In 2017, the Flemish government extended VLIZ's tasks considerably. These new tasks include mandates to initiate and conduct research as well as further developing the interface between marine research and the blue economy. As a result, VLIZ has experienced considerable growth over the past few years. The number of VLIZ employees has increased significantly since 2017 and reached 150 in 2022. This growth will continue in the near future. Another 20 new employees were hired in the spring of 2023 alone.
Not just the number of employees, but also their diversity in terms of origin has strongly increased since the establishment of the Research department. No fewer than 21 nationalities from 5 continents are represented (see map 1). An overview of places of residence per province (see map 2) demonstrates that 60% of VLIZ employees live in West Flanders (41% of whom live in Ostend), 32% in East Flanders(65% of whom live in Ghent), 5% in Flemish Brabant and 2% in Antwerp. These figures allow us to conclude that VLIZ is an attractive employer in the province of West Flanders. It attracts highly skilled and talented people who are looking for a challenging job in an international context. Furthermore, VLIZ makes sure that young graduates find their way back to the coastal province after completing their university studies outside West Flanders. This way, VLIZ helps halt and even reverse the brain drain West Flanders is faced with.
VLIZ is also performing well in terms of the gender balance. Out of a total of 150 employees, 49.3% identified as female and 50.7% as male. This means the gender equality plan, introduced in 2021 as part of the diversity plan, was already bearing fruit after one year. However, there is still work to be done and it remains our ambition to keep on focusing on inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace.
In 2022, VLIZ also registered its 1000th member. This honour befell Koen Vandenbussche from Roeselare. To celebrate this occasion, Koen was invited to a boat trip on board research vessel Simon Stevin. The institute invests the membership fees in its philanthropic project ‘The sea as a good cause’. This is the only philanthropy in Flanders aimed at supporting scientific projects and grants that promote marine knowledge worldwide.
