Welcome to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel

1. Welcome to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel

2. Orientation Day 22 Sep 2012 Weather forecast today

3. Orientation Day 22 Sep 2012 Program 9h30-9h45 Welcome word by Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre De Greve, Vice- Rector International Policy VUB 9h45-12h00 Info session on studying & living in Brussels 12h00-13h15 Lunch @ VUB Restaurant 14h00-17h00 Brussels City Tour Evening ESN Brussels Welcome Party @ RITS Café

4. Orientation Day 22 Sep 2012 PowerPoint presentation: MY.VUB (E-tools, Education, Student facilities) https://my.vub.ac.be/en/ Under ‘Arrival in Brussels’

5. Welcome! Info session on studying & living in Brussels 1. Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2. International Relations and Mobility Office 3. Settling in Brussels • Campus Facilities 5. Life in Brussels

6. Vrije Universiteit Brussel • ° 1970 (offshoot of French-speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles, ° 1834) • Rector Prof. Dr. Paul De Knop • 2 campuses: • Main Campus Etterbeek • Medical Campus & University Hospital Jette • 8 faculties • academic year 2010-2011: 11.011 students • More than 15% international students

7. Vrije Universiteit Brussel Higher Education Structure • Bachelors • Masters • Advanced Masters • Doctoral Bachelor Paper, Master Thesis • Study Credit System Credit Points / ECTS 1 academic year: 60 credit points

8. IRMO • International Relations and Mobility Office –IRMO- • What • international student services at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel • study abroad opportunities for Belgian students • international initiatives by students in Brussels • development cooperation • manage quite a number of international scholarship programmes with grants available to domestic and international students, based on a number of criteria • … • Where Pleinlaan 5, 1050 Brussels, Ground Floor • Contact • 1. Front desk office hours • 2. Appointment with specific officer • 3. E-mail: international.relations@vub.ac.be ; Tel.: +32 (0) 2 614 81 01

9. IRMO • Opening hours

10. IRMO • Info files: • - Banking • - Commune registration • - Emergency numbers • - Housing • - Insurance • - Language learning • - Leisure • - Shopping • - Taxes • - Transport • Website: https://my.vub.ac.be/en/studying-brussels

11. Settling in BrusselsHousing • No rooms on VUB-campuses • Housing in the private sector → Website: - Br(ik -Brussel & ik-: www.brik.be => Search engine → Questions: • Br(ik • IRMO

12. Settling in BrusselsHousing • Rents in Brussels are relatively high • Short stay – semester – year • Room : +/- 400 Euro • Small apartment: +/- 550 Euro • Fire insurance (IRMO) • Third-party liability (ING bank)

13. Settling in BrusselsHousing ! Contract: make clear arrangements with your landlord ! → How to end the contract? → Subletting? → Electricity, gas, internet,.. : included? → Deposit? →Domicile?

14. Settling in BrusselsRegistering • Short type residence (max. 3 months) • EU : no registration required • Non-EU: report to commune ‘Declaration of Arrival’ –Model 24 –within 8 days after arrival • Long type residence • EU: registration at commune within 3 months after arrival, option ID-card • Non-EU: registration after singing a rental contract, ID-card valid for duration of academic program/funding (in general 1 academic year)

15. Settling in BrusselsRegistering • Required documents for ID-card application: • - Rental contract • - National ID / Passport with type D visa • - Registration Certificate from VUB • - European Insurance Card • - Proof of solvability (scholarship, savings, loan, job) • - Sometimes: Birth Certificate, Certificates of Civil Status or Good Conduct • Procedure • - Contact Foreigners Department at town hall + request an appointment • - Local Police Check • - Belgian ID-card: delivered 2 – 6 months • - Different procedures per commune!

16. Campus facilities Student Card • Issued upon enrollment (until 15/10/2012: personal appointment, online) • Any errors on your card: contact the Student Administration Center, building Y When to use your student card? • to buy meals in the VUB restaurant • to buy a VUB sports card • to access the VUB library • access to VUB Webmail and Pointcarré • to obtain (in some cases) a discount when using public transport (-26 ), cinema,…

17. Campus facilities Computing Facilities • Free access to Internet and an e-mail account for every student • How to log in? → Student card: personal pin code (4 digits) • Activation procedure: → You can find the activation procedure on the web page: www.vub.ac.be/tools/activatie.html → Network access activated within 24 hours You can access your VUB e-mail directly on the server, anywhere in the world, via webmail (webmail.vub.ac.be) First name.Surname@vub.ac.be (e.g. Deborah.Gies@vub.ac.be)

