UNIVERSITY – INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: SAFETY ENGINEERING EDUCATION AT KU LEUVEN

In collaboration with Essenscia, a multi-sector umbrella organization that represents the numerous sectors in the field of chemicals and the life sciences, KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium) adapted and expanded its safety study program to train safety experts at the university level. It consists of two options, Prevention and Process Safety, which have a number of courses in common. The common courses introduce safety as a science. They cover subjects such as safety of industrial installations, building safety and fire and explosion safety, safety aspects of chemical and biological products and processes, qualitative risk analysis and safety management. The option Prevention of the program trains students to become general safety experts to be active in industry, government or general safety services (including consulting...). The option Process Safety aims at the training of technical safety experts in the field of industrial processes. The majority of the courses are taught by professionals active in the field of safety. Visits to e.g. industrial plants or laboratories are part of the program.