Looking Back at the 2024/2025 Academic Year – VŠE: A Year of Accreditations, Innovation and Global Connections

University Milestones

The academic year 2024/25 marked a breakthrough for the Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE). In March 2024, the university obtained institutional accreditation from AACSB International, becoming the first Czech institution to meet the highest global standards in teaching, research, and governance across all six faculties. In December, the Financial Times European Business Schools 2024 ranking confirmed VŠE’s position in the TOP 50 (49th place), underscoring the stability of its international reputation.

The university’s prestige was further strengthened by the Faculty of Business Administration, which, following AACSB accreditation, achieved Triple Crown status (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) – a distinction held by only one percent of business schools worldwide.

Strategic Initiatives and Campus-Wide Projects

  • AI Academy for Leaders – a new university-wide program being developed by the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics in collaboration with the ICT Union, launching in autumn 2025. It will offer intensive modules for managers seeking to systematically integrate artificial intelligence into corporate strategic management.

  • Job Fair ŠANCE – held twice (October 2024 and April 2025), each edition attracted over a hundred domestic and international employers and recorded record-breaking student attendance.

  • 13th Prague International Staff Week – organized by the International Office, this event was held for the first time as a Blended Intensive Programme, welcoming representatives from 18 partner universities.

  • Opening of Quattro Modullare – a new multifunctional space in the NB building, designed for project-based learning, hackathons, and student events.

Faculty Highlights

Faculty of International Relations (FMV)

Research Projects

  • Awarded a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral grant (Michal Strnad).

Publications

  • Jana Vlčková published in Competition and Change.

  • Jeremy Garlick released the monograph Evolution in International Relations.

Expertise and Education

  • Cryptocurrency-focused activities (Jakub Jedlinský and Kareem Abdallah) including participation in the DEUSS/EBSI project, government agency training sessions, and media contributions.

  • Launch of the course Digital Assets and the Blockchain Industry within the Executive Academy.

Students and Alumni

  • The Professor Miroslav Vlček Scholarship 2024 awarded to a Bachelor of International Business student.

  • FMV celebrated its 400th doctoral graduate and 20 new graduates from the MPA program in Sports Diplomacy, including Olympic gold medallist David Svoboda.

Development and Collaboration

  • Launch of executive courses on the Executive Academy platform (ea.vse.cz).

  • New strategic partnerships with UniCredit Bank and the Ministry of Finance.

Study Programs

  • Accreditation of a new professionally oriented master’s program Sustainable Transformation and European Competitiveness.

Conferences and Changes

  • Organization of the FIR Annual Conference and the 25th International Conference “Central and Eastern Europe in the Changing Business Environment”.

  • Renaming of the Department of Tourism to the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management (KTH) and establishment of the CESMOD research center.

Media Activities

  • Numerous media appearances by FMV experts (Pavel Hnát, Pavel Černý, Zbyněk Dubský, Jakub Jedlinský).

Faculty of Informatics and Statistics (FIS)

Studies and Programs

  • Approval of new program accreditations and preparations for implementation.

  • Introduction of three new minor specializations:

    • Risk Manager for the 21st Century

    • Climate Challenges and Human Society

    • Intelligence Studies in Business

Research

  • Prof. Michal Černý won a Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR) grant.

  • The study by Prof. Jakub Fischer and Assoc. Prof. Petr Mazouch received widespread recognition.

  • Three FIS academics appointed to GA ČR evaluation panels.

Student Achievements

  • Ing. Michal Marhan won the IT SPY 2024 international competition.

  • The Economic Data Analysis team excelled at the European Big Data Hackathon 2025.

  • Multimedia students succeeded in the OMD Creative Challenge.

International Collaboration

  • Martin Potančok lectured on Data Governance at UC Berkeley.

  • New partnerships with IE School of Science and Technology (Madrid) and DAMA Czech Republic.

