HIVA-K.U.Leuven > About HIVA > Welkome to HIVA

Prof. dr. Patrick DeveltereA word of welcome from the General Director

Dear Visitor,

HIVA profiles itself as the Research Institute for Work and Society. This is a deliberate choice. Our institute was set up more than thirty years ago by the Catholic University of Leuven and the Christian Labour Movement to support and strengthen civil organisations and government agencies through the provision of reliable knowledge about issues which affect us all. Over the years, HIVA has accumulated a great deal of knowledge about ten themes:

  • Work and Organisation
  • Labour Market
  • Poverty and Social Integration
  • Civil Society and Social Economy
  • Migration
  • Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development
  • Education and Lifelong Learning
  • Development Cooperation
  • Welfare State
  • Housing

At HIVA, we deliberately opt for research that can provide a very specific response to the topical issues for these civil organisations and for policy-makers. We seek to carry out research that works! This reflects the fact that we share our partners’ ambitions and goals. Through their research, for example, our experts strive to ensure work that is satisfying, a labour market in which there is a place for everyone, a society without poverty, a dynamic civil society and social economy, a humane migration policy, a healthy environment, education which offers equal opportunities, efficient development cooperation, social protection for everyone, and a social housing policy.

Applied and policy-oriented research is our most important asset. That research must have the potential to be harnessed. On the basis of this research, numerous training initiatives are set up, such as seminars, conferences and workshops. For years, we have been involved in post-academic training and education for prevention advisers, confidential counsellors, safety coordinators, environmental coordinators and security managers. In recent years, we have been doing this under the label “Lucina Academy for Working Life”, a cooperative venture with Prevent vzw.

Our staff are highly motivated university researchers. As economists, sociologists, political scientists, educationalists or psychologists, they all strive for the utmost scientific quality. It therefore gives us great pleasure to work with other knowledge centres at our university and elsewhere. We participate in numerous international academic networks, both in Europe and beyond.

At HIVA, we believe it is particularly important for you to be able to make use of our services. We are open to discussion and collaboration in relation to research, training and knowledge-sharing.

We hope to hear from you.

Prof. dr. Hans Bruyninckx
General Director