Uni.lu is a research university

« BEGINNINGS: Looking back on twenty years in the Governance Council of the University of Luxembourg » (1) appeared in the second edition in October 2025. To my great surprise, this publication of my book coincided with the beginning of the turmoil which engulfed the University of Luxembourg. An avalanche of critical analyses, both in the written and oral press, has called into question certain aspects of the management and governance of Uni.lu.

Of course, harassment and mobbing are unacceptable and must stop. In addition, the University’s governance structures must be reviewed periodically – as has been done in the past. They must be adapted to the current context (in particular the upcoming launch of a complete medical course).

Of course, harassment and mobbing are unacceptable and must stop. In addition, the University’s governance structures must be reviewed periodically – as has been done in the past. They must be adapted to the current context (in particular the upcoming launch of a complete medical course).

An in-depth overhaul is necessary to ensure greater democratization of the governance structures that operate within faculties and interdisciplinary centers. While addressing these issues is imperative, it is also essential not to lose sight of where the University is coming from and where it needs to go.

Also read:

Open letter supports the University of Luxembourg

Since its creation in August 2003, the University of Luxembourg has been a research university that aims to be competitive on an international scale. This is what Erna Hennicot-Schoepges and Germain Dondelinger had in mind when they founded this institution. This is also the reason why some of us agreed to contribute to its development.

To my great astonishment, in view of the declarations of Madam Minister during the parliamentary committee on Higher Education, Research and Digitalization on March 24, the current government seems to be questioning the idea of ​​a research university. Where did I misunderstand?

The Governance Council

From 2004 to 2018, the Governance Councils (CG) were composed of seven members familiar with the academic world, on one side, and Luxembourg civil society, on the other. In 2004, three Non-Luxembourgers were academics from Belgium, Iceland and Switzerland, three Luxembourgers represented civil society and I was a Luxembourger occupying an academic position abroad.

Together, we have contributed to building a high-level research culture, while integrating several pre-existing structures dedicated to professional training. The ambition was to create a university, and not a “Fachhochschule”, and to avoid the trap of “Luxo-Luxembourg solutions”. This path strewn with pitfalls was mastered, and today, the CG is fully operational (‘fit for purpose’).

Given the heavy workload, it is essential that the president of the CG resides in Luxembourg. Ideally, the president and members of the CG should exercise professional activity despite the conflicts of interest that the small size of Luxembourg makes almost inevitable.

Following the implementation of the revised university law of June 2018, the CG now has thirteen members, nine of them are appointed by the government, two members are elected by their peers from the University Council while the head of the staff delegation and the president of the student association are ex officio members.

Also read:

When professors abuse their power

At the same time, three subcommittees were created, each member of the CG belonging to one of them. They meet before the CG sessions to discuss human resources issues, the budgetary situation and academic appointments. The increase in the number of members and the establishment of these subcommittees have undoubtedly improved the quality of the debates during the CG sessions.

Given that most of the members, former and current, of the CG were appointed by the government, one can question the autonomy of the University of Luxembourg. Even if we were not simple lackeys of the government, one could argue that emphasizing the autonomy of the university vis-à-vis the government is empty speech.

After all, it is the government (via the Luxembourg taxpayer) which takes care of most of the expenses! And, as I explain in my book, in the past many important decisions concerning the university have been taken by the government without consulting the GC.

Recherche compétitive à l’échelle internationale

What does it mean to do internationally competitive research? Since my work focuses on biomedicine, I don’t know what such research looks like in law or history, to mention just those fields.

Also read:

Following allegations, the University of Luxembourg will commission an external audit

In exact sciences, being competitive on an international scale means that you must be among the best in the world in your field. This is measured by the quality of publications and the number of citations. This is a difficult goal to achieve, given that research is extremely competitive. Many fail, and only a minority manage to find stable employment. A researcher’s work-life balance leans heavily toward work, which usually takes up the majority of your time.

In this demanding environment, inspiring mentors are essential to provide intellectual and emotional support. It is often from them that we learn how to approach a scientific problem. If experimental work is mainly carried out by young scientists, experienced researchers define the main directions of research and raise the necessary funds. Moreover, at the “Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology”, many young researchers are doctoral students (who receive a grant of £23,945 per year for four years).

And now?

It is worth asking whether the quality of the University of Luxembourg has improved over time or whether the university has only grown. In fact, the increase in size may even have led to some relaxation, contributing to the current difficulties. It is therefore imperative to measure the international impact of research “made at Uni.lu”. In this context, it must be said that in general periodic evaluations carried out by external bodies do not provide evidence and can lead to a false sense of security.

On the other hand, every year the data analysis company “Clarivate” publishes a list of the most cited scientists in the world. In 2025, 7,131 researchers were included, including two (Michael Heneka and Alexandre Tkatchenko) from the University of Luxembourg (8,560 students and 2,772 employees, founded in 2003).

Also read:

University of Luxembourg: Taxpayers deserve better

For comparison, the University of Cambridge (24,912 students and 13,113 staff, founded in 1209) had 61 scientists in this ranking. A challenge to take on!