Education minister Demir promises shake-up of disciplinary procedures at Flemish universities and colleges: ‘Professors are not above the law’

Three years after Pano revealed that several universities were not taking sufficient action against inappropriate behaviour by professors. A new Pano report suggests that not much has changed since then.

Several universities have tightened up their procedures, but that is not enough for Demir. ‘Professors are not above the law,’ she told VRT Radio. ‘The days when everything was dealt with internally are over.’

Demir is also having the disciplinary procedures at all Flemish universities reviewed as soon as possible – ‘that must happen in the next six months’ – and adjustments will be made where necessary.

Independent disciplinary body needed

Since 2022, reporting channels and complaints procedures have been improved, but the new Pano report shows that internal disciplinary procedures rarely lead to severe penalties. Experts are calling for an external disciplinary body to be set up so that tougher action can be taken against toxic behaviour. This is an option that Demir is certainly not ruling out.

‘In the private sector, you would be dismissed for compelling reasons,’ the minister responds when confronted with the examples cited in the report. After an internal investigation, a professor at Ghent University who allegedly committed fraud to the tune of at least 100,000 euros was only given a financial penalty. ‘Such a punishment raises questions. We all feel that this is not acceptable.’

According to Demir, an independent disciplinary body would also be able to deal with reports more quickly. ‘Why does a procedure always have to take years?’ she wonders. ‘Investigations are deliberately being bogged down in the hope that those who reported the incident will forget about it.’