18. Campus facilities • Free WIFI Campus Etterbeek Network: Urbizone • Make an Urbizone account • Non-secure network

19. Campus facilities E-learning with Pointcarré • E-learning platform of VUB • Tools for: • Exchanging course material • Organizing group work • Sending announcements • Using discussion boards Students can consult their course websites by logging in on Pointcarré with their VUBnet-account http://pointcarré.vub.ac.be/

20. Campus facilities Library • Campus Etterbeek Building B & C, 1st floor • Campus Jette Building A, ground floor and 1st floor • Opening hours: check libraries • To borrow books from the library you will need your student card

21. Campus facilities Student Restaurants • Campus Etterbeek • Student Cafeteria, building R • Other meeting/lunch places: Opinio ‘t Complex KultuurKaffee • Campus Jette • Student Cafetaria, building R • Other meeting/lunch places: Sportopolis • => Meals of the World • => Thursday: Veggie day

22. Campus facilities      The English Table, El Rincón español, Tavola Italiano, Table française, Nederlands Taaltafel, Deutscher Stammtisch Want to meet new people, speak English and enjoy lunch in a laidback, friendly atmosphere? ¿Te gusta conocer a nueva gente, hablar español y comer en buena compañía? Ti piace conoscere nuove persone, parlare italiano e mangiare in buona compagnia?

23. Campus facilities Language Tables Place and time:  Starting on Wednesday 26 September 2012  During lunchtime from 12h15 until 13h45  Downstairs in the restaurant, Campus Etterbeek            Tavola Italiano  Lunedì Table Française Lundi Nederlands Taaltafel Dinsdag Deutscher Stammtisch Dienstag English Table Wednesday Rincón Español Jueves

24. Campus facilities Language Learning → ITO or Inter-departmental Language Centre Campus Etterbeek Building E Access depending on your VUB Bachelor/Master Program More info: http://ito.vub.ac.be/Engels/Engels.htm → CVO or Kamer voor Handel en Nijverheid van Brussel (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Brussels) Campus Etterbeek Building D, room D.1.33 Not free of charge Day, evening and Saturday classes More info: http://www.vub.ac.be/khnb/ ! Registration fall 2012: NOT possible anymore ! Online registration for 2nd semester courses: start november 2012

25. Campus facilities • Culture and Leisure on campus • The KultuurKaffee or KK and Galery’ (building Y, Campus Etterbeek) • - Exhibitions • - Concerts • - Comedy • - Creative workshops • - Parties • International Students @ VUB Facebook

26. Campus facilities • Sports & Fitness • A whole range of sports can be played at both campuses • A comprehensive booklet is available at the sport centers of both campuses. • 1) Club card: 5 Euro + 20 Euro for participation in sports programme and 40 euro for specific courses • 2) Health City Fitness pass: • 250 Euro (registration + subsription) or 26,95 euro/month (+39 euro registration fee). • More info: we advise you to visit the Sports Center in building L (Campus Etterbeek)

27. Campus facilities • Medical Care • Both campuses provide medical assistance to students • Medical assistance offered: • - General Medical Care: €23/consultation (cash) • Mo > Fr: 8 am – 8 pm Make an appointment online. • - Dentist: Tu > Th: 8.30 am – 7 pm • - Nursing Services & Vaccination • - Blood Tests • - Gynaecologist • Campus Etterbeek: Building Y (entrance Y2), Tel: 02 629 23 00 or appointment via website • Campus Jette: Building Agora

28. In case of emergency: 112

29. ICE-number mobile phone (In Case of Emergency, contact person)

30. Campus facilities • Other student services • CAW Mozaiek at Campus Etterbeek (Building Y3) • ->legal and psychological support & mediation • begeleiding@cawmozaiek.be • Possible to have an appointment at Medical Campus in Jette • Study Guidance Center • -> Advice on planning and study methods, questions about exams,… • -> Building F, Campus Etterbeek

31. Campus Facilities Need to go to a hospital: University Hospital VUB -Jette (Campus Jette)

32. Campus facilities • Do you want a job in Belgium? • Questions about working in Belgium, work permits, your rights as a worker? • → Job Service: Campus Etterbeek - Building Y • Open from Monday- Friday, 1.30pm - 5pm • - Non-European students are required to have a category C work permit (except for official holiday periods) • - Employers in Brussels very often need bilingual French/Dutch workers

33. Campus facilities • Guidance in finding internships in Brussels and abroad • Assist you in finding first career opportunities • Coach your application skills • Contact: • Building B, Campus Etterbeek • W: www.vub.ac.be/en/careercenter • E: info@vub.careercenter.be

34. Campus facilities • Technology Transfer Interface Brussels • Gateway between the university’s research and expertise and the industry and society • Starter seminars: • - the fundamentals of business & (technology) entrepreneurship • - 11 sessions onTuesday, 6.15 – 9.15pm, English-taught, Campus Etterbeek (start 9/10/12) • - Students VUB: € 50 • www.vubtechtransfer.be

