In the Great Hall of Charles University in Prague, a formal ceremony was held to appoint 87 new professors at Czech universities. The ceremony was attended by President Petr Pavel, Minister of Education Mikuláš Bek, and Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Petr Vančura. The event underscored the importance of education, science, research, and innovation for the future of the Czech Republic. In his speech, President Pavel emphasized that these areas must be priorities, supported by adequate resources and a systematic approach. "If there are dozens of priorities, then in reality, there are none," he stated.

President Petr Pavel presented 87 appointment decrees based on proposals from the scientific and artistic councils of the universities. "An educated society is a resilient society," he declared, praising the lifetime work of the new professors, who are strengthening the quality of Czech higher education and the country's competitiveness.

On the X platform, the President emphasized: "Education must be a priority for our country. An educated society is a resilient society. At Charles University, I presented appointment decrees to professors and lecturers who have dedicated their lives to science and knowledge."

Minister Mikuláš Bek highlighted the academic excellence of the professors and their responsibility for educating future generations. He pointed out the low proportion of university-educated people in the Czech Republic compared to developed countries and proposed expanding professionally oriented programs and cooperation with employers.

President Pavel drew attention to the chronic underfunding of universities, which hinders their international competitiveness and the recognition of academics.

"It is not enough to simply increase budgets; it is necessary to introduce a system for evaluating the quality of education so that resources are used effectively," he said. He appealed to educators to guide students towards lifelong learning and critical thinking, which he considers essential for the future.

The event took place in the context of emphasizing science and innovation. The new Law on Research, Development, Innovation, and Knowledge Transfer, enacted in December 2024, aims to streamline support for science. The budget for science in 2025 is 43.3 billion crowns, which is 8% more than last year, as stated by Minister Marek Ženíšek. These measures are intended to strengthen Czech scientific excellence.

MŠMT/Hrad.cz/Charles University/gnews.cz - GH