Prague University of Economics and Business

The Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE) is the biggest public university of economics in the Czech Republic. The university was celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2013. VŠE has six faculties offering applicants a broad spectrum of study fields and branches in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree study programs. Five faculties are located in the center of Prague – the Faculty of Finance and Accounting, the Faculty of International Relations, the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics and the Faculty of Economics. The Faculty of Management is located in the town of Jindřichův Hradec. Studies at VŠE meet the requirements of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Currently, there are almost 18,000 students at VŠE. The number of applicants considerably exceeds the university’s capacity every year, thus entrance is competitive. VŠE offers bachelor’s degree study branches in Czech, English, and Russian; master’s degree study branches are offered in Czech and English. Since 2007, there has been a Center for Disabled Students at VŠE.

International Accreditations
The university is highly appraised both in the Czech Republic and abroad. From 2009 to 2013, and from 2013 to 2016, VŠE has been certified with the “ECTS label” and “DS Label” by the European Commission thanks to correct implementation of the credit system. Both certificates confirm the credibility of VŠE in terms of partnerships with universities abroad. Two master’s degree programs – „International Business – Central European Business Realities“ and „Mezinárodní obchod“ (taught in Czech at the Faculty of International Relations) have been certified with EPAS accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). International MBA program is accredited by the association FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation) and by CAMBAS (The Czech Association of MBA Schools), which is a member organization of EQUAL – European Quality Link by EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development). The Faculty of Finance and Accounting has received the accreditation from the professional body, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

International Rankings
VŠE is ranked by the Financial Times annually and has already been appraised for several years by the Eduniversal Ranking project as one of the best “business schools” in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2013 VŠE has been also ranked in QS World University Rankings – one of the most prestigious international rankings of higher education institutions. Currently, the 800 best universities in the world are listed in the ranking (while according to some estimates, the total number of higher education institutions in the world amounts to 20 thousand) and VŠE is one of them.

International Relations and Corporate partners
VŠE is successful within international cooperation. The university currently cooperates with more than 220 partner universities worldwide. There are approximately 700 outgoing students annually with an even higher number of foreign students accepted from abroad. VŠE is a member of numerous international organizations and networks such as the international strategic alliance CEMS (Global Alliance in Management Education) and PIM (Partnership in International Management).

VŠE is also a member of the PRME Initiative (Principles for Responsible Management Education). The PRME Initiative is the first organized relationship between the United Nations and management-related academic institutions, business schools, and universities. In 2015 VŠE has become a member of AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

The university is closely linked to the business sector as well. VŠE graduates find employment easily in the labor market. They get important positions in both the private and public sectors with a focus on various industry fields, the banking sector, accounting and auditing, sales, marketing, or information technologies. Česká spořitelna, a.s. (Erste Group) is a long-term general partner of VŠE.

Study at VŠE
Many significant Czech and foreign economists have obtained the university’s honoris causa title; these include, for instance, the Nobel Prize winners Prof. Robert A. Mundell, Prof. Milton Friedman, or Prof. Gary S. Becker. The classes taught at VŠE are guaranteed and provided by more than 700 qualified academics and business experts. Besides the specialized courses, VŠE stresses foreign language studies. VŠE students can take classes of English, German, French, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Chinese.

VŠE provides its students with a high quality study environment and conditions. The university library contains more than 430 thousand books and 330 journals and provides access to numerous electronic databases with e-journals and periodicals on a broad range of topics. Students may use hundreds of computer stations on campus, a wireless network, or the modern Integrated Study Information System (ISIS). For students who do not come from Prague, there are almost 4,500 beds available at the university’s dormitory facilities.

The university has its own sports facilities. Students may use the modern, multipurpose sports arena which was opened in 2009. The gym has a surface of 1,400 m2 and is sufficient for three volleyball or two basketball courts, handball, floor ball, indoor football, and other sports. There is an artificial climbing wall and a rehabilitation exercise room. At the dormitory facility area, there is an artificial turf football field. Summer and winter sports courses are organized too.

VŠE supports many student activities. Examples of these activities include a choir, a chamber orchestra, a folklore group, a film club, a theatre group, and student journals. International student organizations are present and there is a wide-range of interest associations at VŠE too.