Resolution

Czech Rectors Conference (CRC) Plenum adopted at its 156th Meeting the following resolution:

1. CRC greatly appreciates the approach of HEIs, which played a significant role during the period of an extremely difficult situation associated with the coronavirus epidemic. CRC appreciates especially the students’ involvement in volunteering and the provision of research facilities of universities that have demonstrated flexibility, innovation ability and readiness to engage fully in solving societal problems. HEIs have made a significant contribution to managing the crisis in the Czech Republic.
2. Czech Republic HEIs managed the period of disrupted teaching at a high level and gained further positive experience with online teaching, which proved to be a possible complementary method to traditional teaching forms. CRC recommends developing a discussion with the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on the manner and conditions for wider use of online teaching in combined and full-time study.
3. CRC asks relevant authorities of the Czech Republic to reorganize the process of accepting and processing visas to make the beginning of the study at the Czech Republic HEIs for students and applicants from countries with a visa requirement possible still in the winter semester of the 2020/2021 academic year. For example by allowing foreign students to apply on a residence permit for the purpose of studying in the Czech Republic to the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior during a study stay in the Czech Republic on a short-term visa.
4. CRC asks the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to obtain the approval of the Ministry of Health to ease the restrictive measures in the field of higher education; for example, to increase the number of people who may be present in one room if hygiene rules are observed.
5. CRC appeals to the Government of the Czech Republic to keep its commitment to increase funding for higher education, which has proven to be a strategic infrastructure of the state. Investment in human capital should be logically an unquestionable government priority in the period of overcoming consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. CRC supports the effort of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to increase the budget of HEIs of the Czech Republic for 2021.

Brno, 18 June 2020