What is a unit?

Together with fields and research areas units are the basic organisational elements of the evaluation. Units are faculties and higher education institutes of Charles University, i.e. all constitutive parts of the university that conduct research as an integral part of their mission.

How many units are there at Charles University?

Charles University consists of seventeen faculties, of which three are theological, six are faculties of the humanities and social sciences, five are medical and three are dedicated to the sciences (used abbreviations in parentheses):

  • Catholic Theological Faculty (KTF)

  • Protestant Theological Faculty (ETF)

  • Hussite Theological Faculty (HTF)

  • Faculty of Law (PF)

  • First Faculty of Medicine (1. LF)

  • Second Faculty of Medicine (2. LF)

  • Third Faculty of Medicine (3. LF)

  • Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň (LFP)

  • Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové (LFHK)

  • Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové (FaF)

  • Faculty of Arts (FF)

  • Faculty of Science (PřF)

  • Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (MFF)

  • Faculty of Education (PedF)

  • Faculty of Social Sciences (FSV)

  • Faculty of Physical Education and Sport (FTVS)

  • Faculty of Humanities (FHS)

Four higher education institutes are part of the university:

  • Institute of the History of Charles University and Archive of Charles University (ÚDAUK)

  • Center for Theoretical Study (CTS)

  • Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education (CERGE)

  • Environment Center (COŽP)

What is the difference between faculty and higher education institute?

The Czech Higher Education Act stipulates that public higher education institutions (i. e. universities) may be divided into faculties, higher education institutes, and other units.

According to the Act a faculty must offer at least one accredited degree programme and carry out research. It consits of independent academic bodies (Academic Senate, the Dean, the Research Board and the Disciplinary Commission). The Act and the Constitution of Charles University grant a relatively high degree of autonomy to faculties not only in relation to setting up their academic bodies or internal organisation but also with respect to educational and research activities, academic qualifications, or internationalization. Therefore, there are many areas where faculties have the right to make decisions and act on behalf of the University with respect to the issues pertaining to them. Especially, faculties have sole authority in personal policy, i.e. hiring and promoting of academic staff, and also high degree of autonomy in economic issue including the budget.

A higher education institute carries out research, it may also take part in offering accredited degree programmes or parts of such programmes. It is headed by the director who is authorized to act on behalf of the public higher education institution only in matters stipulated in its internal regulations. With the approval of the Academic Senate of a public higher education institution, the director names and dismisses the Scientific Board of a higher education institute.

see also University Bodies and Regulations

What are the differences between individual units?

The individual faculties and higher education institutes of Charles University differ from one other in terms of their origin, mission, focus, internal culture, or number of students and academic staff. For example, the annual revenue of the three smallest faculties fluctuates around 2.5 million Euros, while those of three largest faculties revolve around 50.0 million Euros, which jointly represents about two-fifths of the entire university budget.

How do units participate in the evaluation?

A unit has a right to:

  • Propose technical and academic evaluation parameters;

  • Nominate the members of the Expert Panels and Reviewers;

  • Submit to the Research Evaluation Board motions concerning the failure to fulfil or a violation of the evaluation rules;

  • Carry out a check of the material correctness of data serving as input for the calculation of indicators and data sets submitted for the purpose of bibliometric analysis;

  • Provide feedback on interim and final evaluation outcomes.

A unit has a duty to:

  • Cooperate in performing the evaluation in accordance with the relevant Rector's measure;

  • Ensure the maximum possible correctness and completeness of information provided;

  • Appoint a person that is designated to coordinate the administrative and organisational activities related to evaluation;

  • Ensure the participation of the evaluation coordinator and, in the case of a faculty, also of the relevant Vice-Dean at consultation meetings convened by the Vice-Rector vested with the power of evaluating research.

In addition, during the course of the evaluation units are especially supposed to:

How are the units evaluated?