The Flemish government co-finances student facilities at university colleges and universities, whose purpose is to safeguard the democratic character of higher education by taking student support and social rebalancing measures relating to peripheral studying conditions. Thus the student facilities are not active in education policy, but are involved in student restaurants, student accommodation, the provision of medical services, psychotherapeutic services, psychosocial counselling, employment services and childcare, the promotion of student mobility and so on.

The institutions themselves provide tutors and counsellors, career advisers and an ombudsman’s service. There is a study and student support service at every higher education institution for all aspects of support. Moreover, the institutions often organise study guidance services which can be contact for programme-specific assistance.

The higher education institutions organise various activities and useful tools in the area of career guidance:

• graduation fairs/job information fairs;
• links on institution websites to useful job sites;
• job application training courses;
• contacts with the business world via guest speakers and company visits;
• briefings on specific topics to do with the labour market, such as job applications, working in specific sectors, etc.;
• vacancy databases.

The institutions are required to report on their policy on choice and tuition in their annual report.