The IMFSE programme is:
a 2-year full-time educational Master programme
set up in the Erasmus+ framework
offering an internationally recognized joint master degree
commonly organized by 8 universities
“By providing our students a world-leading educational experience with advanced knowledge, skills and competences, the IMFSE programme shapes the next generation of fire safety engineering experts capable of tackling the global fire safety challenges in the built environment and beyond.”
News
JUNE 2024 In memoriam ir. Xavier Deckers
The IMFSE Management Board Members are very sad to share the news of the passing away of Xavier Deckers on 17th June 2024.
A former Ghent University student (first Electro-Mechanical Engineering and then Fire Safety Engineering), Xavier joined the research team of Prof. Bart Merci in 2007. In 2009 he created FESG (Fire Engineered Solutions Ghent) as spin-off of Ghent University. Through the combination of Xavier’s enthusiasm and competency, he managed to grow FESG into an internationally successful and renowned consultancy company. He was very proud on the realization of making FESG become part of Jensen Hughes.
Xavier Deckers has always been exceptionally supportive of the IMFSE program in words and in deeds. FESG has been member of the IMFSE Sponsorship Consortium from the start, but Xavier was personally always very active, as member of the Industry Advisory Board as well as through supervision and assessment of master’s dissertations, internships and project assignments. Many IMFSE alumni found their way to FESG (now Jensen Hughes Belgium) through Xavier.
Xavier Deckers will never be forgotten and IMFSE will remain grateful forever. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
MAY 2024 Celebration day 2024 - 20 june 2024
On June 20th 2024, the IMFSE (International Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering) Management Board organizes the Celebration Day for the student cohort 2022-2024. This will be held at Campus Aula, Voldersstraat 9, 9000 Gent (Belgium).
The registration form and more information can be found here: https://congrezzo.ugent.be/celebration-ceremony-imfse-class-of-2024/tw14-event-registratie
FEBRUARY 2024 New IMFSE contributor: FSRI
Recently IMFSE welcomed FSRI as one of the IMFSE contributing companies.
UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we impart stakeholders with the information, tools and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property.
NOVEMBER 2023 IMFSE Virtual Tour 11 December 2023
IMFSE is setting up a Virtual Tour for everyone interested to find out more about the programme! This tour will take place on Monday 11 December 2023, at 14:00 CET (until 15:15 CET). It's a great way to get to know the IMFSE programme and the different universities involved, as well as meet the IMFSE staff and ask questions on the spot. And everything just by sitting in front of your computer, really easy!
Click on the link to join the meeting: https://bit.ly/VirtualTour-11December2023
This meeting will be recorded. If you join the meeting, you will agree to this.
Hope you will be joining us then!
August 2023 IMFSE AWARD WINNING ALUMNI - SFPE FOUNDATION
The IMFSE is proud to share some news on our award winning alumni:
Silvia Arias (Lund University) graduated in 2013 and is one of the recipients of the Jack Bono Award for Engineering Communication. The recipients received their award for their article “A Study on Evacuation Behavior in Physical and Virtual Reality Experiments.” Endowed by UL Research Institutes, this award recognizes author(s) who have most contributed to the advancement and application of professional fire protection engineering in the prior year.
Pascale Vacca graduated in 2017 and was awarded a 2023 Student Scholar Award. This award aims to recognize outstanding undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate students performing research to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering worldwide.
August 2023 IMFSE Program Director Bart Merci receives the Arthur B. Guise Medal
The IMFSE is proud to share that IMFSE Program Director Prof Bart Merci (Ghent University) has been awarded the Arthur B. Guise Medal! According to the SFPE Foundation website it 'represents its most prestigious research award'. Prof Merci receives the Medal as recognition for the research on CFD in fire safety science and engineering, as well as for his leadership in the IMFSE program.
