Resolution

The Plenum of the Czech Rectors Conference (CRC) adopted at its 123rd Meeting the following resolution:

1. CRC repeatedly categorically appeals to the observance of due process in the Professors appointments and calls on the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports to act immediately in accordance with the Higher Education Act.
2. CRC notes with regret that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports submitted a document “The principles of the system of higher education, research, development and innovation management in the Czech Republic”, which is crucial for higher education, to the Government of the Czech Republic without the mandatory discussion with both representations of higher education institutions, as required by the Higher Education Act.
3. CRC fundamentally disagrees with the fact that despite some partial improvements in the administration of projects financed from European funds, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports still in many cases puts conditions and outlines rules that are in excess of applicable laws, are buck-passing and practically impossible to meet.
4. CRC calls on the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to prepare a proposal for a legislative solution to the issue of often very poor-quality study programmes and fields of study offered by foreign higher education institutions placed in the Czech Republic. CRC is ready to cooperate in this matter.
5. CRC finds holding the position of a deputy of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and, simultaneously, the position of a rector or a dean to be incompatible, especially due to the time demands.
6. CRC repeatedly demands that the so-called Consolidation ordinance not be applied to public higher education institutions and the current state of data collection at these institutions be preserved. It would mean a significant increase in both the costs and the administrative burden of public higher education institutions.
7. CRC disagrees with the draft document “Methodology of Evaluation of Research Organizations and Evaluation of Finished Programmes (valid for years 2014–2016)” presented to the Research, Development and Innovation Council by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
8. CRC supports the establishment of the National Centre for Support of Information Infrastructure of Research and Development, Education and Public Information Services.

Prague, 5 December 2013