Caroline Pauwels, honorary rector of the VUB, will receive an honorary doctorate posthumously from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on Friday. “The South African university is awarding her the title for her role as an academic and advocate of science and humanism,” says the VUB.
When she was rector of the VUB (from 2016 to 2022), Pauwels “took the international academic collaboration between VUB and UWC to a higher level by placing a strong focus on social responsibility in addition to joint initiatives in the field of research and education,” the Brussels university said in a press release on Thursday.
Tyrone Pretorius, Rector of UWC, says Pauwels is being lauded as a bridge builder. “She has made great contributions as an academic and as a champion of science and humanism. Through her sustained social commitment, she has made South Africa and the world a better place, and we would like to express our sincere appreciation for that.”
The current rector of the VUB, Jan Danckaert, is proud. “Our late honorary rector Caroline was an infinitely talented personality who lives on in the rich humanistic and intellectual legacy she leaves behind for our world,” he says in a press release. “At the same time, the posthumous award ceremony also embodies the shared values, hopes and aspirations that we, as strategic partner universities and urban engaged universities, promote.”
The ceremony will take place on Friday at 5 p.m. and can be followed via livestream. Romain Meeusen, former vice-rector of Internationalization in Pauwels’ team, will receive the honorary doctorate. The VUB honorary rector has previously received honorary doctorates from UCLouvain and sister university Université Libre de Bruxelles.
Caroline Pauwels was elected rector of the VUB in 2016. Her second term began in 2020, but in February she had to resign due to illness. She died on 5 August 2022 from the consequences of stomach and esophageal cancer.