The relationship between Czech higher education and civil society can be understood as complex and dynamic, encompassing not only educational but also social and cultural dimensions. Contemporary higher education institutions no longer function solely as providers of education; increasingly, they contribute to the development of civic values, attitudes, and active participation, which constitute the foundation of civil society in the Czech Republic. This relationship is grounded in the concept of the so-called third mission of universities, whereby, in addition to education and research, significant emphasis is placed on the active development of society, the cultivation of the public sphere, and the strengthening of democratic values. The objective of this concept lies in the transfer of knowledge into practice and in direct engagement with societal challenges, with universities acting as expert bases for both public institutions and the nonprofit sector. Based on secondary data, the present study outlines the structure of Czech higher education in relation to preferences for study programmes oriented towards civil society and the nonprofit sector. Furthermore, drawing on primary data, it examines the preferences of students from the Faculty of Multimedia Communications at Tomas Bata University in Zlín regarding key competencies required in the non-commercial sector, as well as their attitudes and values in relation to knowledge transfer into practice, active involvement in addressing regional issues, and the promotion of volunteering. In this context, the study also evaluates the level of integration of social responsibility into students’ activities and their prospective professional orientation.

Authors:
Marcela Göttlichová, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Marcela Göttlichová is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Tomas Bata University in Zlín in Czech Republic

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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