Hasselt (The Brussels Morning newspaper): Limburg’s higher education institutions report strong enrollment growth, led by PXL University College’s 12% increase, especially in teacher training. UCLL and UHasselt also see rising student numbers.
Higher education institutions in Limburg are beginning the new school year on a positive note, with many more students registering. PXL University College is seeing the most growth, with a 12% increase in enrollments compared to last year. It has been said that this rise shows that the college is popular and good at attracting new students, possibly because of better programs or successful recruitment efforts.
Are UCLL and UHasselt experiencing record enrollment growth this year?
UCLL and UHasselt are seeing more students this year, with UCLL up by 10% and UHasselt by 4%, showing strong interest in their programs. PXL University College has a 12% increase overall, and its teacher training programs are up by 22%. This means more people want to become teachers at different levels. The director, Ben Lambrechts, mentioned that teacher training now makes up 20% of all students, which challenges the idea that fewer people want to teach, proving that teaching is still a popular career choice.
The midwifery program is getting popular, with 48% more first-year students. Lambrechts jokingly said, “Limburgers, we need more babies, so go ahead” Financial programs like Accountancy-Taxation and Finance Insurance are also growing a lot. UCLL University College has seen a 10% rise in students for their bachelor’s and graduate programs in Limburg. The Teacher Training program at UCLL is also growing, with a 15% increase in students. The Early Childhood Education bachelor in Diepenbeek is doing especially well, with almost a 40% rise in new students.
Decin, the Program Director for Teacher Training at UCLL, is pleased with the results. He mentioned that nearly twice as many non-traditional students are signing up, mainly because of recognition from VDAB. There are also a lot of 18-year-olds joining, which shows that the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program is very appealing. They are seeing good growth in courses like Nursing and Midwifery, with a 20% increase at the Genk campus. Graduate courses are also up by 20% overall.
