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Howest is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and supportive study and work environment for everyone. The values of Howest guide us in how we treat one another.

Nevertheless, as an employee or external party, you may encounter irregularities or situations that raise questions. In the first instance, it is best to discuss this with the person(s) involved or your immediate supervisor. In certain cases, you can also contact the Whistleblower Reporting Point.

This reporting procedure is in line with the "Decreet tot bescherming van klokkenluiders in het onderwijs in de Vlaamse Gemeenschap van juni 2023".

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Frequently asked questions

A whistleblower can make a report if they suspect that within Howest there is a breach of regulations concerning:

  • public procurement;
  • prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing;
  • product safety and compliance;
  • transport safety;
  • environmental protection;
  • radiation protection and nuclear safety;
  • food safety, feed safety, animal health, and animal welfare;
  • public health;
  • consumer protection;
  • privacy, personal data, and security of networks and information systems.

This policy does not apply to complaints that concern only the reporter personally.

This policy applies to all persons connected to Howest in the context of a working relationship:

  • statutory and contractual staff members
  • third parties such as (non-exhaustive list): applicants, (sub)contractors, suppliers, trainees, etc.

Internal reporting point

The internal reporting point of Howest can be reached via:

The management of the reporting point is assigned to the chair of the Howest Internal Audit Committee.

External reporting point

If a report cannot be handled effectively by the internal reporting point, or if there is a real risk of retaliation, the reporter can contact the external reporting point:

Meldpunt Regeringscommissariaat hoger Onderwijs
Consciencegebouw, toren 7C, bus 915
Koning Albert II-laan 15, 1210 Brussel

meldpunt.rc@ond.vlaanderen.be
02 553 98 15

More information: Meldpunt voor klokkenluiders hoger onderwijs

Howest or any of its staff members may not take any measures of any kind against a reporter who falls under the protection of this decree, nor threaten to take such measures, as retaliation for a report or public disclosure.

This protection applies to:

  • all staff members and third parties as described in Article 3;
  • confidential counselors assisting a reporter;
  • external parties who obtain information about a breach in the context of their work relationship;
  • witnesses.

More information