Miglena Dikova-Milanova teaches Bulgarian in the faculty of Language and Literature at Ghent University. She has Bulgarian roots, but has been living in Belgium since the 1990’s. “I have rediscovered nature and myself during this period.”
Alex Verhegge graduated from Ghent University in 1969 with a law degree. He launched his career as a lawyer and later combined this with an assistantship at the university. He then became a magistrate, and was ultimately employed at the prosecutor general’s office in the appeal court in Brussels, where he was forced to retire this year.
Ko Delforge is in her last year of secondary school. She used the extra time that was suddenly available for all kinds of creative projects. However, she struggled with the lack of social contact. She compensated by writing lots of letters to friends and family. Little pleasures in a strange year.
Lennert Camp is in his third year of a bachelor’s degree in Dutch-Swedish. He was always going to study Swedish, he says, as not does he like Ikea, but also because he particularly appreciates Sweden, which he discovered while travelling. He thinks the whole country is cool!
Kristien Lemaitre graduated as a doctor from Ghent University in 1998, before specialising as a psychiatrist. After doing the tour of emergency services and hospital units all across Flanders, she trained to be a psychotherapist. She now works in mental healthcare centres and in a group practice.
Christel Moons is a professor of applied ethology and animal welfare. During the first lockdown she didn’t really have time for a new hobby, but in between she’s learned how to install tile skirting boards. “It’s not easy. But I am rather proud that I can do it now.” (laughs)
Patrick Segers is a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture: “I found it a tough and challenging year, like so many others."
Liessa Engels has been a counsellor at Ghent University for two years. She is there to help students and those who are choosing a course. Fortunately they are finding their way to the online alternatives that Liessa and her colleagues have established this year.
Jelle Van Goethem graduated in 2010 with a master degree in history from Ghent University. After an advanced master’s programme in business economics and teacher training programme, he spent seven years working as a teacher. Until this year, when he changed jobs. 2020 was also a milestone in his private life, being the year his first son was born.
20 people with links to Ghent University were selected at random. They tell us what 2020 meant to them, what they will carry over to next year and above all: what they hope for in 2021. Kurt Boelens graduated from Ghent University in business psychology in 1987.
Parastou grew up in Belgium after she fled Iran with her family at the age of five. She completed her university studies in England, where she also started working as a lawyer. After nine years in Liverpool, she returned to Belgium this year with her husband, as well as her cat and dog! In September she started the ManaMa International Business Law.
The lockdown accelerated the plans to study again for Sofie. Without the long list of ‘to dos’ in the evenings and weekends, she can focus much better.
