Questioning the Binary Divide: Non-University Higher Education in Flanders (Belgium)

In this paper, I will show how the government created a framework to bring universities and colleges closer to each other, and thus cast the binary divide into question. Although the first few steps in this process had already been taken in the College Decree in 1994, this process was more stimulated by the Bologna Process. Bologna, after all, stressed the internationalisation of higher education with its consequences for the structure of the curriculum and the titles of the diplomas. Within this process, new structures emerged (e.g. associations between universities and colleges), and special financing was provided for the academic upgrading of college curricula. A comparable financing system for universities and colleges was planned. Nevertheless, the binary divide is still present, which inspired VLHORA1 (2004b) to formulate a four-page list of demands to the new Flemish government in July, 2004, in order to bridge this divide. One of these demands was the right to translate hogeschool into the English word “university”, if only in their international contacts. The road of the colleges into the academic world will be described here in four sections. First, I will take a look at the structure of the colleges; second, I will give a picture of their governing structure; third, I will discuss their level of autonomy; and fourth, I will highlight their future development and challenges.