Seen from abroad, the university in Luxembourg is a “motor of innovation and change”, said Stéphane Pallage as he introduced himself on Monday afternoon. The appointment of the 48-year old Belgian-Canadian was confirmed last October, and he took up his post on 1 January.
He grew up in in Malmedy, Belgium, and his grandparents were from the Arlon area--“so the Luxembourg language is familiar music to my ears,” he said in French after the minister for higher education and research, Marc Hansen, and chairman of the university’s board of governors, Yves Elsen had made opening remarks in Luxembourgish.
A graduate of the University of Liège, Pallage earned a Master’s degree in industrial administration and a Ph.D. in economic sciences from Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburgh. He has been the dean of the School of Management at the University of Quebec in Montreal since 2013.
Pallage described the university of Luxembourg as “a jewel”, and one of the few places with such massive potential that it could attract him away from Montreal. He praised the fact that the university was ranked 11th among all universities in the world under 50 years old.
Pallage brushed aside talk of controversy regarding the university’s finances and the resignation, last spring, of his predecessor Rainer Klump. He said that 2017 had been a “balanced” year financially, and that team spirit at the university was positive. “Conditions are good to start my mandate.” He added that the vision by successive governments to invest in the university was a model for industrial nations.
Pallage said that the university had grown rapidly--it celebrates its 15th anniversary this year--and the main challenge he sees is to take it from successful start-up to a world class institution.