OECD – National Conference

OECD – National Conference

Prague, 29 November 2006Prof. Petr Sáha

Remarks of the Czech Rectors’ Conference

on the Country Note

I would like to express my gratitude to Jon File,Thomas Weko, Arthur Hauptman, BenteKristensen and Sabine Herlitschka for thisvaluable and detailed analysis of the Czechtertiary education.

Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

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.).


Research and Development Prioritiesof 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.


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.


Report’s Remarks:

38) Regional Development

Prague, 29 November 2006

Praha- 9 universities- 99,312 students

České Budějovice- 1 university- 1 HEI- 9,551 students

Plzeň- 1 university- 16,188 students

Ústí nad Labem- 1 university- 8,085 students

Liberec- 1 university- 7,655 students

Hradec Králové- 1 university- 7,004 students

Pardubice- 1 university- 7,797 students

Jihlava- 1 HEI- 1,092 students

Brno- 6 universities- 66,013 students

Ostrava- 2 universities- 28,540 students

Zlín- 1 university- 9,780 students

Olomouc- 1 university- 17,242 students

Opava- 1 university- 5,371 students

•

Karlovy Vary

13 university cities 28 public and state universities139 faculties

OECD – National Conference


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.



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.


Chapter four


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.

Definition of problems:

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.

Chapter four


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?

Recommendations:

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.


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.


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

Chapter eight


Web of Science (1 January 2001 - 25 October 2006)


(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 43,9 %

Slovenia 1,7 2,5 44,6 %

Web of Science

Chapter eight



(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 %

Web of Science (1 January 2001 - 25 October 2006)

Chapter eight


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.


Universities searching for talented international students

In total: 16 out of 26 universities

Charles University in PragueCzech Technical University in PragueVŠB - Technical University of OstravaBrno University of TechnologyUniversity of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences BrnoMasaryk UniversityMendel University of Agriculture and Forestry BrnoThe Academy of Performing Arts in PragueJanáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in BrnoUniversity of PardubiceInstitute of Chemical Technology, PragueUniversity of Economics, PragueUniversity of Hradec KrálovéUniversity of South BohemiaUniversity of West Bohemia in PilsenTomas Bata University in Zlín


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.


Documents

OECD – National Conference