About Connect KUL

Who Are We and what does Connect do?

Connnect is the brainchild of Ana Onofre, Anneleen Malfroid, Anne-Marie Gilis, and Courtney Phillips-Sears. We envisioned a tool that would:

1. Promote the cultural offerings of Leuven

2. Promote increased contact and interaction between Belgian and international students

3. Ease the transition into a new culture for international scholars in Leuven by centralizing all of the currently 'scattered' bits of helpful information

After considering how these three aims could be combined, we decided on a web-platform which would serve as an interactive virtual meeting place where people can connect based on shared cultural interests. That led us to come up with the idea for the cultural calendar. Students who use the site can click a date either to find what cultural events are taking place so they can find something to do, or they can add their own cultural event which is open for others to come to. This is where the web interaction becomes reality and both Belgian and international students can meet each other face-to-face. Our hope is that this will increase intercultural interaction, understanding and dialogue and also help to ease the process of integration for international students by providing them support through a central information point (the website) and a chance to meet native students. In this way, Belgian and international students can be both students and teachers of culture for each other and build lasting friendships along the way!

Why should you connect?

We live in a globalized world that, due to technology, is becoming smaller and smaller every day. Being able to connect with people from other cultures is a necessity in today's world. Meeting new people from around the world is enriching and fosters intercultural understanding. It broadens your horizons, can help you to see life from different perspectives, and encourages curiosity and lifelong learning through friendship. Learn to see the world through new eyes - connect!