"Under my leadership, CTU should become the technical university of choice in our region. We want students and teachers to feel comfortable here and to start effective cooperation with the commercial sector. I want to use my experience from business and my many years of work at CTU," says Michal Pěchouček, adding: "Over the next few years, I want to manage the university so that it ranks among the top 100 technical universities in the world, according to the QS World University Ranking by Subject: Engineering and Technology. For comparison, it is currently in 189th place."
Among the new rector's closest associates are names such as Jakub Nešetřil, one of the most successful founders of technology projects in Czechia. His latest initiatives include Matika Česku. At CTU, he became vice-rector for entrepreneurship and technology transfer. The vice-rector for foreign affairs and government relations is Ladislav Krištoufek, the current vice-rector of Charles University, who is one of the most cited scientists in the world. Two years ago, the President of the Republic awarded him a medal for his contributions to science. Lenka Burgerová, who heads the section for campuses and building infrastructure, has also found her place in the team. The former Vice-Rector of the Technical University of Liberec is tasked with focusing on the urban development of CTU and is also responsible for the revitalization and reconstruction of the Strahov dormitories in Prague. Half of the vice-rectors come from outside the university, which is historically unique.
On the contrary, the university has recruited, for example, the former dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Pavel Ripka, the former head of the Department of Cybernetics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tomáš Svoboda, and the former vice-dean for scientific research at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Jan Zeman.
The first step towards fulfilling the new rector's mission is to launch the ČVUT Starting Grant program for outstanding young scientists. He is launching it at the same time as he takes office, with the aim of supporting early-career academics with international experience and outstanding results to start their independent scientific careers at CTU. Applications for the program can be submitted from February 2 to March 30, 2026, and if successful, applicants will receive up to four million crowns per year for a period of three years. The money is intended to establish research groups, of which up to ten may be created.
The guarantor of the CTU Starting Grant program is Vice-Rector for Science Jan Zeman: "This activity is fully in line with the new rector's strategy. The goal is to attract the best young scientists to the university and help them fully develop their potential. This will benefit not only CTU, but society as a whole," he explains. It also includes efforts to systematically remove barriers that prevent talented people from fully participating in research, including those related to parenthood.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)