The university’s current budget is 300 million euros. Because it wants to be a strong research institute, the university aims to further its research in key areas such as health, sustainability, and digitisation. Plans are underway for a new sustainability research centre - and they’ve already started calling for ideas for the centre’s focus. According to Kreisel, a decision on the centre’s direction is expected by mid-year.
In the realm of digitisation, a collaboration with Google is on the horizon, with talks revolving around establishing a chair focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital ethics. The University of Luxembourg has already forged partnerships with notable private entities such as Pol Wurth, ArcelorMittal, and Paypal. These partnerships not only attract talent to Luxembourg but also foster a retention rate of around 60 percent among graduates.
Addressing concerns about undue influence from private companies on education, Kreisel assured that the university maintains autonomy. He views AI as a tremendous asset across industries, emphasising the university’s robust security measures for handling sensitive data.
Promoting gender equality remains a priority for the rector, noting that women comprise only 25% of research positions in Luxembourg, and that there aren’t many female professors. The balance is more even among doctoral students. In general, the university tries to foster and encourage women to apply for positions. Kreisel emphasises that gender diversity is essential for achieving excellence in research.
Housing poses a challenge for students, with the university offering around 1,000 rooms for its 6,000-strong student body. Despite this seemingly ample provision, students face difficulties due to high rental prices in the open market. The university is exploring construction projects on the Belval campus and in surrounding areas to alleviate the housing strain.
Listen/watch to the interview in Luxembourgish:
