Masaryk University is considering founding a new private college in cooperation with the Brno Regional Chamber of Commerce, which represents local companies and other employers. MU’s subsidiary school would bring new programmes of study that meet the needs of business and the job market.
The new college became a serious topic of discussion during the preparation of the University’s Strategic Plan for the period until 2020. A similar idea has been put forward by the Brno Regional Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest chambers of commerce in the Czech Republic, in which MU is represented.
“Owing to the existing trend of declining funds allocated by the Czech government to public universities for the educational part of their work, Masaryk University is unable to admit all quality applicants who wish to study with us, even though our doing so would benefit the job market,” said Mikuláš Bek, Rector of the University.
Due to its profile as a research institution, Masaryk University lacks the space for the more professionally oriented study programmes required by business; this lack was acknowledged during work on the Strategic Plan. At the end of 2015, MU management came up with the idea of establishing a private institution (‘college’), which would be owned mainly by Masaryk University and uniquely connect the expert knowledge of the University with the needs of employers.
The founding of a new institution is still in its preparatory phase. MU management has discussed the matter with the Deans of all Faculties and opened a debate on risks and legal conditions that determine cooperation with business partners. The plan is yet to be evaluated by other University bodies.