Events and Awards

  • Organization of the KPMG Data Festival 2024.

  • Dean’s Award for best publications presented to FIS academics.

Faculty of Business Administration (FPH)

CEMS Program

  • Prague’s CEMS program awarded “School of the Year”.

  • Ladislav Tyll re-elected as CEMS Academic Vice-Chair.

  • CEMS MIM ranked 10th out of 206 universities in the QS 2025 Master in Management ranking.

  • Ranked 16th in the Financial Times Masters in Management 2024.

Faculty

  • Accreditation to conduct habilitation and full professorship procedures in Economics.

  • Celebrated 18 years of the Arts Management program.

  • Launch of a new professional master’s program Sustainability Management.

  • Implementation of 2 Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) projects.

  • Publication of the 2024 ESG Rating results.

Students and Alumni

  • Alumnus Lukáš Tahotný received the Professor Michal Mejstřík Award.

  • Doctoral student Kamila Zahradníčková won the VŠE Startup competition and launched a podcast.

Faculty of Management (FM)

Projects

  • DIGI4Care – an innovative project focused on the digitalization of care.

  • Innovation of the education process towards implementing AI tools.

  • AI Catalyst for SMEs – supporting AI adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Contract Research

  • Study on Škoda Auto’s attractiveness as an employer.

  • Sociological survey “Change the Observatory”.

  • Projects supporting the strategic development of schools and tourism (e.g., Jindřichův Hradec Primary School, Třeboňsko tourist region).

Sustainability

  • Formation of a sustainability team and organization of the Sustainability Week at FM.

Students and Alumni

  • Tomáš Kincl placed in an international competition.

  • Strengthening alumni collaboration through the Alumni Board.

Social Responsibility

  • Collaboration with charities (Open Windows, Cystic Fibrosis Club) and benefit events (e.g., FM Ball auction, Alfa Run).

Anniversaries and Changes

  • 30th anniversary of the Faculty of Management and inauguration of the new dean.

Faculty of Economics (NF)

Studies

  • Innovation of the admission process (for Czech and English programs).

  • New practical workshops for students with alumni (NF Alumni Workshop).

  • Completion of the 3rd edition of the mentoring program.

  • Regular faculty leadership meetings with students for feedback.

  • Continuation of the mathematics bridge course for first-year students.

Research

  • New international project (Prof. Skřivan, funded by DFG–GA ČR–NCN).

  • Establishment of the Center for Economics, Energy and Public Policy (CEVP) – analyzing the economic impacts of nuclear power plant construction in Dukovany.

  • Organization of several conferences (e.g., International Conference on Economics, Finance & Business in Lisbon).

PR and Media

  • Launch of the NF Talks podcast (economic and policy topics, interviews with experts).

  • Frequent media appearances by NF academics (e.g., V. Pikora, L. Kovanda, M. Bednář).

Internationalization

  • Visit of OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann to NF VŠE for the launch of the OECD Economic Survey of the Czech Republic 2025.

Collaboration with Practice

  • Memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment.

  • Contract research for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Regional Development, European Commission, and other institutions.

  • Engagement of industry experts in teaching (e.g., Lenka Bradáčová, Daniel Beneš).

International Dimension and Mobility

  • The International Office recorded a historic high in applications for study abroad and expanded the offer of Blended Intensive Programmes. A new partnership with Odesa National Economic University extended the network of Ukrainian institutions, and the Unissued Diplomas exhibition commemorated students who could not complete their studies due to the war.

Outlook for 2025/26

With AACSB accreditation, growing publication performance, and the success of the ŠANCE job fairs, VŠE plans to further strengthen artificial intelligence and ESG topics in its curriculum, expand short-term international mobility opportunities, and deepen collaboration with industry and public administration. Thanks to the synergy of faculty projects and university-wide initiatives, VŠE maintains its position as the highest-ranked business school in Central and Eastern Europe and enters the new academic season with ambition.