VŠPJ is a founding member of a new association of regional universities

On May 27, 2022 rectors from devíti Czech universities signed the Prohlášení on establishment of Meziregionální university  council (MUR). The members of the Interregionalální Universityá Council are University of Tomáše Bati in Zlín, University of Silesiaá in Opava, University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, Vysoká škola báňská – Technicá University of Ostrava, University of Hradec Králové, University of South Bohemia in Czechých Budejoviceích, ZáPadočeseká University in Plzeň, Technicalá University in Liberec and Vysoká škola polytechnická Jihlava.

Theácí membersé established the Interregionalální University´ Council as a group of representatives of the Czechých publicšcolleges, who´ sdíA common vision of the role of universities in the development of regions, with an emphasis on the development of women in the Czech Republic. Vladimír Sedlařík, rector of Tomá& še Bati University in Zlín, became the first chairman of the MUR.

The main ú ú role of the new ú university ú association má would be to strengthen ú  the role of higher ú ú colleges in  regions, deepening ú cooperation on  development of  competitiveness of  individual ú regions. Dále wants the Interregionalální Universityá Council to consolidate theásign of educationalání and socialé responsibility in regions so  lépe promote the principles of transparent and fair evaluation of universities in the context of their funding.

„We are a group of highý&scaron&colleges thatý& lie´ in order to make a coordinated approach in activitiesáleading to equitable development of regions. Whether it is to improve the quality of life, to prevent the brain drain from the regions or to increase theááá underá“ of creative people, explains the chairman of the newly formed association and the rector of UTB Vladimír Sedlařík.

According to him, it is soé essentialé to fulfill also RIS3 strategy, i.e. lépe cílit financialí support inýresearch,ýdevelopment and implementation of innovations; in promising areas of the economy of the employability of graduates in regions and especially to promote education in regions. According to Vladimir Sedlar, the support of colleges in the regions is absolutely crucial.

„Highé šstakes in regions are extremely importanté. They were created based on the needs of the region and the rocks are solidly built here. Without them, the development potential of the regions would have been differentiated,“  hard  Saddler . „An example ofýmay beýt the coronavirus pandemic, when highéšcolleges helpáregions and individualýcomponentsáIZS. Whether it was inýtheýdisinfection& or nanorougešs, whichá was implemented at ás at the goldínské university.Without the personální and machineé infrastructure that the regionální šcolleges have, this would not have been possible.“

For portál Knowýzkum.cz Vladimír Sedlařík adds: „Oneáof the importantýimpetuses& for the creation of this group was the cooperation of their highýcolleges in the r centralized development project focused on the to improve the quality of distance education ináááá ofááá ofáá theáá ofáá collegesáá toáá theiráá regionaláá impact– i.e. increase&scaron& &scaron& í mí relevance & adaptability of educationá for the regioná ú lní ú.MUR is a transparentý group´ and we are of course open to the input of otherý colleges that share similar values."  Dále Saddlerák doesá notá that oneátámat thatá is important for the leaders of the signársá is finance. „We agreed that it would be necessary to discuss the issues of the stá system;of fundingán´ colleges, bothávac´ activities and inýresearch and inývoce."

At aácíní meeting, theání activities of the Interální Universityá Council towards Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Úseries of the woolády of the Czech Republic, the MŠMT, the Nánativeáaccreditationáseries for universitiesá šcollegesáand so to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

„I consider the creation of theální Interregionalální Universityá Council as anásadní act&a inýonce transitioning theální universities from individualálníadvocacy; cíls to join´ forces and common progress," said one of the representatives of the new alliance, the rector of Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem Martin Balej.

Source.