Resolution

Czech Rectors Conference (CRC) Plenum adopted at its 162nd Meeting the following resolution:

1. CRC states that after the start of full-time teaching at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), there was no increase in the number of infected students and HEIs did not become a source of infection. CRC continues to support the vaccination of students and HEIs staff. Vaccination is an effective tool for maintaining full-time teaching, for the possibility of restoring student mobility and for the return of society to normal life.
2. CRC supports the activities of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports leading to the amendment of the Higher Education Act, the aim of which is to make the educational process and strategic management of HEIs more effective.
3. CRC welcomes the trend of a gradual increase in institutional funding for educational and scientific research activities in the tertiary sector. During the pandemic, HEIs have proven that they are a strategic infrastructure of the state and that compliance with the Czech Republic Government's commitment to increase institutional funding for higher education is essential to strengthen their international competitiveness.
4. CRC calls the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Finance to discuss legislative and economic problems in construction that have currently arisen for public HEIs as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic and which significantly complicate buildings under construction in public contracts.
5. CRC acknowledges the report on the activities of the CRC Working Group for Cooperation with the Commission for Evaluation of Research Organizations and Completed Programs and recommends further discussion on the formulated conclusions.
6. CRC points out the fact that the full-time form of nostrification exams conducted by secondary schools does not allow applicants for bachelor's and master's degree programs at HEIs without institutional accreditation to take these exams if they stay abroad and cannot come to the Czech Republic due to current visa practice of the Czech Republic. CRC urges the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to resolve this situation.

Mladá Boleslav, 8 October 2021