On Monday, Valérie Glatigny (MR), Wallonia-Brussels Federation's Minister in charge of Higher Education, announced that the academic year will start earlier in the future – at the end of August.
Valérie Glatigny (MR) announced the news in front of the Regional Parliaments after a working group underwent several months' worth of consultation and deliberation on a new calendar within French-speaking higher education.
The working group included representatives from French-speaking universities, higher education colleges, arts colleges, trade unions, students and actors from both sports and youth circles.
Furthermore, the group also agreed to harmonise universities' winter holidays with those of primary and secondary schools.
Related News
The aim is for the new calendar to offer real periods of rest for both teachers and students, as the winter and spring holidays are currently devoted to 'blocus,' a period of intense studying for students.
According to the minister, the levels of learning will remain unchanged and they also intend organise a real summer break between academic years.
However, the details of the future academic calendar must still have to be finalised in the upcoming months.
