11 - Czech Republic - Curriculum

The curriculum at vyšší odborné školy is called an educational programme; at vysoké školy, it is called a study programme. There are no common essential parts, so the curricula at vyšší odborné školy and at vysoké školy.

Tertiary professional education

Education at vyšší odborné školy in each educational area in individual vyšší odborná škola is organised in accordance with an accredited educational programme. The educational programme for education at vyšší odborné školy specifies, in particular, the concrete objectives of education, the length, the form, and the content of education and its organisation, the profile of graduates of the educational programme concerned, the language of instruction, conditions of the course of education, and the manner in which education is completed, as well as conditions for the education of students with special educational needs, and professional conditions for teaching, conditions for work safety and health, and health protection conditions for persons applying for education. Most accredited educational programmes are organized in modules.

An educational programme in the relevant area of education for a particular vyšší odborná škola is subject to the granting of accreditation by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The prior consent of the Ministry of Health is required for a medical educational programme and that of the Ministry of the Interior for an educational programme relating to security services.

Applications for educational programme accreditation are submitted to the Ministry of Education, which provides the application to the Accreditation Commission for vyšší odborné školy. The Accreditation Commission assesses an educational programme in terms of its content and specialisation and makes its recommendation to the Ministry. Accreditation is granted for a limited time, equivalent to not more than double the length of education in the day form. The accreditation may be repeatedly renewed. If the educational programme is accredited and registered for the relevant vyšší odborná škola in the Register of Schools, applicants for this type of education may be admitted, school lessons and examinations organised, and graduates of a vyšší odborná škola may be granted a degree.

Higher education

Deciding the content of studies and the design of study programmes is one of the academic freedoms of vysoké školy in the Czech Republic and there are no legal regulations that could restrict them in doing this. There are only general provisions concerning study programmes contained in Articles 44-27 of the Higher Education Act. However, all study programmes are subject to accreditation which is granted by the Ministry of Education on the basis of a decision by the Accreditation Commission. For the accreditation of a study programme, a vysoká škola is obliged in compliance with the law to complete and submit a written application. An accreditation of a study programme is awarded for at most ten years from the day the decision takes full legal force. Validity of an accreditation can be extended repeatedly. While providing an accredited study programme, the vysoká škola may request an accreditation of its extension. If a study programme does not obtain accreditation, students may not be admitted into this programme, no classes or examinations may take place, and no academic degrees may be granted.

All study programmes include the study of one or more foreign languages.

If the conditions are favourable (e.g. a foreign teacher is available), the teaching of some subjects may be done in a foreign language. This is primarily the case for doctoral study programmes. At some faculties it is possible to pass a state doctoral examination and write and defend a doctoral thesis in the English language, and in some study programmes this is even required.

At some faculties (e.g. medicine, but not only there) foreign students may, for a certain fee, take the whole of their studies in a foreign language. Information on this is available in a brochure called "Education in the Czech Republic – Guide for foreign students" published by the Centre for Higher Education Studies. The most recent edition of this book was published in 2005. In 2007 the National Agency for European Educational Programmes which is the part of the Centre for International Services of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports published a document "Study in the Czech Republic". Foreign students who express an interest in studying in the Czech language are normally offered one-year courses of Czech before they commence their studies.

Institutions:

National Agency for European Educational Programmes
Senovážné nám. 24 116 47 Praha 1
Tel.:420.243621100
Fax:420.243621144
E-mail: info@naep.cz
Website:  http://www.naep.cz

Centre for International Services MEYS CR
P.O.Box 08 Senovážné náměstí 26 110 06 Praha 06
Tel.:420.224398111
Fax:420.224229697
E-mail: dzs@dzs.cz

 Website:  http://www.dzs.cz