About us 2015

OUR STRATEGY

OUR IMPACT

OUR PARTNERSHIPS

OUR ALUMNI

OUR ORGANISATION

OUR HISTORY

OUR STUDENTS

OUR RESEARCHERS

OUR RESEARCH

OUR TEACHING

OUR VISION

About us - 2015

Our vision

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY Innovative, intercultural and international: Leiden University takes a leading role in academic research and teaching. Since 1575, the University has made a prominent contribution to making the world a safe, healthy, sustainable, prosperous and just place. The University strives for excellence in an open, small-scale and personal academic community where freedom of spirit and independent research are key.

Leiden’s academics are driven by the highest ambitions of quality and integrity.

Our excellent research is intertwined with our teaching, which focuses on highly motivated and talented students, excellence programmes and successful student performance.

OUR VISION

Our teaching CHALLENGING AND PERSONAL Our comprehensive programmes in Leiden and The Hague attract students from the Netherlands and abroad. Our programmes are typically small-scale; they bring students in contact with different cultures and they employ innovative teaching methods. We aim to ensure successful study performance by providing personal study guidance and binding study advice in the first two years of students’ programmes. We also focus on excellence in our teaching.

The Honours Academy offers a range of extra-curricular programmes, including: • Pre-University College for high school students • Honours College for bachelor’s students • Leiden Leadership Programme for master’s students

BACHELOR’S PROGRAMMES MASTER’S PROGRAMMES

46 72

OUR TEACHING

Our research

INTERNATIONAL PROFILE Our researchers look beyond the boundaries of their own discipline and of the University.

Leiden University performs well in the annual international research rankings. To strengthen this position, our top-level research is grouped into interdisciplinary research profiles, which address important issues in contemporary society. We and our partners also ensure we invest in the latest equipment for our research.

OUR RESEARCH

Our researchers

GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH Sixteen of our researchers have so far been awarded a Nobel Prize for their ground-breaking research. In the Netherlands, Leiden University has the highest count of Spinoza Prizes (a quarter of the total), the country’s most prestigious research subsidy: these have been awarded to Leiden researchers no fewer than 18 times.

PHD’S PER YEAR INDIVIDUAL NWO GRANTS PER YEAR INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN GRANTS PER YEAR

circa 400 30-40 5-10

OUR RESEARCHERS

Our students

ACTIVE AND ENGAGED We are an international research university and our students come from more than a hundred different countries. An increasing number of our bachelor’s and nearly all our master’s programmes are taught in English, and many of our students spend time abroad during their studies, on either exchange programmes or internships. First-year students can get to know the University and city during the EL CID introduction week.

They can join any of Leiden’s 32 student clubs and 62 study associations, all of which offer many options for extra-curricular leisure and studyrelated activities. The cities of Leiden and The Hague are located within easy reach of the coast and at the centre of the conurbation that also includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Our students have every opportunity for sports, culture and relaxation.

24,500

BACHELOR’S STUDENTS

15,800

MASTER’S STUDENTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NATIONALITIES

8,700 2,600 110

OUR STUDENTS

STUDENTS

Our history A BASTION OF FREEDOM Leiden University was the first university in the Netherlands.

In 1575, Willem of Orange gave Leiden the Academia Lugduno Batava in gratitude, so the story goes, for the city’s courageous resistance during the Spanish Siege. Our motto is Praesidium Libertatis – Bastion of Freedom. A clear demonstration of the fight for freedom of speech was the protest speech given by Professor Cleveringa in 1940, in which he publicly defended his Jewish colleagues, who were under threat of dismissal.

Leiden University still commemorates this brave act of resistance in its annual Cleveringa Lecture and in meetings all around the world. To this day, freedom is what connects us.

It is also the motto of our th anniversary, to be celebrated in .

The core values that we promote are: • Freedom of spirit, thought and expression • Independent development of knowledge • Societal responsibility • Integrity • Diversity

FOUNDED IN

1575

MOTTO

Praesidium Libertatis Bastion of Freedom Princess Beatrix was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2005 for her dedication to the cause of freedom.

