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

2. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

3. 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.). Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

4. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

5. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference Report’s Remarks:

6. 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 universities 139 faculties OECD – National Conference

7. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

8. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

9. Chapter four Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference 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:

10. Chapter four Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference 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.

11. Chapter four Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference 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:

12. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

13. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

14. CountryPopulation (in mil.) Number of publications (in thousands) Average on 1 000 inhabitants Czech Republic10,336,33,54 Austria 8,260,67,40 Poland38,683,62,16 Slovenia 2,011,85,96 Chapter eight Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference Web of Science (1 January 2001 - 25 October 2006)

15. Number of publications (in thousands) 20012005Growth Czech Republic 5,3 7,643,9 % Austria 9,612,227,7 % Poland11,817,043,9 % Slovenia 1,7 2,544,6 % Web of Science Chapter eight Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

16. Number of publications (in thousands) In whole countryIn capital cityCapital city share Czech Republic36,323,865,6 % Austria60,635,658,8 % Poland83,624,729,5 % Slovenia11,810,185,2 % Web of Science (1 January 2001 - 25 October 2006) Chapter eight Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

17. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

18. 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 Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference

19. 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. Prague, 29 November 2006OECD – National Conference