News
Jiří Zima has taken up the position of Rector for a four‑year term. He was elected by the Academic Senate of Charles University on 31 October 2025. In the second round of the election, he defeated Milena Králíčková, who had led the university since February 2022. Rector Zima’s primary goal is to restore trust in the institutional functioning of the country’s largest and oldest university.
In October 2023, Charles University unveiled its new visual identity. In accordance with it, we are gradually updating logos, merchandise, online presentations, template files, and other output to ensure that the communication brand has a consistent presence both outside and inside the university. From this day on, both main CU websites also feature the new visual style.
In connection with the fire at the student dormitories in Prague's Břevnov district on the night of 29–30 January 2026, we are sharing information on psychological crisis support for those affected. A crisis psychological team from the CU Point is providing assistance on site. You can find them in the dormitory building in Block II/K18 in the meeting room.
On 22 January, Charles University awarded Professor Reinhard Bork, who supports research activities of academics at the Faculty of Law at Charles University, and Professor Jan Deprest, who collaborates with CU’s Third Faculty of Medicine.
How can research institutions remain open and collaborative while responding to growing security risks? What threats does research face today? And how can the agenda of research security be effectively implemented at both institutional and governmental levels? These questions were at the heart of an international conference hosted by Charles University at the historic building of Carolinum in Prague.
After four years in office as the first woman to lead Charles University, Milena Králíčková is stepping down as rector. “Being a rector is a service that involves seeking paths and connecting worlds. I'm sure we succeeded in some cases, but four years isn't enough time to do everything,” she says, looking back on her time in office.
Polish filmmaker and screenwriter Agnieszka Holland received the Charles IV Award, presented to her in January by Charles University and the City of Prague. On that occasion, she looked back on the late 1960s, which she spent in Prague as a student at FAMU.
President Petr Pavel appointed today the rectors of ten public universities at Prague Castle, including professor Jiří Zima. He will assume leadership of Charles University on 1 February and will serve until 2030. The Academic Senate of Charles University elected him to the position at the end of October last year. He will succeed the current rector, Milena Králíčková.
Her internationally acclaimed miniseries Burning Bush (2013) commemorated the period that followed shortly after Jan Palach, a student at CU’s Faculty of Arts, set himself on fire on Wenceslas Square on 16 January, 1969, to rouse the public from the resignation after the August 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia. On the eve of the 57th anniversary of Palach’s act, Polish director and screenwriter Agnieszka Holland received the Charles IV Prize, jointly awarded by Charles University and the City of Prague.
“The biggest benefit of MathPhys collaborating with IT companies is the sharing and connecting of different experiences and perspectives,” agree Ondřej Václavek, who, together with colleagues from the company HAVIT, teaches a seminar on cloud technologies at CU MATHPHYS, and Filip Zavoral, the faculty coordinator for this course, which bridges academia and the corporate world.
Paedagogium, Charles University’s platform dedicated to developing pedagogical competencies and supporting the professional growth of academic staff, held its third conference on December 5, 2025 at the Charles University Karolinum.
The ERC Scientific Council has elected six new members, including Kateřina Králová from the Faculty of Social Sciences - congratulations! This is the first time Charles University is represented on the ERC Scientific Council. The Council serves as the governing body that establishes the funding strategy for this leading European program dedicated to supporting frontier research. Previously, Czech scientists who have served on the ERC Scientific Council include Alice Valkárová, Tomáš Jungwirth, and Pavel Exner.
On Wednesday, November 19, the National Information Day on ERC Grants took place at the Carolinum. Its aim was to present the mission of the European Research Council (ERC), which organizes the most prestigious European individual grant competitions to support top-level research.
On Tuesday December 2, Charles University awarded the academic title of doctor honoris causa to two prominent figures in global medicine: cardiologist Professor Béla Péter Merkely and virologist Professor Marc Van Ranst.
Charles University once again played an active role at CEEDUCON, one of the most significant international conferences dedicated to internationaliation of higher education. Dozens of representatives from both the Rectorate and CU faculties attended, and a total of six Charles University speakers contributed speeches on some of the most current topics in the field.