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Changes in Czech University Environment- Exchange Programs Helping the Reforms. Hana Ripkova J. William Fulbright Commission in the Czech Republic. Czech Institutions of Tertiary Education. 23 public universities 2 state institutions of higher education
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Changes in Czech University Environment- Exchange Programs Helping the Reforms Hana Ripkova J. William Fulbright Commission in the Czech Republic
Czech Institutions of Tertiary Education 23 public universities 2 state institutions of higher education 39 private institutions of higher education 168 post-secondary professional schools
Which changes occurred due to international influence? • Structuring of the programs (Bologna Declaration influence) but specialization still remains even at the undergraduate level • Diversification of the system needed but is not yet satisfactory (post-secondary professional schools do not “fit” into the system)- attempts to change their status • The numbers of students have been growing (but not as quickly as the demand) • Private universities have been founded but the total number of their students is less than 5%
Continuing Challenges • A Czech University is not one system (problems with inter-disciplinary work, credit transfer, alumni activities) • Accreditation system based on outside evaluation of quantitative data (mainly degrees of teachers) • Teaching career and evaluation (no association as AAUP)
Problems Observed by American Fulbrighters • New methods of teaching? • Students less used to active participation and open discussion • Large number of contact hours with students and less independent work of students • Limited access to literature, lack of well equipped libraries and internet access to e-journals and databases • “Provincial” character of many universities, few foreign teachers and few Czechs with international experience
Fulbright Program in the Czech Republic • American Fulbrighters hosted by all Czech public universities • Czech grantees (from diverse fields) mostly return to academia • New system of funding of research has been proposed by a Fulbright alumnus (vice-minister for human resources) based on his US experience