With only 22 percent of Czechs holding a university degree—far below the European Union’s average of 30 percent—the Ministry is seeking to expand student enrollment.
However, competition for spots remains high due to limited capacity. In neighboring countries like Poland, 27 percent of people hold a degree, while Slovakia is close to a quarter of its population.
“In 2023, we had approximately the same population of 19-year-olds as in 2013, but last year we had significantly fewer places at universities and higher vocational schools. We have narrowed access to tertiary education,” explains Minister of Education Mikuláš Bek.
The Ministry’s push to increase student numbers is seen as essential, especially as a large generation of children approaches university age, after facing capacity shortages in kindergartens, elementary, and high schools. Over the next 15 years, a similarly large group of high school graduates will enter the university pipeline. To address this, the Ministry plans to tie university funding to the condition of increasing student enrollment.
University funding is generally multi-sourced, with the Ministry providing a fixed portion based on performance. If a university’s enrollment remains stable or grows (within 10 percent), it will receive predictable funding. The Ministry now wants to include student number increases as a criterion for future funding. Although the increase is expected to be modest—just a few percentage points annually—Minister Bek notes that certain universities may have different obligations. For instance, research institutions and artistic disciplines might not face the same enrollment pressure as other public universities.
