Department of Business Studies

Who are we?

The Department of Business Studies (ECHO) is a business school with bachelor degree programmes and continuing study courses in business management and office management.
In order to offer education that meets the needs of the 21st century, ECHO invested in a new campus in 2007, which includes a new auditorium, an open learning centre, a student restaurant and numerous sports facilities. This infrastructure is also hired out to third parties.

What are our strong points?

The department has strong links with the business world and the non-profit sector. Projects, case studies, company visits, guest speakers and work placements are continually adapted to the latest developments on the job market. Advanced bachelor's programmes, postgraduate certificates and life long learning are taught exclusively by guest lecturers from the business world.

ECHO works on scientific and social projects in the area of commercial sciences and business administration, on behalf of various organisations and regional, national and international companies and authorities.

Sustainable enterprise, internationalisation and entrepreneurial spirit are the three main elements that are central to the activities of ECHO.

Who are our partners?

In order to fulfil its aims in the different fields, ECHO builds on dynamic partnerships and enthusiastically associates itself with various networks.

• Sustainable enterprise
  ECHO has a permanent sustainable development research cell that works on various projects in collaboration with Vredeseilanden, Oxfam and Bioforum, to name a few. ECHO is a member of the Vlaams Netwerk voor Zakenethiek (Flemish Network for Business Ethics) and Business & Society Belgium, an organisation that promotes corporate social responsibility. ECHO subscribed to VKW's commitment to diversity. It also invests in work placements, in collaboration with Living Stone Dialoog, with a view to developing business practices in third-world countries.

• Internationalisation
  ECHO invests in promoting European citizenship. It wants to familiarise its students and staff with the different cultures in Europe. Each student will have at least one international experience during his or her studies. All curricula incorporate international projects in Belgium or abroad as part of their structure. In 2008, ECHO was accredited by NIBS as an 'International Business School'.

• Entrepreneurial spirit
  ECHO is convinced that a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship are important for the future of its students. It therefore allows its students to participate in Small Business Projects and Innovation Projects together with VLAJO. ECHO also established the only Start-up Café in Belgium. This is a place where students can establish contacts with the Flemish partners VKW, Vlao, VLAJO, VOKA, Unizo, Flanders DC, JCI and Markant, and also collaborate with other Start-up Cafés around the world.