Resolution

Czech Rectors Conference (CRC) Plenum adopted at its 134th Meeting, CRC Annual Assembly, following resolution:

1. CRC is very disappointed with the current state of budget for public higher education institutions in the education part since the decline in the budget chapter will, above all, lead to a continuing decrease in remuneration of academics and other employees of higher education institutions, which poses a threat to some fields.
2. CRC appreciates and supports the initiative of the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mrs. K. Valachova, to achieve an 18% share of the chapter for higher education institutions within the budget of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and to stabilize or possibly increase this share.
3. CRC welcomes that the amendment to the Higher Education Act has been passed by the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The approved parliamentary amendment defining authority of higher education institutions and faculties in the area of labour relations (§ 24) is however considered by CRC as inappropriate, for endangering the functioning of higher education institutions.
4. CRC insists on strict adherence to the Act No. 130/2002 Coll. due to the fact that chronic problems persist in the area of research and development evaluation in the Czech Republic and the current situation shows no signs of improvement. CRC asks the Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Mr P. Bělobrádek, for prompt adoption of appropriate measures to ensure smooth and timely evaluation process of research, development and innovation in compliance with the legal standards.
5. CRC asks the Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Mr. P. Bělobrádek, to discuss immediately with the representatives of the European Commission and the Czech Government, a unified binding definition and application of the concept of “public aid”, particularly in the context of its use within operational programmes.
6. CRC notes that higher education institutions are prepared to meet the social demand for increase in the number of applicants accepted into the bachelor degree “General Nurse”, and already for the academic year 2016/2017, assuming a directed increase in funding beyond the budget chapter for higher education institutions.
7. CRC supports the statement on draft amendment to the Act No. 96/2004 Coll. expressed by the Association of higher education institutions in paramedical professions.
8. CRC supports only such changes to the act on Czech Television and Czech Radio that will enable the Czech Television Council and the Czech Radio Council, which should be public authorities for overseeing the mission fulfillment of public service media, to be appointed from among the representatives of relevant scientific, social and professional organizations.

Brno, 18 February 2016