Resolution

Czech Rectors Conference (CRC) Plenum adopted at its 169th Meeting, CRC Annual Assembly, the following resolution:

1. CRC is deeply concerned about the current funding of higher education in the Czech Republic. Higher education in the Czech Republic, which is a strategic sector for research, a key partner for future economic development and for the building of an educated society, is suffering from a factual decline in funding, which does not meet the Programme Declaration of the Government of the Czech Republic. The part of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the financial chapter of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has gradually decreased from 18 % in 2010 to 12 % in 2021. As a result of other negative phenomena, such as high inflation and energy prices, as well as rising salaries in regional education, the academic environment is no longer competitive, which leads to a real brain drain from the HEIs environment in the Czech Republic. Another alarming phenomenon that cannot be ignored is the significantly lower share of spending on higher education relative to GDP compared to other OECD countries. The rising demographic curve is also placing greater demands on the higher education sector. We therefore ask the Government of the Czech Republic to reverse this negative trend.
2. CRC has adopted a statement on a safe environment at HEIs in the Czech Republic (see attachment).
3. Regarding the priorities of the National Recovery Plan and the Programme Statement of the Government of the Czech Republic, CRC emphasizes the importance of professional study programmes for the development of the society. CRC will continue to pursue the conditions for their implementation.
4. CRC supports the position of the Assembly of the Higher Education Institutions Council from 9 February 2023 on the proposed changes to the Labour Code concerning agreements on work performed outside the employment relationship and home-based work of university teachers.
5. In the CRC by-elections, the Rector of the University of Economics in Prague, Assoc. Prof. Petr Dvořák, was elected to fill the vacant position of the CRC Vice-President for Economic and Social Affairs for the term of office from 1 March to 31 July 2023.

Prague, 17 February 2023

On behalf of the Czech Rectors Conference

Prof. Martin Bareš
President

Attachment:

Statement of the Czech Rectors Conference on a safe environment at Higher Education Institutions in the Czech Republic

Rectors of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Czech Republic, members of the Czech Rectors Conference (CRC), express their concern over recently publicized information regarding the inappropriate behaviour of several teachers at Czech HEIs.

CRC condemns discriminatory patterns of behaviour and appeals to all parts of HEIs to ensure that such problematic behaviour is not tolerated or condoned on their grounds. HEIs in the Czech Republic must be safe, friendly and fair environments, and CRC considers it essential that individual HEIs and their units have functional procedures in place that can quickly identify and effectively address such conduct.

CRC appeals to the academic community in the Czech Republic to approach the issue of inappropriate behaviour responsibly and with full seriousness, and to work together to change the culture of behaviour and communication wherever inappropriate stereotypes of behaviour persist.

Prague, 17 February 2023

On behalf of the Czech Rectors Conference

Prof. Martin Bareš
President