Milan Pospíšil appointed rector of VŠCHT Prague

President Petr Pavel has appointed Professor Milan Pospíšil as the new rector of the University of Chemistry and Technology (VŠCHT) in Prague. Pospíšil will lead the institution from January 1, 2024, until the end of 2027, succeeding Professor Pavel Matějka.

Pospíšil, a long-time member of the university and former chairman of the Council of Higher Education, stated his priorities include attracting domestic and international students through modern study programs and strengthening the university's position as a leading research institution through industrial cooperation and budgetary diversification.

Separately, discussions are underway regarding a proposed reform of the Czech higher education system. The Ministry of Education is working on a new law that would introduce university boards, change the process for electing rectors, and overhaul university financing. Milan Pospíšil, in his capacity as chairman of the Czech Conference of Rectors, described the Ministry's intentions as ‘revolutionary’ but noted that further negotiations are required to ensure the law maintains academic autonomy and legal predictability.