Prague University of Economics and Business is involved in the National Recovery Plan through which it will make significant investments

From July 2022, the VSE is involved in the National Recovery Plan for two years. This can be seen as a tool for reviving the country through reforms and investments in various areas. The National Recovery Plan funds will be drawn from the European Union. Where will the investments be directed?

Support for LMS Moodle

The Prague University of Economics and Business has fully implemented LMS Moodle and has created Methodological Support within the framework of the National Recovery Plan, which will provide support related to online learning, distance education and blended learning. There is a lead LMS Moodle methodologist at the Prague University of Economics and Business who is helping with the transformation of courses into e-learning support. In addition, the Prague University of Economics and Business has faculty methodologists and trainers who also provide support to academic staff.

The aim of the LMS Moodle is to develop a school-wide infrastructure to ensure digital forms of teaching, digitization of study agendas and overall adaptation of the learning environment to the requirements of modern teaching and collaboration.

New study programmes

At the Prague University of Economics and Business, a Master’s programme Big Data Analytics will be established. The Faculty of Informatics and Statistics in cooperation with the Faculty of Business Administration will create a new professional master’s programme primarily focused on data analysis and the application of advanced analytical technologies in selected sectors of the Czech Republic. The study programme and individual courses will be prepared in cooperation with partner institutions and companies. The structure of the programme will be prepared to cover the need for data-oriented professions in progressive fields in the Czech Republic. The focus of the study programme will be Big Data, eGovernment, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain.

The Faculty of Finance and Accounting will create a Master’s degree programme in Fintech to respond to the significant changes in the financial sector resulting from the large-scale implementation of new technologies in financial markets. The project will develop and submit an application for accreditation of the degree programme, prepare new courses, upgrade existing courses and create new teaching support tools. The programme will be prepared in cooperation between the Faculty of Finance and Accounting and the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, and aims to connect three disciplines (Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Blockchain). The investment also includes the construction of a special fintech laboratory where students and researchers will have access to relevant financial market databases.

New multimedia studio

The modern multimedia lab is an important element of the other parts of the National Recovery Plan project, as it will allow us to create attractive content for students, create attractive online courses for business and improve the visual marketing promotion of the whole school. As part of the National Renewal Plan, a new multimedia lab will be created at the unviersity and will be located on campus so that it is not exposed to external distractions as is the case with the current multimedia studio. The multimedia lab will allow for both video and podcast recording, with better technical equipment than is currently possible at the Prague University of Economics and Business. The studio will also be accessible to students of relevant disciplines as part of their teaching.

A system for a safe form of distance learning

As part of the National Recovery Plan, the Prague University of Economics and Business has allocated funds for the selection of a proctoring solution for the LMS system, assessment of its possible configuration and overall suitability for use in testing student knowledge. If the solution is suitable, it should be one of the options to implement knowledge verification. A proctoring arrangement has the advantage that educators will be able to test students who meet the technology requirements from virtually anywhere. At the same time, it is possible to implement proctoring of learners, for example, in a special testing room where learners will be able to complete the tests according to their own schedule without having to interact with the educator who only defines the conditions for completion.

Construction of a new coworking space

Additional National Recovery Plan funds will be invested in school equipment that is needed for modern forms of teaching. Brand new multi-functional classrooms and coworking space will be created, some classrooms will be upgraded for online learning and we will also invest in language classrooms. The new coworking space that will be created will be used for studying, presentations, networking or team projects.

Digitalization

One of the outputs of the project is Support for digital signing in the learning system. Within the National Recovery Plan, an electronic signature book will be launched in which decisions can be signed digitally. Another output of the National Recovery Plan project is the validation of documents in the admission procedure. This will reduce the administrative burden and speed up the processes. Furthermore, the digitisation of diplomas will be implemented as part of the National Recovery Plan. The aim is to be able to issue electronic copies, which means that the diploma will be in paper and electronic form at the same time.

The connection of the InSIS study system to the national registers should also be completed in the second half of the year. The outputs of the project also include a cashless payment solution and a new concept of the agenda filing service to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.

Lifelong learning

Lifelong learning courses will be created at the Prague University of Economics and Business, focusing on upskilling or reskilling.