Vision, mission and values

Engaged and appreciated staff members

For its staff members, Howest creates a climate in which they are given scope and confidence to take initiative. Howest takes care of the well-being of its staff members and offers them every opportunity to permanently develop their competencies and talents. This implies that staff members can maximally develop themselves both as human beings and as staff members, based on their own intrinsic motivation and in response to the needs of the university of applied sciences and arts.

The staff members of Howest identify themselves with the mission and vision of the university of applied sciences and arts. They share and propagate the values of Howest. They inspire and strengthen each other and their students within teams composed of complementary team members. Convinced of the importance of lifelong learning, they are role models for their students.

The expertise of the Howest staff members is appreciated by all stakeholders. They think and act based on an international professional and practice-oriented context. They are broad networkers and bring their professional network into the institution. Engagement, competencies and collaboration stimulate drive and dynamics in the teams.

For this reason, Howest chooses its staff members with care and considers them a critical success factor.

A broad and future -oriented study programme portfolio

Howest captures trends and needs that appear on the horizon, translates them into innovative profiles and integrates them in its curricula and research projects.

Howest offers an answer to the social need and the individual desire to fulfil one's own passion, to fully develop talents and to acquire new competencies throughout life.

The Howest portfolio addresses a wide range of target groups and offers a diversified range of courses at different qualification levels. The promotion of flexible tracks for transfer students, micro credentials and other innovative tailor-made tracks are part of this.

To this end, Howest cooperates with regional, national and international partners.

Valorisable research and services

Howest generates impact by focusing on high-quality practice-oriented research of which the results can be valorised and made widely accessible.

Howest is the privileged partner in the development of innovative products, processes and services and plays an active role in bridging the gap between innovative practice-oriented knowledge and its actual implementation.

Valorisation supports the sustainability of research lines and provides scope for the exploration of new, (internationally) scalable research and application domains.

Howest stimulates entrepreneurial spirit and supports entrepreneurship among its staff members and students. Research and service activate a potential where passionate students, staff members and work field partners strengthen the Howest community.

A university of applied sciences and arts for the 21st century

In 21st-century society, the focus is no longer primarily on qualification, but also on socialisation, teaching social values and attitudes, dealing with cultural diversity, connectivity, inclusion, media literacy and the maximum development of talents, with attention to the international dimension.

In a networked knowledge economy, all staff members, regardless of their level of employment, are expected to have not only acquired the required starting competencies, but also to have developed a number of attitudes that allow them to function optimally.

With its students, Howest develops interpersonal skills, such as the ability to work in a team, as well as intrapersonal skills such as open-mindedness, motivation and commitment. As a university of applied sciences and arts, Howest actively focuses on refining attitudes such as problem-solving thinking, the ability to constantly sharpen one's own competencies, to work autonomously, but also to communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Sustainability and care for society

Howest realises its mission with an open view of the world. When making policy choices, Howest responds flexibly to the changing needs of society and the talent of its staff members. The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations are a touchstone.

As an organisation, Howest sets an example and encourages its staff members, students and partners to reflect on the impact of their choices.
This attitude is reflected in its policy, its study programme portfolio, the design and implementation of its campuses, the choice of its research domains and the partnerships it enters into.

Vibrant and open campuses

Howest believes in the inspiring power of sustainable and open campuses. They are the vibrant biotopes for the learning community of students, staff members and partners. They offer a place where everyone can be themselves, an inspiring habitat.

Supported by the expertise of its study departments, each Howest campus offers a wide range of flexible learning and meeting spaces with catering and entertainment tailored to the needs of the users.
Connectivity and interaction, accessibility and ample opportunity for networking create complementary real and virtual living environments. They facilitate and reinforce learning, encourage cross-fertilisation and synergy, and show respect for the symbiosis between studying, working and relaxing. They integrate the alumni, the (local) economic and social partners and the neighbourhood in the Howest community.

Enthusiastic and committed ambassadors

Howest invests in sustainable contacts with its stakeholders.

Convinced of the importance of enthusiastic and committed ambassadors, Howest carefully composes its Board of Directors and its advisory boards.

As a reference university of applies sciences and arts, Howest creates a fertile biotope that strengthens relationships, taps into every potential and offers opportunities to all actors.

In particular, Howest invests in its alumni and turns them into inspiring ambassadors. They make the university of applies sciences and arts known in their professional environment and form with the university of applied sciences and arts a powerful network of services and entrepreneurship.