ULiège has a new rector!

It was shortly before 8 p.m. that the verdict officially fell. With 52.02% of the weighted votes cast, Anne-Sophie Nyssen won the second round of the Liège rector’s election, thus beating the other candidate in the running, Jean Winand who won 39.7% of the votes. Slightly more than 8% of voters gave their vote “to no one”.

In the details of the votes, it will be noted that Mrs. Nyssen widened her lead mainly at the level of the votes of the scientific, administrative, technical and worker staff, as well as at the level of the students. The teaching staff voted in favor of Ms. Nyssen, although the votes were tighter between the two candidates.

Ordinary professor at the Faculty of Psychology, Speech Therapy and Education Sciences Anne-Sophie Nyssen will take up her duties on October 1-1 for a 4-year term. She will be surrounded by a team already formed. Thus, Florence Caeymaex will be on ethics and equality policies. Pascal Poncin, dean of the Faculty of Science, is expected to be first vice-rector for governance. Frédéric Schoenaers, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, should be vice-rector for teaching and student affairs. Pierre Duysinx will be in charge of environmental transition, mobility and international affairs. And Michel Moutschen will be vice-rector for research.

“With this team”, she explained in our columns a few days ago, “I envision a new governance that is more collaborative, more participative; allow them to give their opinion on strategic issues. More broadly, we must face the challenges of migration, climate change, the digital revolution… The University must modernize, adapt, and perhaps even respond to greater challenges of peace, war… For to get there, we need governance that emphasizes solidarity and cooperation; speak and listen to those around us. Speak with high schools, secondary, primary, kindergarten, and create a virtuous education system”.