KU Leuven honours seven exemplars of excellence

Before the official degree conferral, the seven recipients gave honouree addresses at three locations throughout the city.

The two faces of our society

In the Promotion Hall, Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, stressed the important role that sports play in strengthening the body and mind of the individual, and the education and unity of the community. He also sketched the challenges and dangers facing sports in general and the Olympics in particular, including the  of young people and the problems of doping, corruption, racism and violence. Rogge also emphasised that the Games have a social responsibility and gave several examples of the positive role that the IOC is working to actualise in the fields of environment, human rights and North-South solidarity. "Sport is not better than society; sport reflects society, with all its good and bad sides," he concluded. "But I remain fundamentally optimistic about the future of sports."

In her address, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay illustrated the progress that has been made in the past decades in terms of the protection of human rights: apartheid has been abolished, war criminals have been brought to trial and minorities have gained protections. At the same time, she emphasised that there is still much to do and that people must remain vigilant. She praised the European Union for its exemplary efforts on behalf of human rights, but also pointed out that the EU can only maintain its leading role if it takes greater account of the rights of migrant workers. Ms. Pillay also spoke passionately about the brave few who dare to stand up against injustice and reiterated the importance of supporting them. "I hope that someday we will see full equality for all people, without exception, where, to use the words of Justus Lipsius, ‘justice be administered in equal measure to all’.”

Creative with tradition

At the City Theatre, Rector Waer said creativity is a principle that binds all the honourees. Oenologist Aubert de Villaine gave this credence with his thoughtful praise of 'le coeur et le secret' of Burgundy and Burgundian wines. He delved deep into the past to outline how the constant tension between the limitations of nature and the aspirations of humans have resulted in peerless viniculture. Today’s wine-making methods are the product of a gradual, fragile process that has persisted despite periods of extreme difficulty and crisis. Through this process, said de Villaine, it is respect for tradition that enables humankind to deal with the limits of nature in a creative way.

Maestro Thielemann, the renowned conductor, also emphasised the importance of tradition. Tradition must be experienced and lived by each new musician and conductor, he said. Herein lies the origin of the vital differences between musical interpretations, and the reason why generalisations such as 'the German sound' make no sense. Those who reject tradition are not necessarily more open or receptive to the 'other', he said. Was heisst Allegro? "That depends how I’ve slept," quipped the Maestro. It is this combination of tradition and variety that makes our culture so rich. We live in an exciting time because this interplay also manifests itself on the political scene.

Towards the end of the afternoon, Minister of State Mark Eyskens endorsed this view, explaining the importance of the Arenberg Foundation. Through the foundation, the Arenberg family has created a platform that stands as a contemporary expression of the family’s age-old association with the university. Duke Léopold of Arenberg illustrated this in his address on the many facets of this association. He summed up the importance of the Arenberg Foundation along with a call to collaborate on the promotion of European history and culture.

Science as salvation?

During her lecture at the Maria Theresia College, Helga Nowotny, Chair of the European Research Council (ERC), discussed what science can do for Europe. Our society has internalised the scientific perspective, almost as a way of life. This is not blind faith – "and that's for the better," Nowotny said – but a sober view of what science has to offer. Research into new and uncharted research areas, for example, may not immediately result in jobs and products, but it may deliver the necessary knowledge to do so. Nowotny ended with words for the future in an unsure present: "Science cannot save Europe but a Europe that embraces science will not need to be saved."

Professor James Utterback of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – one of the pioneers of research on innovation at and by spin-offs – spoke about the confluence of different fields such as biotechnology and nanotechnology. He sees this fusion of disciplines as necessary, but we must not leave the benefits of interdisciplinary research to chance; we must purposefully steer the process. Discussing the problematic issues of innovation, Utterback mentioned the link between automation and unemployment, pointing out that 90 per cent of employees still work in established industries. "It is therefore important to invest in new fields in a well-considered and balanced manner." And what is the secret to 'spin-off sauce’, as Utterback himself described it? "Young entrepreneurs are attracted to MIT because they know we support their ideas." (Video | Interview | Laudatio)

European dream

The European dream was daring, said Herman Van Rompuy during his address at the beginning of the academic session, but step-by-step it became reality. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, war ceased to be an option, and thus Europe faced the threat of irrelevance. Many began to perceive Europe not as 'magnanimous' but as the product of endless democratically dubious reforms. The introduction of the euro was a major new step, but it was a mistake to presume that a monetary union would necessarily result in a political union, Van Rompuy continued. We are now suffering the consequences of that mistake. We can only solve it with tangible results based on more Europe, grounded political courage and conviction, if we are to avoid the dangerous 'deficit of conviction’. Once again, this will be a step-by-step process, but it is the only right way. The silent majority will undoubtedly back such a project, Van Rompuy stated resolutely, and could form the basis of a new European élan. (Video | Interview | Laudatio)

"The University of Leuven is showering us with praise," Herman Van Rompuy said in a word of thanks on behalf of his fellow honourees at the close of the academic session. Leuven International Forum has inspired the gratitude of all the honourees, he said, but more importantly it has stimulated a desire to continue working towards truth, goodness and beauty, as the university has done for almost 600 years and will continue to do now and in the future.