The dean of the faculty of bioengineering at the University of Ghent has submitted his resignation following the broadcast of a report by the program Pano (VRT) in which some twenty doctoral students testify to abuse of power and inappropriate behavior towards them by professors and academic staff.
The dean specifies that this is a personal decision, taken because of a breach of trust within the faculty council. He adds that he wants to take responsibility for the problems encountered in recent years.
The rector of the Ghent university, Rik Van de Walle, has confirmed that he has accepted the dean’s resignation, which will take effect on April 1. A procedure will then be launched to replace the resigning dean until the end of the term started, ie September 30.
Last Friday, the rector of UGent acknowledged that the institution’s reaction to several cases of sexual assault and abuse of power had been insufficient, pointing out that the university had “also rotten apples“.