35. Sustainable development • ° 2011: policy of strategic planning • →Action plans • Energy audits, projects to reduce consumption • Student restaurants: Project sustainable mass catering, Reduction of waste, Thursday Veggie day Fair trade products, etc. • Veggie garden on campus • Bio vegetable/fruit packages for students & employees • Sustainable mobility (Fietspunt)

36. Sustainable development • Separate collection of waste: - Garbage bags: Yellow bags Blue bags White bags - Glass bottles & jars - Vegetable/Fruit/Garden waste - Batteries - Large pieces of garbage → Incorrect collection of waste: high fine! → Illegal dumping: forbidden by law, high fine!

37. Kick-off the Campus • Tuesday 25/09, 12-15h, KK: Info Market, Campus Etterbeek • Wednesday 26/09, 9-12h, QB: How to survive in Brussels: an intercultural perspective • Friday 5/10, 12-14h, D.0.03 : Discover Brussels • Library (Monday 1/10), Pointcarré (Monday 1/10), Study Guidance (Thursday 4/10) • And many more activities…

38. Meeting MA Program

39. Meeting MA Program

40. Life in Brussels

41. Life in Brussels • Public Transport in Brussels • MIVB / STIB: Metro, Bus, Tram • Website: www.mivb.be • No public transport during the night on weekdays! • During the weekend: Noctis night busses • Public Transport Passes: 1 ride, 10 rides, a day pass, a monthly pass, a year pass (Prices: check website) • Rates: • Monthly pass: €46.50; Year pass € 487; Student year pass € 204 ( < 25 years)

42. Life in Brussels Campus Etterbeek:Metro Petillon Campus Jette: Metro Simonis + Bus 13, 14 (after 20h: Bus 15)

43. Life in Brussels • Public Transport in Brussels • Belgian Railway Company or NMBS • Website: www.nmbs.be (E) • Ticket formulas: weekend ticket (-50%), Go Pass (-26, • €50), Railpass (+26, €74),… • Bicycles • Second-hand bicycles at the Midi Sunday Market • Sports shops (e.g. Decathlon) • Villo! (http://en.villo.be (E))

44. Life in Brussels • Shopping • Opening hours: 9am – 6pm, most shops are closed on Sundays • Main shopping street: Rue Neuve/ Nieuwstraat • Shopping Centers: City 2, Woluwe Shopping, Westland Shopping Centre • Supermarkets • Main supermarket chains: Colruyt, Carrefour, Delhaize, Aldi, Lidl,… • Markets (Fruits and Vegetables) • Gare du Midi (large Sunday Market) (until 1pm) • Place Jourdan • Market Place Jette • Clemenceau Market • …

45. Life in Brussels • Main bookshops • Fnac, City 2 shopping centre • The European Bookshop • Sterling Books • Waterstones • Filigranes • Kitchen utensils and bed linen • Shops: Wibra, Hema, Zeeman, Blokker, Casa,… • Furniture and home decoration • IKEA (www.ikea.com) • (Anderlecht, Metro COOVI, line 5)

46. Life in Brussels • Concerts • Ancienne Belgique: www.ab.be • Botanique: www.botanique.be • Vorst Nationaal: www.vorstnationaal.be • Theatre • → English performances • Kaaitheater: www.kaaitheater.be • Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg: www.kvs.be • Opera • De Munt: www.demunt.be • Cinema • UGC (De Brouckère & Toison d’Or) : www.ugc.be • Kinepolis (Heysel) : www.kinepolis.be • Vendôme

47. Belgium & Europe • Travelling around in Belgium & Europe • Don’t forget to visit: • Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Namur,…. • Offical holiday periods: • Christmas holidays (2 weeks), • 1 week after the exams in January, • Easter holidays (2 weeks), • Summer holidays (July – September) • → Check the VUB Academic Calendar! • ID card or visa: • Valid visa type D (only for Schengen Area countries !, UK = not Schengen!)

48. Belgium & Europe • Travelling around in Europe • Cheap flight tickets  • Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Connections, Airstop, Neckermann, Jetair, .. • International trains  • Thalys, TGV, … • (Railway Station ‘Gare du Midi’) • Bus • Eurolines • (Railway Station ‘Gare du Nord’) • Taxistop • www.taxistop.be

49. International Student Associations • - ISP • - UCOS • - ESN Brussels • - AIESEC VUB • - BEST VUB • - IAESTE VUB • - AEGEE Brussels

50. Orientation Day Lunch • VUB Restaurant • Downstairs: warm lunch • Warm lunch: soup, meal, dessert (+/- € 4.80) • Free tap water