The Rector of the VŠE has received the Highest Honour that France can bestow: The Order of the Légion d’Honneur

His Excellency, M. Jean-Pierre Asvazadourian, the Ambassador of the French Republic to the Czech Republic, conferred the Order of the Legion d’Honneur upon the Rector of the VSE, Professor Hana Machkova, on 7th April, 2016. The conferral ceremony took place at the Embassy of the French Republic in Prague, in Buquoy Palace which houses the embassy.

Prof. Machková has dedicated her entire professional life to France. She has been in charge of the „Institut franco-tcheque de gestion“ ( the French-Czech Institute of Management), which is the only institution specializing in French management in the Czech Republic; since 1990.

The most important project which has emerged from this joint cooperation, and which was supported by the French Embassy, is the program MASTER – Management et Administration des Enterprises (French equivalent to the MBA). Over 600 students have already participated in this program and they now feature prominently in the area of Franco-Czech economic cooperation. In recognition of her contributions to this project, Prof. Machková received the Ordre des Palmes académiques (the Order of Academic Palms) in 1996. As a Vice-Rector, and currently reigning Rector of the VŠE, Prof. Machková has contributed greatly to the development of cooperation among French and Czech universities; for instance, her support of joint-degree and double-degree educational programs, the development of exchange programs, as well as cooperation in the area of academic research. Prof. Machková has also been visiting professor in France for more than 20 years. She is one of the very few persons to be awarded a second French order.

The Order of the Légion d’Honneur is the highest French national honour, and is well-known all over the world. About 400 foreigners are conferred with this honour every year.