Remarks of the Czech Rectors’ Conference on the Country Note OECD – National Conference Remarks of the Czech Rectors’ Conference on the Country Note Prof. Petr Sáha Prague, 29 November 2006

I would like to express my gratitude to Jon File, Thomas Weko, Arthur Hauptman, Bente Kristensen and Sabine Herlitschka for this valuable and detailed analysis of the Czech tertiary education. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Educational Priorities of the Czech Rectors’ Conference • Increase educational capacities in lifelong learning and doctoral study programmes. • Improve conditions for talented international students. • Evaluate quality (personnel structure, unemployment of graduates, etc.). OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Research and Development Priorities of the Czech Rectors’ Conference • Increase quality of research activities. • Promote birth and development of top-ranking research centres. • Reduce number of financial resources for research and development. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Report’s Remarks: Chapters two and three 31) Students Access and Equity: • Problem definition: Limitation for social services benefits to students who are between the ages of 18 and 26. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

38) Regional Development 13 university cities 28 public and state universities 139 faculties Ústí nad Labem - 1 university 8,085 students Liberec - 1 university 7,655 students Hradec Králové - 1 university 7,004 students Karlovy Vary Praha - 9 universities 99,312 students Pardubice - 1 university 7,797 students Plzeň - 1 university 16,188 students Opava - 1 university 5,371 students • Ostrava - 2 universities 28,540 students Olomouc - 1 university 17,242 students Jihlava - 1 HEI - 1,092 students České Budějovice - 1 university - 1 HEI 9,551 students Brno - 6 universities 66,013 students Zlín - 1 university 9,780 students OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

51) Achievements in Diversifying the System: Chapters two and three 51) Achievements in Diversifying the System: • Universities offer both academic and professional programmes; many professional programmes change to academic programmes step by step. • 3.5-year study programmes mean difficulties with unemployability of graduates. • The proposed regulation between bachelors and masters in 2:1 ratio does not fit in with the demands of applicants. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

61) Policy Options for Increasing Diversity: Chapters two and three 61) Policy Options for Increasing Diversity: • Creating new public non-university HEIs from scratch and increasing capacities of existing universities. In 2006/7 universities increased the capacities by about 20 thousand students without any difficulties. The rate of expansion can continue. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Definition of problems: Chapter four Definition of problems: 81) The country has a robust system of academic self-governance. 82) Extensive institutional and faculty autonomy. 83) Very low role of external stakeholders – Board of Trustees. 84) Negative consequences of the governance system. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

85) • Low authorities of Rectors and Deans. Chapter four 85) • Low authorities of Rectors and Deans. • High level of faculty autonomy and strategic decisions. • Difficulties in setting research priorities. • Problematic role of students in decision-making- elections. • Underdeveloped internal management systems. 86) Cumbersome institutional steering. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

87) Reform higher education governance system. Chapter four Recommendations: 87) Reform higher education governance system. 88) Improve steering possibilities of the Ministry. 89) • Transfer the role of the Board of Trustees in strategic decisions. • Reform the Council of HEIs. 90) Increase the Rectors’ and Deans’ authorities. 91) Specify of a new role of students in decision-making. QUESTION: Who will realize these recommendations? OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Labour Markets and Tertiary Education in the Czech Republic: Chapter seven Labour Markets and Tertiary Education in the Czech Republic: Burning issues in the Czech Republic: • Employability of graduates. • Low number of applicants and graduates from technical programmes. • Low number of international Ph.D. students. • Low number of International academic staff. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Chapter eight Universities are strongly oriented to basic research with very good dynamics of growth. Universities are very weak in applied research, development, innovation and cooperation with private sector. This should be improved very soon. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Number of publications Average on 1 000 inhabitants Chapter eight Web of Science (1 January 2001 - 25 October 2006) Country Population (in mil.) Number of publications (in thousands) Average on 1 000 inhabitants Czech Republic 10,3 36,3 3,54 Austria 8,2 60,6 7,40 Poland 38,6 83,6 2,16 Slovenia 2,0 11,8 5,96 OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Number of publications Chapter eight Web of Science Number of publications (in thousands) 2001 2005 Growth Czech Republic 5,3 7,6 43,9 % Austria 9,6 12,2 27,7 % Poland 11,8 17,0 Slovenia 1,7 2,5 44,6 % OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Number of publications Chapter eight Web of Science (1 January 2001 - 25 October 2006) Number of publications (in thousands) In whole country In capital city Capital city share Czech Republic 36,3 23,8 65,6 % Austria 60,6 35,6 58,8 % Poland 83,6 24,7 29,5 % Slovenia 11,8 10,1 85,2 % OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

264) The International Dimension: Chapter ten 264) The International Dimension: The majority of universities have no strategy for attracting foreign students. Today, 16 universities offer Ph.D. study programmes in English for international students. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Universities searching for talented international students In total: 16 out of 26 universities Charles University in Prague Czech Technical University in Prague VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava Brno University of Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Masaryk University Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno University of Pardubice Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague University of Economics, Prague University of Hradec Králové University of South Bohemia University of West Bohemia in Pilsen Tomas Bata University in Zlín OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006

Many thanks to the OECD Review team for excellent report. Conclusion Many thanks to the OECD Review team for excellent report. The Czech Rectors’ Conference will use this report as the basic material for its strategic decisions. OECD – National Conference Prague, 29 November 2006