Association for Foreign Investment

2003/09/30, Breakfast with rectors of technical universities and deputy of Ministry of Education

Another breakfast from this year´s serie of regular gatherings of government representatives with foreign investors, representatives of the Czech private sector, AFI members and partners in the program known as the "Partnership to Support Foreign Direct Investment in the Czech Republic" took place on September 30 at the Rennaisance Hotel. The Deputy for science and university education, Mr. Petr Kolář, the rector of the West Bohemian University in Pilsen, Mr. Zdeněk Vostracký and the vice-rektor of the Technical University in Brno, Mr. Zdeněk Jančář were the main guests. The aim of this working breakfast was to create room for mutual communication on the topic of "The Possibilities of Cooperation between Technical Universities and Private Sector".

In the beginning Mr. Kolář briefly introduced priorities of the ministry regarding the support of education and the role the ministry can play in it. He also mentioned CR joining the Lisboa agreement which sets the objectives of the EU in education. Mr. Vostracký declared the readiness of the university to react on the structural changes in industry through cooperation with the private sector in financing new research and science projects. Mr. Jančář stated that although Brno has unfavourable position in attracting big foreign investors compared to Prague the university tries to be active more and more in innovation. He mentioned the openning of the „Incubator", a place where project and research outputs can be brough into life as an initiative of the university itself.

The discussion afterwards focused mainly on the following issues:

• The current situation in the cooperation between universities and companies
  Both sides had the opportunity to express their experiences and needs, the investors confirmed the willingness to stand closely to universities in creating study and research plans and to provide possible forms of tutorship, internship etc.
• The main drawbacks of the graduates
  The participants concurred on the fact, that the technical universities graduates lack most of all the language and management skills
• The investment incentives for educational programmes and requalification
• How the private sector can influence education strategies on the university level

The discussion showed clearly that there is common perception of the importance of support such education which will react on the current trends as well as existing joint interest in this area.