Flemish university colleges are experiencing a substantial increase in student enrollment for the current academic year, with nearly 157,500 students enrolled—a 6% rise compared to last year.

The Council of Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts is raising concerns that the system will become unmanageable without additional funding.

Following a 3.5% increase in the previous year, the upward trend continues. Professional bachelor’s degrees remain the most sought after, with 122,000 students enrolled, marking a 4.8% increase. Postgraduate programs have also seen a notable 15% rise, bringing their total to 26,000 students, while teacher training programs expanded by 8%.

Eric Vermeylen, Secretary-General of the Council of Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, highlighted the importance of this growth in helping Flanders achieve its goal of an 80% employment rate.

“Our graduates’ smooth transition into the workforce and the strong connection between education and practical experience give Flemish university colleges a leading role in higher education,” Vermeylen stated.

Despite the positive trend in enrollment, the council is raising alarms over the chronic underfunding of higher education. “With the steady rise in student numbers, the situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable,” the council warned.

The council is urging the Flemish government to address the urgent funding needs, particularly to accommodate the growing student population and support the crucial work-based learning components in graduate programs. Photo by Vysotsky, Wikimedia commons.