From now on, Kim can call herself Doctor Honoris Causa. "It's my first degree ever," Kim laughs. "And the standards is very high from the start already."
Along with four other women, Kim received an honorary doctorate at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels). Strikingly, the VUB presents its 2013 honorary doctorates to women only: ProfCecilia Jarlskog (Lund University, Sweden), Prof Londa Schiebinger (Stanford University, USA), ProfCarol Gilligan (New York University, USA), prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (International Criminal Court) and the Belgian tennis champion Kim Clijsters.
"These are five outstanding people, from the world of academia and one from the world sports. They have all reached the highest possible level in their field and as a woman," Rector Paul De Knop said. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel strives for a better balance between men and women in academia, and to that end has an active gender policy. "We're not only banking on it now, but also for the future. For future candidates for honorary degrees, we will aim for a balance between men and women," said De Knop.
"I'd never given it much thought," Kim says. "It was important for me to be playing tennis and to be as good as possible. The fact that I'm here because of a sporting career is truly a great honor."
Not only did Kim shine as an ace tennis player, according to the University she also become an inspiration to many women and to mothers who combine their career with their families. "I often felt guilty to be leaving for training session or to be traveling," Kim says. "It would all have been impossible if I would not have had the support of Brian."
With the honorary doctorate for Kim, "the appreciation is expressed about the role she fulfilled as an ambassador for her sport and for the way she combined a sports career with a family," said the VUB.
"These are five outstanding people, from the world of academia and one from the world sports. They have all reached the highest possible level in their field and as a woman," Rector Paul De Knop said. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel strives for a better balance between men and women in academia, and to that end has an active gender policy. "We're not only banking on it now, but also for the future. For future candidates for honorary degrees, we will aim for a balance between men and women," said De Knop.
"I'd never given it much thought," Kim says. "It was important for me to be playing tennis and to be as good as possible. The fact that I'm here because of a sporting career is truly a great honor."
Not only did Kim shine as an ace tennis player, according to the University she also become an inspiration to many women and to mothers who combine their career with their families. "I often felt guilty to be leaving for training session or to be traveling," Kim says. "It would all have been impossible if I would not have had the support of Brian."
With the honorary doctorate for Kim, "the appreciation is expressed about the role she fulfilled as an ambassador for her sport and for the way she combined a sports career with a family," said the VUB.
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