Vlaamse Hogescholenraad VLHORA

Overview

The Vlaamse Hogescholenraad, known since January 2021 simply as the Flemish Council of University Colleges or by its abbreviation VLHORA in historical documents, serves as the umbrella representative body for the thirteen officially recognised Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts. Established in 1996 and granted the status of a public utility institution by legislative decree in 1998, it functions as the key formal advisory and coordinating structure between the university colleges and the Flemish government. According to uniRank, it is listed among principal institutional organisations shaping the higher education landscape in Flanders.

History and Legal Framework

VLHORA emerged from a consolidation process in 1996, when around 124 pre‑existing higher education institutions merged into 29 “hogescholen”, ultimately streamlined into thirteen core institutions. A decree of 7 July 1998 formally established VLHORA as a recognised institution of public utility under Flemish law, organising its governance structure and funding mechanisms. Amendments to the decree in 2003, 2004 and 2007 aligned it with broader Flemish higher education reforms—including the Bologna‑style shift to bachelor/master structure and the 2003 higher education restructuring decree of 4 April 2003.

Since 1 January 2010, VLHORA works cooperatively under the joint organizational framework of VLUHR (the inter‑institutional Flemish Universities and Colleges Council), advancing cross-sector responsibilities, particularly after the establishment in 2013 of the VLUHR Quality Assurance Unit (VLUHR QA) which absorbed VLHORA’s earlier visitatie function.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

VLHORA’s mission is to connect and strengthen the thirteen universities of applied sciences in Flanders by acting as the formal voice on behalf of these institutions to the Flemish government, the professional field and societal stakeholders. It produces policy positions, studies and publications to inform political decision‑making and regulatory planning.

Its appended strategic vision looks to 2030, aiming to position the Flemish university colleges as leading providers of talent development across all age groups and inclusive segments of society. Core objectives include improving access to higher education, fostering lifelong learning, enhancing professional and artistic competencies and boosting the institutions’ role in innovation and public service.

Governance, Structure and Independence

VLHORA is governed by a general assembly composed of the managing directors (or designated permanent delegates) of the thirteen member institutions. That assembly appoints a board of directors (raad van beheer) with a balanced mix of representatives from public, provincial and private‑grant institutions. The board elects a president, vice‑president, secretary and treasurer.

Operational leadership is provided by a politically neutral secretary‑general and a small policy staff, funded by membership contributions proportional to the government’s operating grants to each institution, along with public subsidies and self‑generated income. Despite its public utility status, VLHORA operates with a high degree of autonomy, free from direct ministerial control, thus ensuring independent institution‑to‑government advocacy.

Since 2016, Eric Vermeylen has served as secretary‑general, steering daily coordination, while the presidency rotates every two years and is currently held by the managing director of one of the member colleges.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation

VLHORA originally oversaw cyclic visitations (“visitaties”) of university college programmes to promote internal and external quality assessment. Today such visitations fall under the remit of VLUHR QA, the quality assurance arm of the unified Flemish Universities and Colleges Council, established in 2013. VLUHR QA conducts programme assessments and thematic analyses in line with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and is registered with ENQA and EQAR. It liaises closely with the independent accreditation body NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders), which since 2005 provides formal accreditation decisions for higher education programmes in Flanders.

As part of VLUHR, VLHORA contributes to shaping the quality framework, defining the eight quality features governing teaching and research evaluation in Flemish professional higher education.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

VLHORA is a member of EURASHE (the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education), strengthening Flemish institution representation in pan‑European policy discussions. Through VLUHR International, VLHORA coordinates cross‑sector initiatives in international student and staff mobility, global marketing, Erasmus + activities and participation in European University alliances.

In 2023, with support from a Flemish government subsidy, VLHORA led an intercultural strategic project to bolster research & innovation internationalisation capacity across the thirteen university colleges. This included creating Strategic Plans for R&I, appointing single‑point‑of‑contact staff in each institution, developing outcome dashboards and organising learning networks to foster shared practice and global engagement.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

Higher education in Flanders is experiencing dynamic growth, with university colleges welcoming over 157,407 students in the 2024–25 academic year, a 6.1 % rise compared to the prior year. VLHORA has called on the government to secure sustainable funding to support this expansion, invest in workplace learning and accelerate the roll‑out of labour‑market‑oriented associate degree programmes.

The organisation’s strategic ambition—particularly its target of a 50 % attainment rate for higher education among 25‑ to 34‑year‑olds by 2027—is driving policy reform across pathways, transitions and funding models.

Moreover, the expanded emphasis on practice‑oriented research (valorisation) and innovation places the university colleges at the heart of regional and societal challenge‑driven transformation in domains such as climate, health, mobility, digitalisation and inclusive education.

Summary

• Vlaamse Hogescholenraad is the umbrella organisation for the thirteen Flemish universities of applied sciences, advising the Flemish government on all matters related to professional higher education, practice‑oriented research and public service.
• Legally established as a public utility institution in 1998, it maintains institutional independence while facilitating strategic steering of policy, funding and quality frameworks.
• It plays a coordinating role in quality assurance (in cooperation with VLUHR and NVAO), internationalisation and institutional representation.
• Its evolving impact is seen in rising student numbers, national goal‑setting for tertiary qualification rates, stronger R&I capacity and active international engagement and cooperation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the Vlaamse Hogescholenraad?
  It is the collectively recognised governing and advisory council representing all official Flemish universities of applied sciences and arts, with mandates in policy advocacy, quality coordination and international strategy.
• How many university colleges are members?
  Thirteen institutions across the Flemish Community are members, each led by a director (or permanent appointment) in VLHORA’s general assembly.
• Is VLHORA an accrediting body?
  No. It coordinates the visitation process through VLUHR QA and contributes to setting the quality framework, but formal accreditation decisions are issued by the NVAO.
• How does VLHORA differ from the Flemish Interuniversitaire Raad (VLIR)?
  VLHORA represents universities of applied sciences and arts, while VLIR represents research universities. Since 2010, both operate cooperatively within VLUHR for joint responsibilities like quality assurance and international collaboration.
• What legal basis governs VLHORA?
  It was established by a Flemish decree in July 1998 as a legally mandated public‑utility institution, with periodic updates aligning with higher‑education restructuring laws dating to 2003–2007.
• Who leads the Council?
  The governing board is composed of representatives from member institutions and elects a president. Daily operations are led by a secretary‑general, who currently is Eric Vermeylen.
• Can VLHORA influence Flemish higher education policy?
  Yes—VLHORA regularly submits position statements, policy papers and strategic advice to the Flemish Parliament and government, influencing criteria on governance, programme recognition, funding, transitions and workforce learning.

Organization Name

Vlaamse Hogescholenraad
Flemish Council of University Colleges

Acronym

VLHORA

Year of Establishment

1/01/2005

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

Local or Regional

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

16

Address

Ravensteingalerij 27 bus 3 - 1e verd
Bruxelles
1000 Brussels Belgium

Phone

+32 (2) 211 4195

Fax

+32 (2) 211 4199

Universities of Applied Sciences member of the Flemish Council of University Colleges

• Antwerp Maritime Academy
• AP Hogeschool Antwerpen
• Arteveldehogeschool
• Erasmushogeschool Brussel
• HOGENT
• Howest
• Karel de Grote Hogeschool
• LUCA School of Arts
• Odisee
• PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
• Thomas More Hogeschool
• UC Leuven-Limburg
• VIVES University of Applied Sciences

Official Social Media Channels

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Wikipedia Article

Vlaamse Hogescholenraad's Wikipedia article

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