The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will confer an honorary doctorate on J.M. Coetzee, South African–Australian writer and Nobel Prize laureate, during a ceremony at La Monnaie in Brussels on 13 October 2025.
Coetzee, born in Cape Town in 1940, is one of the most influential authors of contemporary literature. His novels Life and Times of Michael K and Disgrace each won the Booker Prize, while his wide-ranging works have addressed themes such as apartheid, censorship, identity, and the ethical responsibilities of literature. In 2003, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
This will be Coetzee’s first honorary doctorate from a Dutch-speaking university, highlighting VUB’s recognition of his role in promoting linguistic diversity, translation, and critical engagement with global power structures. The event will also mark the opening of VUB’s new Pauwels Academy of Critical Thinking (PACT) season, which fosters dialogue on critical thought and social progress.
Source: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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