Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen

What Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen does

Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (Howest) is a publicly-funded Flemish university of applied sciences (hogeschool) headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, operating three campuses in Brugge, Kortrijk, and Oudenaarde. Founded in 1995 and affiliated with the Associatie Universiteit Gent, the institution delivers 93 study programmes ranging from associate degrees through master's-level credentials, with notable concentrations in digital arts and entertainment, industrial product design with an interior design specialization that is unique within Flanders, cybersecurity, nursing, and creative technologies. Howest also runs the Howest Academy continuing education arm and infrastructure such as the Howest Media Hub and Mind- and Makerspaces, supporting applied research, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship among students and regional businesses.

Howest's revenue model is anchored in Flemish government subsidies (per-student financing allocated by the Department of Education), supplemented by regulated tuition fees and income from the Howest Academy professional education stream, which targets working professionals through short-cycle and continuing-education offerings. The institution operates as a non-profit public body rather than a commercial enterprise, so there are no equity holders, fundraising rounds, or shareholder distributions; capital deployment is governed by public-sector accountability frameworks. Operational scope is regional, focused on West Flanders, with international exposure via partnerships such as RUN-EU and English-taught programmes aimed at attracting non-Belgian students.

As an institution rather than a venture-backed firm, Howest does not pursue traditional startup-style growth metrics. Its strategic posture is shaped by regional labour-market demand, Flemish higher-education policy, and demographic trends in West Flanders. Competitive positioning is achieved through a portfolio of differentiated programmes (e.g., the only Industrial Product Design pathway in Flanders that combines interior design), infrastructure investments (the relocated Media Hub in Bruges, Mind- and Makerspaces), and applied-research output in domains such as AI-assisted product design, cybersecurity operations, and digital media production.

Name

Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen

Legal name

Howest

Website

https://howest.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Howest is a publicly-funded Flemish university of applied sciences operating three campuses in West Flanders, Belgium, offering 93 study programmes including uniquely positioned courses in industrial design, digital arts, and cybersecurity to prospective students and working professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Secular/Nonsectarian Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAG)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Applied sciences degrees
• Professional development training
• Applied research services
• Continuing education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Kortrijk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education Funding (Government Subsidies): As a publicly funded Flemish university of applied sciences (hogeschool), Howest receives core operational funding from the Flemish government (Vlaamse Overheid/AHOVOKS). Tuition fees from students represent only a partial contribution to the institution's overall revenue, with the majority of funding coming from public subsidies.
2. Student Tuition and Registration Fees: Students pay tuition fees for enrolment in degree programmes (associate degrees, bachelor's, postgraduate certificates, master's) and professional education through Howest Academy. Fees vary by programme type and student origin (Belgian/EU vs. non-EU).
3. Howest Academy (Professional Education): The Academy division generates revenue through continuing education offerings for professionals, including postgraduate certificates, micro-credentials, and short courses, often with subsidies such as 'Vlaams opleidingsverlof' or 'KMO-portefeuille' support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (Howest) is a Flemish university of applied sciences delivering professional bachelor degree programs across multiple campuses in West Flanders, Belgium. It complements degree education with continuing-education offerings through Howest Academy for working professionals and companies, and conducts applied research, innovation projects, and industry collaborations through Howest Research and associated facilities.

Product overview

Howest, de Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen is a university of applied sciences offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and services across three campuses (Brugge, Kortrijk, Oudenaarde) in West Flanders, Belgium. The institution operates as a multi-product educational organization comprising degree programs (Associate degrees through Master's), Howest Academy for professional development, and specialized facilities including the Industrial Design Center (IDC) for product design prototyping, Mind- and Makerspace (MaM) for STE(A)M education, Media Hub for library and knowledge services, and The Enterprise for innovation and entrepreneurship. Research activities span five transition domains (Digital, Ecological, Health, Learning, Social), supported by student incubators across campuses. The technology-enabled learning ecosystem is powered by Canvas LMS, Panopto video platform, Respondus exam proctoring, and various collaboration tools, with programs offered in Dutch and English including international semesters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Howest Academy: Professional education and continuing education programmes for working professionals
• Howest Media Hub
• Industrial Design Center (IDC)
• Mind- and Makerspace (MaM)
• The Enterprise
• Innovation Point
• STUVO
• RUN-EU
• Howest Foundation
• Healthy Howest

