Academic Year 2016/2017
During the academic year 2016/2017, the University of Economics, Prague (VŠE) continued doing its various successful projects. At the same time it has established new cooperation partnerships and strengthened its name in the international academic environment. Moreover, in September 2016 the AACSB Accreditation Process of the VŠE was launched on foot of an AACSB decision.
During summer months of 2016, the VŠE Žižkov campus, mainly the Old Building, has undergone major reconstruction. Also, for the very first time, VŠEFEST – the students’ multi-genre festival took place in September 2016.
In 2016, there were 2,753 students enrolled at the Faculty of Finance and Accounting; 3,527 students at the Faculty of International Relations; 3,091 students at the Faculty of Business Administration; 2,553 at the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics; 1,688 students at the Faculty of Economics; while there are 1,120 students enrolled at the Faculty of Management in the town of Jindřichův Hradec. There is a consistently high number of applications for places on the study programs at the VŠE. There were 9,338 applications to study at VŠE in its Bachelor programmes; which is three times more than the programmes’ capacity; and 3,036 students were enrolled in the first year of studies.
International Cooperation
In the academic year 2016/2017, the VŠE cooperated with 250 partner universities worldwide. It offered Czech and foreign students a broad spectrum of accredited Bachelor´s and Master’s study programmes, as well as specialized courses in foreign languages. Two new Master’s Degree Programmes taught in English were opened – the Master’s in Management at the Faculty of Business Administration, and the Master’s in Official Statistics at the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics. The first students of these programmes will begin their studies at the VŠE in September 2017.
In December 2016, the third year of the International & Study Abroad Fair, which was organized by the International Office, took place at the VŠE. Students got the chance to familiarise themselves with the opportunities for studying abroad at partner universities, as well as with the International Degree Programmes on offer.
According to the prestigious QS World Rankings by Subject 2017, the VŠE is among the 250 Best Universities for economics and econometrics in the World. In 2016, the VŠE was ranked 88th in the Financial Times European Business Schools Ranking. In addition, the Master’s in Management 2016 ranking for the Business Administration and Management programme, taught at the Faculty of Business Administration, was placed at 81st position. The University of Economics, Prague, also took the second place in Eastern Europe in the annual international ranking of Eduniversal. The VŠE has been ranked among the 27 world’s best business schools (the top 3 excellent Business Schools in 9 geographical zones).
In March 2017, the Faculty of Business Administration, as the only such institute in the Czech Republic, received the prestigious EQUIS Accreditation.
Scientific Research Activities and Cooperation with the Professional Sector
The VSE has been involved in research projects, as well as having played a supporting role in the publication activities of its academics and students. Moreover, the VŠE itself publishes many scientific journals. Two of these journals – Politická Ekonomie and Prague Economics Papers – are well respected journals with a significant increase in their impact factors.
During the academic year 2016/2017, the VŠE awarded an honorary degree to two internationally renowned scientists. In September 2016, Professor Geert Hofstede, an expert in organizational anthropology and cross-cultural management, was conferred with an honorary degree, while in February 2017, Professor Hans-Werner Sinn, one of the most the most cited German scientists in the field of Macroeconomics and Economic Policy, received his honorary degree from the VSE.
The very successful cooperation between VŠE and its corporate partners is also continuing through the academic year 2016/2017. Česká Spořitelna has been the VŠE’s general partner for many years. The VŠE’s main corporate partners are: ČSOB, Deloitte, EY, Komerční banka, KPMG and PWC. The following companies were partners during the academic year 2016/2017: 3M, Accenture, ADP, Axa, Amazon, Decathlon, Česká Pojišťovna [i.e. Czech Insurance], Google, the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic, L´Oréal, Microsoft, MSD, McKinsey&Company, Business Development Advisory, BDO Appraisal services, T-Mobile, Bel Sýry Česko [i.e.,Bel Cheese,CR] , IT Talents, Unilever, Plzeňský Prazdroj [i.e.,Pilsener Urquelle], Škoda Auto and HILTI. In addition, the three latter named companies are CEMS International Partners. The most recent cooperation agreement was signed with the Hewlett Packard Corporation in June, 2017.
Moreover, the companies have a chance of presenting themselves at the VSE job fair called Šance, which is organized by the VŠE’s Development and Counselling Centre. Experts from these companies are also involved in teaching courses at the VSE. In 2016, 433 experts from the corporate sphere have taught at the VŠE.
Sports Achievements by Students and Social Events
There are almost 50 student organizations at the VŠE. These organizations bring together students with the same interests in one of the fields of economy, or in cultural or sports activities. The VŠE also organizes the “Rector´s Sports Day” in April. Students who are talented in sports represent the VŠE at such sports events as the Hockey Battle, University Eights, or, the football battle UniCup, where the VŠE team deservedly won in 2016 and 2017.
The VŠE also supports benefit actions. For example, in April, students from the HR Club organized a charity event “Donate blood at VŠE”, while in December 2016, the student’s newspaper iList, together with the Students’ Club of Business and Competition organized a Christmas Clothes Collection.
Among the VŠE’s most successful social events, were the VŠE Representative Ball, which took place in November, 2016. During this ball, the winners of the “VŠE’s Got Talent” competition, and the best sportsmen of the VŠE were announced. Alumni Day with VŠE also took place in November 2016. The Alumni Wednesdays project was held at the VŠE for the third year, in November 2016, as well.