Activists disrupted the Open Day at CEVRO University. They protested against the school's sponsors

PRAGUE - The atmosphere of the Open Doors Day at the private CEVRO University in central Prague was disrupted on Wednesday evening by a protest by several dozen young activists. They came to express their disapproval of the financial support of the school from businessmen Pavel Tykač and René Holeček. They described the event as a protest against the "coal and arms lobby".

According to witnesses, a group of demonstrators entered the atrium of the school on Jungmannova Street, where they hung banners and chanted slogans such as "For free universities without the arms and coal lobbies" and "Don't go study political science paid for by political mafiosi." They also handed out leaflets to prospective students criticising the school's financial background.

The reaction of the school administration was immediate. According to Radek Ježdík, marketing director of CEVRO University, this was an organized action by leftist activists. "We had an open day that was infiltrated by activists. They put up banners, chanted slogans and disrupted the event. We asked them to leave. When they disobeyed, we called the police," Ježdík told ČTK. The demonstrators subsequently left the school grounds at the call of the police.

The main sponsors of the university - businessmen Pavel Tykač and René Holeček - were the target of criticism. Tykač controls the Sev.en group, which operates in the mining, energy and commodities sectors. Holeček is the majority shareholder of the arms manufacturer Colt CZ Group. Both entrepreneurs also support educational and social projects. In 2023, they jointly founded the C-EDUCA Foundation, which has established a long-term cooperation with CEVRO University. According to available data, support for this foundation could reach up to one billion crowns in the future.

Campaigners argue that a university seeking prestige should not be funded by money coming from controversial industries. But the school insists that working with the foundation brings important support for educational development.

CEVRO University, founded by former ODS Interior Minister Ivan Langer, offers study programmes in law, political science, economics, security and public administration. In addition to bachelor's and master's programmes, it also offers doctoral studies.

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