Products and services

• Professional Bachelor Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of internationally recognised game development education through the Digital Arts & Entertainment (DAE) programme.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Join for Water (formerly Protos)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Howest journalism students collaborated with the Belgian NGO Join for Water (formerly Protos) on a documentary project about the Mpanga River in Uganda's Rwenzori region. Student Dries Dehaudt produced the documentary 'Orugendo Rwakavera' ('The journey of a plastic bag') in cooperation with Narafi students.
• UGent (Universiteit Gent)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowest is part of the Associatie Universiteit Gent and collaborates with UGent on research, library access, and programme articulation. UGent Campus Kortrijk shares premises with Howest Campus Kortrijk Weide, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration and shared infrastructure.
• RUN-EU (Regional University Network EU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRUN-EU is a European university network in which Howest participates alongside partner institutions across Europe. The partnership enables student and staff mobility, joint events (RUN-EU Day), and collaborative educational initiatives. Howest hosts RUN-EU Day annually at its Kortrijk campus.
• Science Bar Consortium (UGent, Arteveldehogeschool, HOGENT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowest co-founded the Science Bar initiative with UGent, Arteveldehogeschool, and HOGENT, enabling debate events between secondary school students and scientists on socially relevant topics.
• MyMachine VlaanderenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowest participates in MyMachine Vlaanderen, a methodology that brings together students from primary, secondary, and higher education to co-create 'dream machines' through a year-long collaborative process.
• Industry and Manufacturing Companies (via Industrial Design Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanies and manufacturers collaborate with Howest's Industrial Design Center (IDC) on real-world product design and prototyping projects. Students work on live briefs from industry clients during lab sessions, projects, and the graduation year, building industry experience and portfolios.
• Standaard BoekhandelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHowest collaborates with Standaard Boekhandel for the purchase and distribution of study materials, with student data shared as needed to facilitate the service.
• StudentenLaptop / Lab9minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudentenLaptop and Lab9 are authorised partner resellers providing group-purchased laptops to Howest students, with recommended and authorised models offered at negotiated prices including warranty packages.

Scale indicators5 records

Direct peers

• VIVES University of Applied Sciences: Flemish university of applied sciences (hogeschool) operating in West Flanders (Roeselare, Kortrijk, Brugge, Oostende) with similar programme portfolio and regional focus. Directly competes with Howest for the same student pool in the West Flanders region across applied programmes.
• Arteveldehogeschool: Flemish hogeschool based in Ghent offering applied bachelor's and master's programmes. Direct competitor for Flemish students, with similar applied/professional focus and partnerships with secondary schools for student recruitment.
• HOGENT: Ghent-based university of applied sciences with a broad programme portfolio in business, health, technology, and education. Direct peer with comparable mission, funding model, and student segments; Howest even partners with HOGENT on the Science Bar initiative.
• Thomas More University of Applied Sciences: Large Flemish hogeschool with campuses across Antwerp and Limburg. Comparable scale and applied science focus, competing for Flemish students in similar professional fields including business, health, technology, and design.
• PXL University College: Hasselt-based hogeschool offering applied bachelor and master programmes. Direct peer with similar funding model, programme structure, and target student segments within the Flemish higher education system.
• UCLL (University Colleges Leuven-Limburg): Flemish hogeschool resulting from the merger of several institutions, offering applied programmes across Leuven and Limburg. Comparable scale and mission, competing for the same Flemish higher education student pool.
• AP University of Applied Sciences: Antwerp-based hogeschool offering applied bachelor and master programmes in business, health, technology, and education. Direct peer in scale, mission, and Flemish higher education market positioning.
• LUCA School of Arts: Flemish school of arts (formerly associated with hogescholen system) offering programmes in visual arts, music, film, and design. Direct peer for Howest's creative programmes including DAE, DEVINE, and Industrial Product Design.
• Erasmushogeschool Brussel: Brussels-based hogeschool offering applied programmes with a multilingual and international focus. Direct peer in the Flemish applied higher education landscape, with particular strength in healthcare, business, and technology.

Broad incumbents

• KU Leuven: Belgium's largest and most prestigious university with strong research mandate and global reputation. Operates as a broad incumbent across the Flemish higher education landscape, including applied/professional programmes that overlap with Howest's offerings, and competes for top students and faculty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/howestbe
• Facebookfacebook.com/howestbe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hogeschool-west-vlaanderen
• Instagraminstagram.com/howestbe
• TikToktiktok.com/@howestbe
• Xx.com/howestnieuws

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen