We could have a new building by the end of 2030

In November, it will be four years since UCT Prague sold part of the Vítězné náměstí property, with proceeds being reinvested into the construction of a new UCT Prague building on the same site. What is the current status of construction?

A public architectural competition is currently underway in which a comprehensive architectural design for a new building on Vítězné náměstí, subject to compliance with the specified urban planning principles and the required construction program, will be developed. The two-round competition is taking place according to the rules of the Czech Chamber of Architects with a jury of international experts. We have entrusted them to provide us with a proposal for the design of a representative building that is realistic in terms of cost, operationally sustainable, and an ability to complement both existing UCT Prague historical buildings on the Dejvice Campus. The announcement of competition results and presentation of the winning proposal to the academic community is planned for January 2026.

What steps will follow that?

Selection of a design from the competition will immediately be followed by the preparation of project documentation for the building permit and documentation for the actual construction. A condition of the competition is that architects must declare that they will work closely with a top-notch construction preparation firm, and this should significantly speed up the entire process.

When could construction begin and when will the building be completed?

According to the updated schedule, construction could begin at the end of 2028 and be completed two years after that. So, we will have to wait awhile, but the planned date is realistic. It is good that the entire 4th Quadrant of Victory Square development project has already had an approved environmental impact study, which will significantly simplify the further approval process.

Will the building be built in parallel with the owner’s development of the rest of the land, the 4th Quadrant, as originally intended?

We assume that the development of the entire area will be coordinated in parallel so as to optimize costs to the maximum extent possible, especially for the structure’s foundation and the construction of the underground part.

Please remind us how many floors the new building will have and what type of space UCT Prague will gain with it?

Our initial construction requirements document (which is based on the approved urban planning parameters for the area) generally states that the building can have six to seven aboveground and three to four underground floors, while the extent and method of fulfilling the predefined construction requirements is the basic evaluation criterion in the architectural competition. In simple terms, we had placed the greatest emphasis on the scope and quality of the teaching and office spaces needed for the future growth and development of the university. Related to this are the accompanying spaces (including operational ones) such as a multi-purpose hall, cloakroom, and information centre as well as sufficiently dimensioned communication and relaxation spaces. The relocation of the School of Business from the building on Jankovcova Street is also planned. Figuring out an adequate solution for commercial and publicly accessible spaces on the ground floor and in the basement’s first level is vital as well. The other basement spaces are intended to house technical facilities, supplies, and parking for cars. 180 parking spaces are planned for our university, which I already consider a huge success.

Have UCT Prague’s management team’s ideas about the design of the new building changed over time and why?

The required functional content of the spaces in the new building is based on our original  building development plan. In the time that has passed since the first architectural and urban planning competition, only minor adjustments have been made. The number and size of classrooms have been optimized to meet the evolving needs of the university. Following the creation of Prague 6’s new cultural centre within the development of the 4th Quadrant, the requirements for our own social and cultural spaces have been adjusted. As part of the cooperation with the Prague 6 authorities and thanks to our close coordination, it will be possible to use the spaces of the cultural centre for UCT Prague events. Therefore, we do not need to build our own social hall.

What are the expected costs? How has inflation affected the original plans? The CZK 1 billion collected four years ago now has a significantly lower real value.

Unfortunately, the prices of construction work are continuously increasing year to year, and this is negatively reflected in the projected costs of constructing a new building.

We are currently estimating the amount at around CZK 1.4 billion excluding VAT. We have high hopes for the ongoing architectural competition, where one of the key parameters is moderate construction costs: the ”price versus utility” value ratio is decisive for us. Of course, we are putting a lot of effort into preparing a financial plan and finding suitable funding sources, including a reasonable proportion from advantageous long-term low-interest loans.

New academic year

How UCT Prague doing in terms of financial health at the start of the academic year?

The use of operating and investment funds is proceeding according to the approved budget. Funds from grants and operational programs are being spend without major constrains and our fiscal reserves are adequate. So, it can be stated that UCT Prague is doing well.

UCT Prague increased its wage rates this year. How was this increase paid for?

Yes, we continued to increase personnel expenditures this year. Following an agreement with the Deans of Faculties, all base wage rates were increased by 5% starting 1 July and the same amount of funds was allocated to strengthen also the sliding components of salaries, primarily bonuses. The increase in personnel expenditures was possible thanks to higher subsidies from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for education and R&D for this fiscal year.

And are you planning to continue increasing salaries next year?

Of course, the increase in personnel expenditures must continue in the coming years and this is of the priorities for my current term of office. We must be competitive on the labour market and be able to pay high-quality instructors and scientists as well as respond to the development of the average Czech salary levels, approaching CZK 50,000/month. Of course, everything will depend on the amount of funds we obtain from public sources for 2026 and the following years. We all know very well that the public finances of the Czech Republic are not in the best condition.

What are your priorities as you enter this academic year?

In addition to the traditional standard support for quality education, R&D, and strengthening UCT Prague’s reputation and image on the international stage, my colleagues from the management team and I want to focus on creating a new strategic plan for the period 2026+. This will be a key document guiding the further direction and financing of the university in the context of social and technological changes (sustainability, AI, digitalization, increasing nation’s defence capability). We will also make every effort to obtain the highest possible support from the remaining EU ESIF funds of the current programming period (2021-27) for the benefit of UCT Prague’s strategic projects. The launch of a new model for financing doctoral studies will be absolutely crucial for UCT Prague.

And I would like to mention two more priorities: strengthening employee care, including increasing personnel expenditures, and obtaining additional funds, primarily for the reconstruction and development of the infrastructure of the Dejvice Campus.

Tenure and promotion guidelines

This year, UCT Prague has been working feverishly on a number of changes related to the amendment to the Czech Higher Education Act. In addition, extensive changes to the tenure and promotion rules are also being prepared. Why have you started focusing on these now and what stage of the implementation process are you in?

To a large extent, these are requirements of legislation, whether Czech or European. Furthermore, it is necessary to respond to changing social trends and the emergence of new standards related to transparency, equality of conditions, safety, and motivation in practically all areas of university activities, including human resources. Old, traditional formulas and procedures are no longer valid, and because we want to be fully competitive, we must respond. Drafts of two new internal standards, Tenure and Promotion Rules and Employee Evaluation Guidelines, have been prepared. They are currently undergoing a review/commentary procedure and will be further modified.

When is the implementation of these two standards expected?

They should apply starting in 2026. The condition for this is the consensus of all key entities involved, i.e. the Rector, Deans, Academic Senate, and trade union, however, I am optimistic in this regard.

What are the main goals of the new Tenure and Promotion standards?

The objectives of the Tenure and Promotion Guidelines include motivating and supporting the professional development of employees, increasing the quality of work, ensuring a clear and transparent career path, and achieving better results for both individual employees and the university, such as improving the quality of teaching or research.

UCT Prague as part of the university world

Starting 1 August, you have been Vice-President for Economic and Social Affairs at the Czech Rectors Conference. What has being elected to this prestigious position meant to you?

I greatly appreciate the other Rectors’ trust, since this truly is a prestigious position within the Conference. I think that my reason for being elected to this position was, among other things, my experience and results of work as the Chair of the Czech Council of Higher Education Institutions.

What does Vice-President for Economic and Social Affairs at the Czech Rectors Conference do? And what would you like to achieve in this position?

I will be in charge of coordinating economic matters, policies, and strategies in the area of ​​financing both education and R&D&I. This also involves legislation, new laws, and amendments to regulations and standards. The first task will be to negotiate the budget for higher education institutions for 2026, which will not be easy at all and which will require good argumentation and preparation. The recently published draft of the state budget from the Czech Ministry of Finance doesn’t make me optimistic. We are facing difficult negotiations. When the budget negotiations, which I hope will be successful, end, the next task will be to analyse the model of institutional financing for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports’ educational activities (the so-called A+K indicator), and to propose and discuss its modification, which will respect the current situation. The current financing model is 10 years old and no longer fits current conditions.

What is the real social power of the Czech Rectors Conference?

As one of the two representations of higher education institutions, the Czech Rectors Conference holds a very strong position in negotiations with the government, deputies, senators, trade unions and professional associations, and actively participates in the creation of policies and strategic documents not only for the field of higher education. In the past, the Czech Rectors Conference has always been successful in representing the interests of universities, but also education as a whole as well as R&D, and I will try to contribute to the greatest extent possible to ensure that this continues to be the case.

UCT Prague is also part of the Czech Research Universities Association, where a month ago there was also a change in leadership: Rector Janíček from BUT Brno became the new Chair. Do you expect this change to accelerate the joint progress of research universities in key topics?

Effective coordination of activities and sharing of best practices, especially in the areas of excellent research, doctoral studies, and international cooperation, will certainly continue with the same intensity and pace as before. It can be assumed that issue of research funding will be emphasized more: I will try to connect Research Universities Association’s activities in this area with my work as a Vice-President of the Czech Research Council. Within the Research Universities Association, UCT Prague has traditionally been intensively involved in the issue of doctoral studies, being among the most respected universities in the Czech Republic.

This year, 10% more applicants applied and enrolled than last year. What does this mean to you?

This is clearly excellent news, which shows that our long-term investment in intensive promotion of chemistry as a promising field is starting to pay off, that quality students are applying and that studying chemistry is becoming a first choice. This is also a good signal for our partners in the commercial sector and at Czech Academy of Sciences Institutes. It is also motivating for our instructors and researchers.

What message would you give to students (and employees) from UCT Prague at the start of the academic year?

I welcome all new students and employees on board at UCT Prague, which, like a reliable and respected ship, safely and confidently navigates all the pitfalls, shoals, and difficulties of university life. I wish everyone a lot of strength, good health, and indomitable optimism spiced with a pinch of humour and good spirits.