Russian students in the Czech Republic: In Prague, universities deal with critical disciplines, they have not interrupted any Russian studies
Following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation with the participation of Belarus, the European Union declared against Russia and Belarus sanctions, which also concern the ban on the provision of technical assistance, which, however, is also considered a study in some fields. The Ministry of Education commissioned universities to check their study programs and consult with the Financial Analytical Office on the risk of studying for specific individuals.
Ministry spokeswoman Aneta Lednová told ČTK in May that for example, passing on some information in teaching or research could be risky, mainly in doctoral studies. According to her, universities should eventually set up an individual study plan or admission to an alternative study program for Russians and Belarusians. The last resort may be to interrupt the study for the duration of the sanctions, she said. According to the ministry’s statistics, 8,116 Russians and 1,033 Belarusians studied in the Czech Republic in January.
Charles University (UK) according to spokesman Václav Hájek the list of risky study programs is now refined according to the technologies used in them.
“Given the number of study programs that the UK runs in hundreds, this analysis is not yet complete,” he said. However, according to him, the findings so far show that nine of the 17 faculties will not be affected by the sanctions.
“Sanctions do not affect many hundreds of students, on the contrary, we estimate the impact only on units of people. However, even in such a case, Charles University will definitely not prevent the continuation of studies, it will proceed by offering individual alternatives that will not be in conflict with sanctions, “he said.
At CTU, they completed the list of critical fields on Thursday. It shows that there are several dozen of them in Czech and English, at seven of the eight faculties. The exception is the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University.
“Every student from Russia or Belarus, whether studying in a critical or non-critical program, in writing no later than 19 August 2022 on the continuation of the studies of the dean or director of the component at which he is studying, through his study department, “said CTU spokeswoman Kateřina Veselá. According to her, the school will start cooperating with the FAU when the students’ requests come. She has not yet interrupted her studies due to sanctions against any Russian or Belarusian.
Cheerful emphasized that CTU rejects a comprehensive solution and wants to approach each student individually.
“If no other solution can be found, such as granting an exemption, individual study plan, misdemeanor, etc., in these justified cases, the study in the critical study program will be interrupted,” she said. According to them, Russians and Belarusians will be able to continue their studies in fields that are not subject to sanctions. However, everyone will have to sign a declaration committing me to attend only the permitted items. “In addition, each student must have a valid permanent residence visa or a valid study visa in the permit,” she added.
Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague (ICT) reduced the Energy and Fuels study program for Russians and Belarusians. It offers an alternative field for applicants and current students must adjust the topics of final and doctoral theses so that it is not linked to applied and commercial research or a patent, said the school’s spokesman Michal Janovský. Currently, according to him 152 Russians and 20 Belarusians study at the Institute of Chemical Technology.
According to their spokespersons, the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (CULS) and the University of Economics in Prague (VŠE) are currently evaluating the riskiness of their study programs. None of them interrupted anyone from Russia or Belarus unless they asked for it themselves. According to a school spokesman, there are now almost a thousand students from Russia and over a hundred from Belarus at the University of Economics.
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