OUR HISTORY

Our organisation COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE The Executive Board is responsible for governing and managing the University. Its members, appointed by the Board of Governors, are: • Professor Carel Stolker, Rector Magnificus and President • Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Rector Magnificus • Willem te Beest, M.Sc., Vice-Chairman The Executive Board works in close consultation with the deans of the seven faculties: • Archaeology • Campus The Hague • Humanities • Law • Medicine/LUMC • Science • Social and Behavioural Sciences Our research is grouped in 27 research institutes, each headed by an Institute Director.

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FACULTIES RESEARCH INSTITUTES STAFF TURNOVER

2 3 7 27 4,200 528 million euros

OUR ORGANISATION

LOCATIONS

Our alumni

AMBASSADORS AND ENGAGED PARTNERS Our alumni are our most important ambassadors in society. We strive to maintain and strengthen their connection with us, and to build an informed and engaged alumni network. We communicate regularly with alumni via the magazine Leidraad and the digital newsletter. We also organise alumni events and use social media to keep them informed and facilitate their career and personal development.

98,000 ALUMNI, OF WHOM 7,000 LIVE ABROAD GRADUATES PER YEAR 3,000 BACHELOR’S 2,800 MASTER’S Graduates of Leiden University College The Hague celebrate at their graduation ceremony.

OUR ALUMNI

Our partnerships

JOINING FORCES Medical and biomedical teaching and research take place at our Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The University works together with the 85 specialised businesses in the Leiden Bio Science Park, the largest knowledge cluster in the life sciences in the Netherlands. We have joined forces with Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam to create eight multidisciplinary research centres and to offer a number of joint teaching programmes. Leiden University is also a partner in Medical Delta, a partnership between higher education, business and government in the life sciences and medical technology. We are a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), together with 20 other European research universities, and have many partnerships, both in the Netherlands and internationally.

• LEIDEN GLOBAL • DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ERASMUS UNIVERSITY ROTTERDAM • MEDICAL DELTA • LEAGUE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITITIES (LERU)

OUR PARTNERSHIPS

• LEIDEN BIO SCIENCE PARK

Our impact

Direct and indirect contribution by Leiden University and LUMC to the economy:

NUMBER OF JOBS GROSS ADDED VALUE

40,000 3 billion euros

OUR IMPACT INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY Sooner or later, all our research has an inuence on society, and analysis of the economic impact of the University and LUMC has shown that every euro we invest gives a fourfold return. The Leiden region has the most favourable business climate of all the economic regions in the Netherlands. Our knowledge development and spin-offs are important factors in this success. Many examples of the societal relevance of our research can be seen across all disciplines. Our academics make regular media appearances, providing expert commentary on current developments in society.

Our strategy

Strategy 2015-2020 • AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EXCELLENT RESEARCH • ACTIVATE TALENT • INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING • INCREASE IMPACT AND INNOVATION • RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN AN INTERNATIONAL SETTING • EXPAND OUR CAMPUS THE HAGUE

Leiden University is an internationally oriented research university.

Our curiosity-driven research meets the highest international standards.

We stimulate our students from diverse cultures to develop their talents and to complete their studies within the time set. The University leads the way in educational innovation and online higher education, and encourages knowledge-sharing and academic entrepreneurship. We give our academics and students the opportunity to work and study in an international environment. Expanding Campus The Hague and thus augmenting our teaching, research and innovation there, will generate inter-disciplinary solutions to contemporary issues at the interface between politics, governance and international law.

OUR STRATEGY

FREEDOM TO EXCEL

More information: www.leiden.edu Subscribe to our newsletter: www.leiden.edu/newsletter

Twitter.com/UniLeidennews Facebook.com/UniversiteitLeiden Youtube.com/UniversiteitLeiden Produced by: Strategic Communication and Marketing Directorate, Leiden University

February 2015

440-year anniversary In 2015 Leiden University will celebrate its 440th anniversary. www.leiden.edu/anniversary