Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The congregation of students and personnel from the former Howest College at Bruges depart from their Sint-Jorisstraat campus as part of their official farewell. Students have their last academic year of teaching at this historic building.
Howest University of Applied Sciences concludes its educational operations at Bruges’ iconic Sint-Jorisstraat campus which has existed since 1883. Students need to say goodbye to their “Hogwarts-like” educational landmark between 1989 and 2023 since it has protected monument status.
The university will keep all educational activities on a new sustainable Bruges station facility. The project addresses two pressing issues regarding the outdated infrastructure and environmental sustainability concerns of the historic building structure.
“It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to the campus in the city centre,”
says Annelies Geneyn of Howest.
“The building had a lot of character, we always compare it to Hogwarts from Harry Potter. But unfortunately it is no longer responsible to teach there. It is outdated and no longer sustainable.”
A new Howest building stands near the station’s vicinity. Current classes run at this site while the institutional transition from the central campus to the station campus is set for this school year’s completion.
“There is certainly enough space. That was taken into account when building the campus.”
What is the background of Howest University of Applied Sciences in Bruges?
Howest University of Applied Sciences operates under its popular name Howest as it furnishes higher education training across two campuses situated in Bruges and Kortrijk within West Flanders located in Belgium. The education institution established its foundation in 1849.
The current Howest University of Applied Sciences started its existence in 1995 after joining forces with six educational institutions in Flanders. The institution achieved its leadership status as an educational provider in the area through this strategic merging process.
The institution is recognized for its unique interdisciplinary academic methods that build robust relationships with commercial markets, business entities, and nonprofit organizations. The university belongs to the Ghent University Association and earns full accreditation from the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO).
The university delivers 26 bachelor’s programs and 12 associate degrees through an educational system which includes practical training, field assignments, and internship programs. DAE at Howest secured international recognition as it became the world’s top game design and development school according to The Rookies Award three times in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
Historically, the university operated its main campus in Bruges city centre through a building that served educational functions from 1883. In 2024, Howest started its transition to a new educational establishment close to the Bruges station area.
The €45 million construction project will serve 5,200 students through its modern, sustainable, and innovative approach. The institution’s growth, combined with its dedication to create contemporary learning spaces with modern features, demonstrates the reason behind this transition.
