2025 at VŠE: A year of change, innovation, and international success
For the Prague University of Economics and Business, 2025 was a year of significant shifts, strategic decisions, and extraordinary achievements. During this year, VŠE established itself as a modern, open, and internationally respected university that systematically develops the quality of teaching, research, human resources, and the study environment. Here is an overview of the key milestones and events that defined the past year at VŠE.
International awards
In 2025, VŠE defended its 1st place in the Eduniversal ranking for the Central & Eastern Europe region, confirming its long-term international prestige.
In terms of international awards, the Prague University of Economics and Business was once again ranked among the top 50 best business schools in Europe (Financial Times European Business School Rankings 2025). Compared to last year, it improved by one place and ranked 48th. VŠE, for which the Faculty of Business Administration submits data for evaluation, has been moving up the rankings for several years.
At the same time, in 2025, VŠE once again became CEMS School of the Year, i.e., the best school within an international alliance of 33 universities offering the CEMS study program (Master’s in International Management). At VŠE, this program can be studied at the Faculty of Business Administration.
Modern teaching and digitization of studies
We focus on blended learning and development in Moodle. By the end of 2025, a total of 578 courses were available to students in the VŠE Moodle LMS. This means that nearly 600 courses have been transformed for blended learning, which meaningfully complements face-to-face teaching. This confirms that blended learning is a natural part of studying at VŠE. Students have access to study materials, tests, interactive tasks, games, and content created using H5P tools. In 2025, the Turnitin service for plagiarism checking and AI detection in texts and a set of FeedbackFruits educational tools were also newly implemented in Moodle.
The past year was also a year of innovative changes for the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics at VŠE. The faculty introduced new study programs that respond to technological and social changes and prepare students for the challenges of the future digital economy and the conditions of an uncertain world.
At the same time, a voluntary online course on Information security, intended for students and employees, was made available in Moodle.
The international dimension of VŠE
Students abroad and at VŠE
In 2025, 1,215 VŠE students went abroad to study or complete work placements in 56 countries around the world. At the same time, VŠE welcomed a record number of exchange students – in the winter semester of 2025/26, there were 458 from 54 countries. VŠE taught 360 courses in foreign languages, and the visiting professors program offered 70 courses.
In 2025, VŠE implemented seven Blended Intensive programs, involving more than 170 participants from Europe and beyond. The programs focused on current topics and combined teaching with practical experience.
VŠE employees abroad
Employees made 737 business trips abroad to 58 countries around the world. As part of the Erasmus+ program, 141 employees traveled abroad, with other trips taking place outside Europe.
Support for Ukrainian students
VŠE continued its systematic support for Ukrainian students and developed a new partnership with Odessa National Economic University.
Digital transformation and electronic diplomas
In 2025, VŠE significantly transformed its processes, particularly in the area of study. Following an amendment to the Higher Education Act, all decisions are delivered digitally to the InSIS information system, and students and applicants can also submit all their applications to VŠE digitally. Digitized processes enable more efficient data analysis and rapid development of data analytics, the outputs of which are available for decision-making.
As a visible element of digitization, VŠE has introduced an electronic diploma (eDiploma) and an electronic diploma supplement (eDS). Graduates receive their final documents shortly after completing their studies in both Czech and English versions directly in InSIS. The electronic form complements the traditional printed diploma and provides graduates with practical use when entering the labor market at home and abroad.
Another significant step was the further digitization of other study processes, which were transferred to the InSIS information system. Students can now handle study matters faster, more clearly, and fully online.
Community and student life
In April 2025, Mental Health Day was held for students and staff, raising important issues of mental well-being, prevention, and support. In March, an inspiring TEDx lecture by speaker Margaux Miller took place at VŠE, and on November 25, 2025, the first annual TEDxVSEUniversity was held, providing a unique space for sharing ideas, research, and personal stories in an international context.
Strategic management and human resources development
In November 2025, elections for the rector of the VŠE were held, in which Petr Dvořák was elected.
This year also saw the creation of new key documents:
- The VŠE Human Resources Management Strategy for 2025–2030,
- The Maternity and Parental Leave Management Strategy,
which strengthen transparency, equal opportunities, and long-term employee development.
Research, grants, and international projects
VŠE was successful in the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Program grant call and in 2025 launched the project Development of the Research Environment at VŠE (VyzPro) with a budget of almost CZK 70 million. The project is a fundamental step towards strengthening the position of VŠE as an internationally respected research organization and focuses, among other things, on obtaining the HR Award and introducing transparent HR processes, developing a career system and mentoring for researchers, developing open science and knowledge transfer, and supporting the use of AI in research.
