Discussion of the CRC President and the SRC President. Prague, Zvolen, 27 April 2020.

On Monday 27 April 2020, a discussion took place between the Czech Rectors Conference President, Petr Sklenička, and the Slovak Rectors Conference President, Rudolf Kropil. The main topic of the discussion was the further release of the regime for students and teachers from the Czech and Slovak Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who study or work in the territory of another state.

“The foreign students issue is apparently the most sensitive part of the release of the HEIs limited functioning. Both countries are very well at managing the existing fight with the pandemic and therefore we think, that it is logical to release prioritly opportunities between our two countries to continue to study or teach and work on the research projects”, said Rector Sklenička.

Approximately 45,000 students from other countries study at HEIs in the Czech Republic, of which about 21,000 are from Slovakia, which is approximately 8.5% of the total number of HEIs students. On the other hand, about 6,000 students from the Czech Republic study in Slovakia, which represents 4% of all HEIs students in Slovakia.

“Proximity of our two countries and the opportunity to study in the other country in the mother tongue is logically expressed by the high number of Slovak students at Czech HEIs and Czech students at Slovak HEIs. It is in the interest of both countries to release the border regime and thus enable the completion of the semester, the passing of entrance examinations or state final examinations. Of course, in compliance with the conditions of the limited regime defined by both states at HEIs and in the country”, added Rector Kropil.

Presidents of both Rectors Conferences agreed that they preferred a regime that would not mean compulsory quarantine for students and teachers upon arrival in another country or upon returning home. They also prefer the release of the cross-border regime for students and teachers to be one of the first step in opening borders after an emergency. Both Rectors will propose the discussed measures to the Ministers of Education in both countries.

Press release author:

Ing. Karla Mráčková
Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague spokesperson