About
Dirk Smits is Director of Research and Internationalization at Odisee University of Applied Sciences (Campus Brussel). He holds a Dr. in psychological sciences and has prior affiliations with KU Leuven, EHSAL, HUB, and HUB-KAHO. His primary role involves overseeing research strategy and international collaborations while maintaining active clinical psychology research at KU Leuven. Smits is affiliated with multiple research groups including Healthcare Research, Business Studies, (Bio)Technology, and Education. He also serves on the Academic Council and Research Management Service (DOP).
His research focuses on psychometrics, personality disorders, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and emotional regulation. Key contributions include validating screening tools for personality functioning and assessing clinical behaviors in diverse populations. He collaborates across disciplines, addressing methodological challenges in healthcare imaging and radiology quality standards.
Smits' work bridges clinical practice and academia, with publications emphasizing empirical validation of assessment tools and behavioral mechanisms. His involvement in committees reflects a commitment to institutional governance and evidence-based practice in education and healthcare.
