18 - Czech Republic - Organisational variations, alternative structures

Due to differences between forms of study at vyšší odborné školy and vysoké školy.

Tertiary professional education

Education at vyšší odborné školy is organised as day or evening attendance, as distance, e-learning and combined forms of education. Education attained in all forms of education is equal.

For the day form of education the lessons are organised regularly every day within a five day school week during the school year; evening lessons are held regularly several times a week for 10 to 18 lessons a week during the school year, usually in the afternoon and evening. Distance study is understood as self-learning supported by 200 to 220 consultation hours during the school year; e-learning is self-learning mainly via or only via information technologies or supported by individual consultation; and the combined form is education using day and other forms of education.

Distance, evening, e-learning, or combined forms of education can be up to one year longer than the period of day form of education.

Vyšší odborné školy can co-operate with vysoké školy.

Higher education

Education at a vysoká škola may be full-time (daily) course or e-learning course or combination of both.

Besides accredited study programmes, vysoké školy can organise lifelong education (fees are usually charged for these courses), which can include professionally oriented or special interest programmes (e.g. university of the third age). Internal rules of individual institutions specify the conditions of lifelong education courses. In keeping with the Higher Education Act, participants in lifelong education are not seen as students as such.

According to the 2001 Amendment to the Higher Education Act vysoká škola can recognise up to 60% of credits needed to complete a study programme to successful graduates of lifelong education within the accredited study programmes if they become students in the meaning of the Act.

Vysoké školy also offer courses to prepare for entry examinations.

Substantial attention is given to the development of distance forms of higher education studies. Distance study is offered at 23 higher education institutions in form of common study programmes as well as various courses. Information, coordination and methodical support to this type of education is provided by the National Centre for Distance Education which is a part of the centre for Higher Education Studies.

Vysoké školy carry out many Bachelor's programmes in co-operation with vyšší odborné školy. In April 2007 19 Bachelor's programmes in 46 specialisations which were organised jointly at 27 vyšší odborné školy and 11 vysoké školy were accredited.

Vysoké školy run a large number of doctoral programmes in collaboration with the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences due to a long history of scholastic activities in those institutes.

Institutions:

National Centre for Distance Education, CHES
U Dvou srpů 2 150 00 Praha 5 Smíchov
Tel.:420.257011313
Fax:420.257011323
E-mail: zlamalova@csvs.cz
Website: http://www.csvs.cz

Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Národní 3 117 20 Praha 1
Tel.:420.221403111
Fax:420.224240512
E-mail:  info@cas.cz

Website: http://www.cas.cz

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