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Statement of the management of Charles University on the financing of universities and the national one-hour warning strike on 17 October 2023

The management of Charles University (CU) has long pointed to the unsatisfactory state of financing of Czech public higher education and stresses the need to actually implement the long-term society-wide prioritisation of education, research, development and innovation. If we want to build a knowledge-based economy in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to adopt a binding medium-term outlook for the growth of the ratio of expenditure on higher education to GDP to reach at least the OECD average, especially since the demographic growth recorded this year in secondary schools will be reflected in higher education institutions in a few years' time. Moreover, the proportion of the population in the Czech Republic that is educated at university is already among the lowest in the EU.

It is worth recalling that the volume of institutional public funding for higher education in relation to the GDP has fallen from 0.62% in 2009 to 0.45% in 2023. Despite this, universities fulfil their social role: they respond to the increasing demands on the educational process, they bring educated graduates in countless important fields to society, and cutting-edge science has the potential to contribute to the international competitiveness of the Czech Republic.

We therefore understand the reasons leading to the protest action planned for 17 October 2023. We need to better finance education in the Czech Republic so that we as a country will be able to provide quality education and be competitive in Europe and the world in the future. Of course, Charles University is also ready to work with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on a long-term strategy for the development of higher education, which must change dynamically in this time of dramatic technological change.

Despite the ongoing internal streamlining and the acquisition of external resources, with insufficient support from the state, there is and will be only a limited possibility in the future to prevent the outflow of both student, scientific and academic talent. That threatens the ability to build a knowledge-based economy and contribute to a better future for the Czech Republic.

On behalf of the CU management

Prof. Milena Králíčková, Rector of Charles University

For accuracy:

Mgr. Václav Hájek

Spokesperson of Charles University

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