging om meer internationaal talent aan te trekken, stuit op ontmoediging en ontrading”
[10] “Study in Flanders” webpage and Academic Compass “Funding for pre-docs and post-docs (VLIR)”
