Resolution

Czech Rectors Conference (CRC) Plenum adopted at its 175th Meeting the following resolution:

1. CRC supports the request of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) for the increase in expenditure on educational activity for the sector of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 2025 by CZK 6 billion. At the same time, it recalls its appeal for the necessity of sustainable, pro-growth financing of HEIs in the long-term horizon, without which the adequate quality of tertiary education in the Czech Republic and its competitiveness cannot be ensured, especially in the context of the expected increase in the number of students.
2. CRC is ready to cooperate with the MEYS on adjustments to the financing system of public HEIs. However, their basis must be clearly formulated strategic priorities of the entire sector for the following period. As such priorities HEIs consider the quality of education, the fulfillment of social orders in specific areas, the increase in the success in graduation, the strengthening of the international dimension of education, science and research and technology transfer.
3. CRC positively perceives the proposal of the MEYS and the Office of the Minister of Science, Research and Innovation regarding the pro-growth budget of HEIs in the field of science. CRC appreciates the cooperation with minister Helena Langšádlová, with representatives of the Research, Development and Innovation Council, with the MEYS and with the Commission for the Evaluation of Research Organizations and Completed Programmes in updating the Methodology for Evaluating Research Organizations.
4. CRC supports the efforts of the MEYS and the Ministry of Health to strengthen non-medical health programs with a relevant financial support enabling an increase in the number of students.
5. CRC took note of the information from the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and law courts about the lack of forensic experts. CRC establishes a working group for the issue of expert activity.
6. CRC in connection with the draft Act on the Management and Control of Public Finances and the related amendment Act, repeatedly points out that public HEIs obtain a significant part of the funds in the form of public financial support, which is subject to a comprehensive public control by the providers, at the same time the providers themselves are subject to financial control and processes defined by the proposed Act. The general regulation, which is the subject of the draft Act, is primarily suitable for the state administration organizations. For these reasons, CRC asks the proposer of the draft, the Ministry of Finance, to exempt public HEIs from the draft Act.
7. CRC in connection with the adjustments of the General Conditions for Public Competitions of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, listed in the version 8, points out that some of the newly introduced changes increase the administrative burden on the solvers from HEIs and make it more difficult to draw selected cost items, and in some cases even limit their drawing. HEIs are also not aware of the reasons for these adjustments. CRC therefore asks the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic to discuss the adjustments to the project solution conditions in advance with the representations of HEIs.

Zlín, 18 April 2024