University of Economics, Prague
The University of Economics, Prague (Czech: Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, VŠE, also called Prague School of Economics) is an economics and business-oriented public university located in Prague, Czech Republic. It is the largest university in the field of economics, business and information technology in the Czech Republic, with 15 000 students across its bachelors, masters, doctoral and MBA programmes.
Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze (VŠE) | |
Type | Public |
---|---|
Established | 1953 |
Academic affiliation | AACSB, CEMS, PIM, ERASMUS, EQUIS |
Rector | Prof. Ing. Hana Machková, CSc. |
Administrative staff | 1 000 (of that 600 academic) |
Students | About 15 000 students |
Address | Nám. W. Churchilla 4, 130 67 Praha 3, Czech Republic, Europe , , 50°5′2.61″N 14°26′27.96″E |
Website | www.vse.cz |
History
Vysoká škola obchodní ("Business School") was established in 1919 as a department of the Czech Technical University in Prague, specialising in wholesale trade, banking and the organization of industrial companies. In 1949 the Vysoká škola politických a hospodářských věd (University of Political and Economic Sciences) was established, which was finally renamed the University of Economics in 1953. The University underwent a significant reform in 1989 after the Velvet Revolution.[1]
Schools and campuses
The university is composed of six faculties, spread over three campuses. The main campus is in Žižkov, in Prague. A secondary campus is found in Jižní město on the outskirts of the city. The Faculty of Management is located separately from the others at its own campus in Jindřichův Hradec, 110 kilometres away from Prague.
The six faculties of the university are:
- Faculty of Finance and Accounting (FFA) (Fakulta financí a účetnictví)
- Faculty of International Relations (FIR) (Fakulta mezinárodních vztahů)
- Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) (Fakulta podnikohospodářská)
- Faculty of Informatics and Statistics (FIS) (Fakulta informatiky a statistiky)
- Faculty of Economics (FEPA) (Fakulta národohospodářská)
- Faculty of Management in Jindrichuv Hradec (FM) (Fakulta managementu v Jindřichově Hradci)
Academics and ranking
Graduates
Undergraduate students typically receive their Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree after 6 semesters of completed coursework and a successful defence of their bachelor thesis.
The majority of VŠE graduates follow a career in the private sector (88% graduates in 2009). 79% of graduates remain in Prague after graduation. Of graduates of the Faculty of International Relations, 10% of the students are offered international placements upon graduation.[2] According to a 2011 study, VŠE graduates are the most sought after in the Central European region.[3] Within the Czech Republic, several of the university's faculties ranked highly, including the Faculty of International Relations (#1 nationally), Faculty of Informatics and Statistics (#3), Faculty of Business Administration (#4) and Faculty of Economics (#5). Admission to the University and most of its programmes is highly competitive; for example, the Faculty of International Relations has a 12–30% admissions rate.[4]
Graduate students typically receive their MSc. degree (Ing.) after further 4 semesters of completed coursework and a successful defense of their master's thesis. PhD. candidates have to hold a master's degree upon enrollment into the program anywhere in the Czech Republic and the PhD program is typically 4 years in length.
Research and academic activities
Since 2000, the university has invested heavily into research and research facilities, with its new main research facility completed in 2005.[5] Speakers at the University have included EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, several representatives from the Czech government as well as the president,, Helen Diaz of the World Bank, Winfried Vahland, and the OECD Secretary General; in addition, around 70 visiting faculty come to teach at VŠE each year.
The university is the main venue for the largest educational project in the country, the Prague Student Summit, comprising Model UN, Model EU and Model NATO.[6]
International rankings
In the annual Eduinversal ranking 2018 the University of Economics, Prague (VŠE) gained a title of the best Business School in the Eastern Europe.
Every year the Financial Times publishes the ranking of the top European Business School. VŠE took 60th place in the actual ranking for 2018. It is the best place for VŠE in this ranking. VŠE took 86th place last year and 88th in 2016.
VŠE repeatedly scores in the field of Economics and Econometrics in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject. Compared to 2018, when it ranked 251-300, VŠE improved its ranking in 2019 and currently ranked 201-250.
The Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) has been accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the first business school in the Czech Republic and fourth in Central and Eastern Europe.[7]
International co-operation
Over 1000 students spend a semester abroad every year, at institutions including Duke University (Fuqua School of Business), Copenhagen Business School, University of St. Gallen, and Vienna University.
