One of the foremost important investments a country can bring for its people and its future is education. Education, being a strong agent of change, not only contributes to social stability but also economic growth, and improves health and livelihoods. It is in every sense, a fundamental factor of development. Back in 1348, Charles University in Prague was founded and it became the oldest university in Central Europe, therefore, the Czech Republic has a long history of education and research. In today’s time, it holds the 260th position in the top 1000 in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. 10 Czech universities have made it to the top 1000 and many other Czech universities have improved their rankings with time.
The Czech Republic’s Affordable Education
Studying in the Czech Republic can give you a great chance of discovering the rest of the European countries as it is situated in the middle of Europe. Thanks to its geographical location, it is a cross-road of various cultures leading to a rich Central-European culture. The country has one of the strongest economies and lowest poverty rates leading to it having high literacy rates and strong performances on international comparisons of educational successes. With a high level of achievement, it is bound to become a competitive force within the European Union. The governing body for education is the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) which is centrally governed. The Ministry is responsible for formulating the educational policy and in creating a framework for educational programs.
The Czech higher education system includes over 60 universities that offer a wide range of courses and study programs for various degrees and also for non-degree courses. It is said that around 43,000 international students are studying in Czech universities as it boasts some of the best education in Europe with an emphasis on quality, diversity, and relevance. The accessibility and excellent education are some of the reasons why students from around the globe come to the Czech Republic. The country’s education system is known for its science, engineering, and medicine programs. The tuition fee structure is also segregated into the Czech language program and non-Czech language problem. Therefore, if you are fluent in Czech and will study in the Czech language, public and state universities are free of charge no matter what your nationality is. Tuition fees are also waived under bilateral agreements between universities.
International Cooperation through Universities
As part of the foreign development cooperation, the Czech Republic offers scholarships to citizens from developing countries. To date, over 20,000 foreign nationals have done their studies in the universities in Czech with a scholarship from the government. The scholarships are administered by a Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic as a joint project with the MoEYS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These scholarships are specific to developing countries and are not provided to the citizens of the Czech Republic, neither to citizens of the European Union nor to foreign nationals with a residential permit of the Czech Republic.
Programs are also available in other languages such as Russian, German, French, and Italian. It is increasingly popular for international students and the European Union lists the country as the 12th most popular destination for Erasmus students in Europe. The Centre for International Cooperation in Education that is under the MoEYS, aims to offer higher education to international students, and also to support Czech universities in international activities. These universities are involved in international cooperation activities taking place not only in the European Union but also in other countries. Students are encouraged to also come for short study visits through Erasmus and other study programs and summer schools.
As the living cost is affordable, international students can also avail discounts with their student identity cards. Most of the international students come from countries like, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Germany, Portugal, India, to name a few. The European Union’s program, Erasmus, was formulated in order to support education, training, and provide funding opportunities for students worldwide. Through this, if there is an agreement between institutions, a student can receive a full degree scholarship to study anywhere in Europe. Czech universities are to a great extent involved in various Erasmus programs.
Conclusion
The Czech Republic not only provides an affordable lifestyle but also low tuition and a wide range of programs along with various social and cultural activities. The Czech Republic knows that education is pertinent to economic development and no economic development is possible without providing a good education. The country’s importance towards education is evident through its student-friendly approaches and mutual recognition of education’s importance through its measures.
