CZECH: Minister reveals plans to overhaul universities

Czech universities can expect big changes, reports Radio Prague. Last week Education Minister Ondej Liška presented a 'white paper' proposing sweeping reforms of the country's higher education system, including a complete restructuring of the way Czech universities are funded - which could eventually lead to tuition fees - and calls for universities to cooperate more with the private sector. The plans are now up for public discussion until autumn, when new laws will be drafted.

Radio Prague's Rosie Johnston spoke to Liška and asked what he thought the problems were with the Czech higher education system today:

Firstly, the management of universities is currently very ineffective. Secondly, there are huge socio-economic barriers stopping students from gaining a tertiary education. We want to get rid of these barriers by introducing financial incentives - tax incentives - and by opening up the tertiary education sector to more students. We also aim to raise the quality of the education these students receive."
Full report on the Radio Prague site