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Thematic review of Tertiary Education

Czech Republic Country Note

Remarks of the Council of Higher Education Institutions

Jan Bednář

Vice-chairman of Council of Higher Education Institutions,

Charles University in Prague

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Chapter 1 – Introduction

• common agreement with proposed purposes, methodology and definitions

• no disagreement remarks

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Chapter 2 – The context and background of tertiary education policy in the Czech Republic

This chapter may be thought as quite truthful description of the years after collapse of communist regime at the Czech higher education institutions.

Main points for attention:• financing• role of students in educational process• research and innovation• quality assurance.

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Chapter 3 – System structure and institutional landscape

• Common agreement with content and conclusions

• Appreciation for emphasis on actual problems with diversification of higher education institutions (Recommendation to create „University Colleges of Profession Studies“ is stimulus for future.)

• Very good understanding of our problems with acceptation of bachelor degree in society.

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Chapter 4 – System and institutional governance

Good understanding of problems of mentioned system is indicated.

Special problems:

• needs of better and more effective collaboration with private sector,

• needs of wider role of external stakeholders,

• difficulties in communication inside universities,

• relatively weak contacts with common needs of the Czech society

Recommendation “internal governance structures may be most effective if they vary from institution to institution within a common general framework“ and “professionalisation of university administrations and managering“ is stimulus for future

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Chapter 5 – Resourcing of tertiary education

Very important chapter:

• Insufficient funding of higher education institutions from public and private sources is clearly documented here.

• Recommendations and other commentaries in connection with updating of institutional funding mechanism are adequate.

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Chapter 6 – Access and Equity

• Demands of financial and social support systems for students are crucial problem.

• Very problematic boundary 26 age for students exists in the Czech Republic in connection with paying of health and social assurance.

• Presented conclusions correspond to the strengths and weaknesses of the Czech tertiary education system concerning access and equity.

Recommendation “better coordination between secondary and tertiary education, creation of National Scholarship Programme and others” is stimulus for future.

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Chapter 7 – Labour markets and tertiary education in the Czech Republic

It is possible to commonly agree with presented conclusions concerning the strengths and weaknesses of our tertiary

education system towards labour market,

but

the Czech position is very complex and specific so that all economic environment is now in the process of deep

qualitative changes.

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Chapter 8 – Research and Innovation

This chapter may be accepted as adequate analysis with remarkable challenges and recommendations.

Most important points:

• necessity of strengthening of public research funding system,

• operational system of project funding environment in national and international way,

• improving of innovation and knowledge transfer systems

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Chapter 9 – Quality assurance and quality enhancement

Common agreement with:

•The description of the role of Acreditation Commission.

•Requirement to strength the role of external assessment.

Description of the strengths and weaknesses is commonly adequate.

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Chapter 10 – The international dimension

It is without doubt that intensification of international contacts is crucial topic for perspectives of the Czech higher education system.

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Thank you for your attention