14% of students are foreign nationals, typically from other European Union member states, the United States and East European countries. In 2010/2011, VŠE cooperated with 250 partner universities, including Sciences Po Paris, University of Cologne, Tilburg University, Stockholm School of Economics, University of St. Gallen, London School of Economics, Tel Aviv University, University of Queensland, McGill University, Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school issues a number of international degrees, including joint and double degrees. Each year, around 60 visiting professors come to teach at the university, and more than 90 courses are taught in English.
Since 2000 the Gary Becker Prize for the best student’s thesis in economics (a prize previously associated with IMADEC of Vienna) was awarded at the university.[8]
The university is a member of the Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS), Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA),[9] and Partnership in International Management (PIM) networks.[10]
In addition, over 1100 students from institutions overseas come to VŠE each semester. In 2005, a new International Learning Center was established as part of expansion of university premises. Courses for these students are run in Czech, English, German, French and Russian languages.
Notable alumni
- Jan Fischer (b. 1951), statistician, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (2009–10), Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic (2013–14). Graduated 1974, completed post-graduate studies 1985.[11]
- Martin Jahn (b. 1970), Czech politician and economist, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy (2004–05). Graduated in 1994 with a Masters in International Trade.[12]
- Petr Kellner (b. 1964), investor, businessman (one of the USD billionaires), owner of PPF company[13]
- Václav Klaus (b. 1941), President of the Czech Republic (2003-2013), Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (1992–97). Graduated in 1963 majoring in Foreign Trade Economics.[14]
- Valtr Komárek (1930–2013), economist and politician[15]
- Jiří Paroubek (b. 1952), Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (2005–2006), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2006–13), former chairman of Czech Social Democratic Party[16]
- Jiří Rusnok (b. 1960), politician and economist, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (2013–2014), Minister of Finance (2001–02), Minister of Industry and Trade (2002–03). Graduated 1984.[17]
- Josef Tošovský (b. 1950), Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (1997–1998), governor of the Czech National Bank (1989–1992; 1993–2000). He studied at the university from 1968–1973, graduating in Foreign Trade.[18]
- Zdeněk Tůma (b. 1960), governor of the Czech National Bank (2000–2010) and politician. Studied at the university 1979–83.[19]
- Miloš Zeman, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (1998–2002), President of the Czech Republic (2013–present). Studied 1965–69 at the university, specialising in Economic Forecasting, and also taught.[20]
- Josef Zieleniec (b. 1946), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (1993–97) Member of the European Parliament (2004–09). Graduated in 1974, specialising in Industrial Economics.[21]
- Laura Longauerová (b. 1995), Slovak model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Slovakia 2014 and Miss Universe Slovenskej Republiky 2019
References
- "History - VŠE". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- "Zpravodaj VŠE "Anketa absolventů magisterských studijních programů "". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- Lidove Noviny Newspaper
- SIR Admissions 2007 | VŠE
- s3z, Jiří Sáček. "Rajská budova VŠE Praha". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- "Prague Student Summit". Association for International Affairs. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- www.vse.cz, University of Economics in Prague. "The Faculty of Business Administration [FBA] has been Ranked among the Top 1% of Business Schools in the World, such as the HEC Paris or the London Business School! | Faculty of Business Administration". fba.vse.cz. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- "Gary Becker As Seen from Prague". Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- APSIA. "Member Schools • APSIA". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- "VŠE získala cenu Nejlepší ekonomická vysoká škola ve střední a východní Evropě". VSE v Praze. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- "Ing. Jan Fischer". vlada.cz. Government of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Martin Jahn, Head of Fleet Sales at Volkswagen Group, graduated from FIR". fir.vse.cz. University of Economics in Prague. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Petr Kellner, The World's Richest People – Forbes.com". Forbes.
- "Václav Klaus". hrad.cz. Government of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- Hayashi, Tadayuki. "̈Neo-liberals' and the Politics of Economic Transformation in the Post-Communist Czech Republic" (PDF). p. 136. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Ing. Jiří Paroubek (1952)". Post Bellum. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Ing. Jiří Rusnok". vlada.cz. Government of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Former Governor of CNB and Prime Minister Tošovský graduated from FIR in 1973". fir.vse.cz. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Zdeněk Tůma". kpmg.com. KPMG. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Curriculum Vitae – Milos Zeman". hrad.cz. Government of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Sketches of ministers meeting Clinton". United Press International. 5 July 1994. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
External links
- University website
- Virtual Economic Library Econlib website
- ISIS VŠE (Information system for students and teachers)
- iList (Independent student magazine and web)
- Economix (Student magazine)
- Unie studentů VŠE (Students' Union of the University of Economics in Prague)