Comparing Czech Public Higher Education Institutions and Faculties 2012: Their Function, Profile and Graduate Employability
Abstract
Higher education is changing rapidly, developing away from traditional image. The number of students is steadily growing, in many countries is exceeding half of the corresponding age group.
Moreover, higher education institutions (HEIs) have to perform other functions beyond education and research as required by society (individuals, businesses, organizations or regions). Each of the functions has defined quality differently, requires a different focus and a different culture, and is supported by different networks and relationships.
No institution can excel in all activities it performs at the same time. The following multi-dimensional typology of Czech public HEIs and their constituent parts, faculties, responds to the need to diversify Czech higher education.
It is important that each school is focused on those functions it is able to fulfil well. Therefore there is a growing need to know what functions Czech HEIs perform best, be it high-level research or support for the development of their region.
The study of the Education Policy Centre is the first step in this direction, as it maps the strengths and weaknesses of all the 26 Czech public HEIs. The study also explains and interprets the data on the employability of graduates of the Czech public HEIs and their faculties that the Education Policy Centre has collected, analysed and published since 2002.