JUly 2023 Rita Fahy - October 4, 1955 ~ July 12, 2023
The IMFSE family shares condolences on the loss of Dr Rita Fahy. Rita has been involved in the IMFSE programme as visiting scholar since its beginning. Rita spent her career working at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and was a renowned world expert on evacuation and human behaviour in fire, being considered a leader in the community. Her main fields of expertise included fire statistics, the panic misconception, design of behavioural scenarios, evacuation simulations and analysis of fires through behavioural theories. Her lectures in the IMFSE Human Behaviour in Fire course at Lund University have always been appreciated by students and colleagues. She had a key role in developing the human behaviour in fire course at Lund University and acted as a generous and knowledgeable mentor for younger colleagues and students. Rita has played an important role for IMFSE as educator, also bringing her vast knowledge on NFPA and ISO codes related to evacuation design. Most importantly, her genuine passion for fire safety was a source of inspiration for the whole IMFSE community and contributed to shape several generations of fire safety engineers.
The IMFSE directors, administrators, teachers and students will all miss Rita.
JUNE 2023 New IMFSE contributor: Danfoss
Recently IMFSE welcomed Danfoss as one of the IMFSE contributing companies. Danfoss Fire Safety A/S is part of the Danfoss Group and is located in Odense, Denmark.
They are a global leader in the sale, development, production and service/commissioning of certified fixed fire fighting systems under the brand name SEM-SAFE®. Their fire fighting systems are based on two key technologies: high-pressure water mist and low-pressure CO2. Their mission is to develop, produce, sell and service cost-effective fire protection components and systems which offer the highest possible safety for human beings and reduces the damage to properties and other assets to an absolute minimum.
FEBRUARY 2023 Dr. Xiepeng Sun received the IAFSS Best Thesis Award – Region Asia Pacific
Xiepeng Sun performed his PhD research on ‘Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Ejected Facade Flame Behavior from Compartment Fires under Different Ventilation Conditions’ under the joint supervision of Prof Longhua Hu (USTC) and Prof Bart Merci (Ghent University) and obtained a joint PhD degree from both institutes. The quality of the work was recognized by IAFSS (the International Association for Fire Safety Science), granting dr. Sun the prestigious 3-yearly Best Thesis Award (Region Asia Pacific). USTC is an associated partner institute of the IMFSE program, coordinated by Ghent University.
FEBRUARY 2023 ADDITIONAL FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EUROPEAN STUDENTS AVAILABLE
The International Master in Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE) will have additional full scholarships available for European students!
Deadline: submit your application before the 1st of April 2023.
As a European student, applying for admission into IMFSE before the deadline is applying for this kind of scholarship as well, there is no separate procedure.
FEBRUARY 2023 NEw ADDRESS IMFSE secretariat
After more than 10 years, we are leaving the city center of Ghent on 15 February 2023 and are moving more southwards. So from 16 February onwards, you will find the IMFSE secretariat at the Tech Lane Ghent Science Park (in Zwijnaarde).
Our new address will be:
International Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE)
Tech Lane Ghent Science Park
Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 60
B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Video Tech Lane Ghent Science Park
FEBRUARY 2023 Throwback to our Celebration of 10 Years of the IMFSE
Last year, on 28 June 2022, we had our Celebration of 10 years of the International Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering. During this event we looked back on the past years, with several interesting and inspiring speeches by our lecturers, alumni and contributors, accompanied by musical intermezzos. This event was a true trip down memory lane!
Enjoy our aftermovie and the interviews. We are extremely proud of everything that has been achieved over the last decade and we are thankful for our beautiful IMFSE family!
Aftermovie: https://vimeo.com/761399499
Interviews: https://vimeo.com/741553036
David A. Lucht Lamp of Knowledge Award
The IMFSE team is very proud to have been awarded the SFPE 2018 'David A. Lucht Lamp of Knowledge Award'. This award honors an organization, company or individual that has contributed substantially to increasing the opportunities for higher education in fire protection engineering.