A three-level organisation structure
At the first organisation level, the three sectors (
sciences humaines,
sciences et technologies,
sciences de la santé) manage their research and teaching in a differentiated and co-ordinated way.
UCL counts 21 research institutes that exist alongside 12 faculties and schools. The latter are responsible for the organisation of the study programme and oversee the programme committees.
The second level: the research institute
On the “research” side, the second level of operation is the institute, a structure of significant size, stable in time. Twenty-one institutes implement the research policy in their particular science disciplines.
The third level: the research centre
On the third level, there is the centre, which gathers the members from one or more institutes around a joint project. A centre is therefore included in an institute or is horizontal to several institutes. The aim is to encourage high-level interdisciplinary research and to stimulate the temporary grouping of people around disciplinary aims or common themes.
March 2009, 37 research centres had already requested official acknowledgement by the Academic Council.
Technological platforms for support
Institutes and centres are supported by technology platforms (laboratories, archives, translation centres, etc.). Their facilities may be integrated in an institute, co-managed by several institutes or be independent. The platforms also support teaching activities and activities that serve the community. They create numerous scientific collaborations with the public authorities and private companies. End 2008, 11 platforms had been set up.
History
The outlines of the new organisation of the university were first presented to the university community in September 2005 and were henceforth referred to as the "Development Plan". By end 2008, the Academic Council adopted the general principles for the acknowledgement and governance of the faculties and schools, as well as a common organisation structure for the research institutes.