Successes in international and national grant competitions
The year 2025 brought a number of “firsts” in the field of international projects, including successful Horizon Europe, COST, and EIT projects. In total, VŠE worked on 15 projects with an international dimension in 2025 and submitted another 41 project applications.
There were also significant successes in national competitions organized by TA ČR, GA ČR, and Ministry of Industry and Trade , where several new research projects were launched across faculties.
Sustainability and campus development
In terms of sustainability, bees have been added to the roof of the building in Žižkov and new bicycle racks have been installed at the Italska building.
Renovations and new premises
In 2025, significant renovations financed by OP JAK ERDF were completed:
- modernization of lecture halls NB A and JM 104,
- expansion of ventilation and cooling in the Old Building,
- installation of a barrier-free elevator in VŠE Library.
A new gym and fitness room in the Old Building and a microwave corner in the Italska Building were also made available to students and staff.
A year that moved VŠE forward
The year 2025 showed that VŠE can successfully respond to the challenges of today’s world, develop the quality of teaching and research, strengthen international cooperation, and at the same time take care of its community. We would like to thank all students, employees, and partners who contributed to these successes.
What milestones were achieved at the faculties?
In 2025, the Faculty of International Relations at the VŠE achieved a number of significant successes in the areas of education, student activities, cooperation with industry, and research. FMV students succeeded in the POPAI Student Awards competition and participated in a scientific hackathon and other international projects. The faculty also launched a new master’s program in Sustainable Transformation and European Competitiveness, responding to the current challenges of the European economy. One of the important milestones was the launch of a pilot Talent Management project, which aims to systematically support motivated students and develop their academic and professional potential. Another significant achievement was the development of the Alumni Mentoring program, in which more than 100 students and graduates participated for the first time in history and which was also piloted for students of foreign-language study programs. In 2025, FIR strengthened its academic quality by increasing the number of associate professors and continuing the processes leading to professorial appointments, reflecting the active development of the faculty’s scientific and pedagogical capacity. At the same time, the faculty significantly strengthened its scientific position: faculty researchers received the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant, succeeded with projects funded by the GA ČR, published in renowned international journals, and actively participated in international workshops and research programs.
After eight years, the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics has elected a new dean. On March 1, 2026, Doc. Ing. Ota Novotný, Ph.D., a prominent figure in academic and public debate on linking data analytics with business and the future of education, will take over as head of FIS. The faculty has also confirmed its position in science and research: its academics have been successful in GA ČR grant competitions, have been appointed to expert panels, and have achieved internationally recognized publication results. Tomáš Kliegr was appointed professor and Klára Kalíšková was appointed associate professor in recognition of their excellent work and achievements. Students also built on these successes, whether through excellent representation in competitions such as IT SPY or through their own publishing activities.
The year 2025 was a year of growth, new projects, and research successes for the Faculty of Economics. In the 2025/2026 academic year, the number of enrolled students increased by 7.91% year-on-year, with bachelor’s programs growing by almost 6% and master’s programs by almost 15%. The faculty strengthened the link between study and practice by launching a new FE Alumni Workshop program, and the FE Alumni Mentoring program also continued successfully. The faculty podcast NF Talks was also launched. Two internationally renowned economists, Nikolaos Apergis and Silvester van Koten, joined the team of academics, and two new associate professors were appointed. In March, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann visited the faculty on the occasion of the publication of the Economic Survey of the Czech Republic 2025. In November, the faculty organized a conference entitled Social Policy 2025 on the impact of population aging on the economy. FE academics published a number of articles in impact journals (such as the International Journal of Early Childhood), and the Department of Economic History participated in the international project Bloc-Building and (Dis-)Continuity, which examines the transformation of industrial enterprises in Central Europe and China after 1945. Students and young academics also achieved success in the nationwide ČEEP competition and in the Josef Hlávka Award competition.
In 2025, the Faculty of Management at the VŠE strengthened its links with industry and the international academic community. It established an Alumni Board, an advisory body composed of successful graduates of the faculty, which participates in the innovation of study programs with the aim of better developing students’ skills in line with current industry requirements. The faculty also hosted the 18th international workshop of the Routines Research Community network, focusing on the relationship between organizational routines and digital solutions, confirming its active role in the international research environment. An important part of the faculty’s activities were contractual projects with the public and private sectors, including, for example, cooperation on the creation of a strategic development plan for the Jindřichův Hradec city.