Evening star., 1942-08-23
Nozi Domination Extends
to BeIgium's Universities
By Frederic J. Hnskin.

pie of Belgium are having with the NaZis
is their interference with institutions OF
higher learning Irked by the resistance
which they have found so pronounced
In Beleiums universities, the Nazis have
closed one university and are disrupting
the others by appointing German. L.
pro-German professors, adding different
courses, removing old established ones,
and generally interfering with the coun-
trys pormsl processes of education.
Although the procedure for the pur-
suit of higher studies in Belgium Is or
eanized on a slightly different basis
from that in the United States, educa-
tors almost everywhere approve the plan.
In Belgium, the studies are much more
specialized that is, the student enters
the medical. the engineering, or the
arts curriculum, and carries on research
for number of years. There Is not, as
in the United States, the widespread
college system, where large number OF
stu6I-.t. sttend classes for four years
which prepare them On s-nerally for
any particular type of specialization. "a
which result only in a degree.
In Belgium, country with a popula-
ton Is times smaller than that of the
United States, there are two state uni"
versities, at Ghent and Liege, and two
private universities whose diplomas are
recognized along with those Of the state
schools. The private institutions are
the Universities of Brussels and Louvain.
Admission to any one of the universities
is automatic If the student attended q
state controlled high school the required
length of time. and on an examination
basis If the student attended any Of the
numerous private, religious or other
schools in the country.
Since Belgium is divided fairly evenly
between French and Flemish-speaking
people, the bi-lingual situation of the
country Is recognized by all schools. In
recent years an increasing amount OF
attention has been given to developing
the Flemish culture along with the
French. To this end several innovations
have been made. For instance, about
Is years ago the University of Client
was converted to a Flemish university
and the Flemish curricula at the UNI
versities of Louvain and of Brussels have
been enlarged to such an extent that
degrees are now granted for studies car
ried on in either language.
In addition to these universities, the
| educational scope of which is rather
| general, there are certain technical and
| otherwise specialized schools. some of
| which are world-famous. These, for the
most part, devote their major efforts to
| the various phases of engineering. Since
the length of the entire country may
be covered in less than four hours, stu
dents from any section conveniently can
attend any one of these schools.
There are two technical institutions,
the Advanced Labor School and the
Colonial University, both located at
Antwerp, which prepare those who plan
to 60 to the Belgian Congo or who con-
template working for the Ministry Of
Colonies, or to which people appointed
to various colonial posts usually go for
an intensive study OF few months prior
to entering upon their duties. There
is also the Commercial Higher Institute
known for its advanced studies in the
various commercial and consular
branches.
One school with reputation which
ranks high, and whose graduates may
take state examinations and be awarded
degrees similar to those granted by the
state and private universities, is the
Labor University, at Charleroi, city in
the center of the Belgian industrial dis
trict. This school was established for
the children OF industrial workers who
cannot afford the expense of leaving
their city, or who cannot conveniently
attend other schools
| Similarly, for people who must work
and cannot follow more advanced
courses Of study there are a number Of
night schools, endowed by individual
cities, which teach every kind OF techni-
cal and scholarly subject. In addition,
1 there are institutes for the pursuit Of
very advanced studies, beyond even those
| for the doctorate. These grant no de-
grees, but their work is recognized In
their individual fields.
| There is no campus life In Belgium
| In the American sense, no dormitories,
no fraternities, and none Of the social
activity usually associated with colleges
and universities in the United States.
There are, Of course, clubs and super
yised rooning houses, but these are prf.
vately operated and the university has
no control over them. A student goes
to the city in which he or she intends
to study and finds living quarters near
the university.
II student is unable to pay tuition,
| or earn enough money for board. h2
may obtain state or a private scholar
ship very much as in the United States,
The basis for obtaining such a scholar
| ship Is both competitive and appointiye.
but candidate for scholarship to Lou.
vain University must be Catholic. Tho
other universities in Belgium are nom
denominational and have no form OF
religious worship associated with their
courses. All universities are co-educa-
| tional.
For the advanced scholar who has
completed the prescribed course OF
studies there are a number Of fellowships
and endowments. The fellowships are
for postgraduate work to be carried on
IN the United States by Belgian scholars.
One OF these fellowships was founded
by the Belgian-American Educational
Foundation which gives grants with
money left over from assistance sent to
Belgium by the United States during the
| first World War Ty,ero is olso th> ro,,p