College of Regional Development

The focus of the College of Regional Development (VŠRR) is traditionally applied management: education of public and regional administration management, regional development management focused on HR, tourism management, population safety and protection management, always internationally interlinked with the European Union. The VŠRR 's strategic priority after its integration into the EDUA Group is to grow in these fields and in other areas of business management, economy, and entrepreneurship.

At present the VŠRR offers three study programmes: Security and Safety Management in Regions(successfully accredited in 2013), Urban and Regional Development Management (successfully accredited in 2014) and Management and Regional Development, which is coming to an end. New programmes offer several specialisations, with full-time and combined modes of study.

More facts about the College of Regional Development:

• More than 370 students now study in three accredited bachelor study programmes and more than 1,000 students have successfully graduated.
• The VŠRR cooperates with more than 40 lecturers, 3 professors, 28 docents and doctors, as well as professionals in the respective areas.
• The academic staff of the VŠRR are engaged as researchers or co-researchers in European research and application projects and other projects that involve students, especially within Student Research and Professional Activity.
• The VŠRR jointly with Civitas per Populi co-publishes a periodical of Regional Development between the Theory and Practice (ISSN 1805-3246). The periodical is a peer-reviewed journal addressing regional development issues.
• The VŠRR has been enlisted among successful applicants for cooperation in the framework of Erasmus+ and was certified by the EC executive agency for the new Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) aiming at quality of students and staff mobility for the period of 2014-2020. The VŠRR consistently supports student and academic staff mobility.
• It cooperates with foreign universities such as Kaiserslautern University of Technology, College of European Studies and Regional Development, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Police Academy of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava, Žilina University, and others.
• Regularly organizes expert conferences.
• Applies individual approach to every student including study, social or profession consultancy and scholarship.
• Students can obtain a financial support for learning languages or vocational training organized by other institutions within the EDUA Group.
• The contents of lessons are systematically and regularly re-accredited in the light of developing knowledge in the disciplines. The VŠRR is for instance a researcher of the OPPA no. CZ.2.17/3.1.00/32599: Innovation of bachelor study programme in the context of the Bologna process placing emphasis on the learning outcomes.
• The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is subject to regular evaluation and the VŠRR applies consistent quality control in compliance with Czech and European standards.
• The practice confirms that graduates fulfil their career expectations.

The College of Regional Development in Prague was established by the decision of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic in 2003, when the School obtained, in accordance with the Czech Higher Education Act, the state's approval to provide higher education. At present the School ranks among the small-sized, yet well-established and dynamically growing private higher education institutions in the Czech Republic.

The College of Regional Development has also been enlisted among successful applicants for cooperation in the framework of Erasmus+ and was certified by the EC Executive Agency for the new Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) aiming at quality of students and staff mobility in the entirely newly laid out Erasmus+ programme for the period 2014-2020. The Charter will enable the College to continue with already established international cooperation and seek new foreign partners. Our goal in the new period will be primarily to pursue higher involvement of students in mobility and deepen existing cooperation in connection with the development of cooperation in science, research and other creative activities.

The VŠRR was granted the Extended Erasmus University Charter by the EC authorising its participation in the Erasmus programme for the first time in 2008. It is an extended type of authorisation which allows the institution to pursue all types of the Erasmus programme activities including internships.

The College of Regional Development places an emphasis on systematic quality management of its study programmes in compliance with Czech and European standards for quality management in higher education institutions:

• The VŠRR quality management falls within the scope of responsibilities of the Rector, and Head of Quality and Partnerships, in cooperation with other bodies taking part in the quality management, such as Departments, Academic Board, the management of the individual programmes etc.
• The VŠRR carries out an annual internal review and annual monitoring.
• The quality, transparency and objectivity of assessment are assured through mechanisms and processes such as consistent work with assessment criteria double marking of final bachelor theses, placing emphasis on evaluation in accordance with an evaluation scale, grade inflation monitoring, mark distribution monitoring, and others.
• The quality of teaching is monitored through regular student feedback.
• Students receive the necessary study information through course handbooks and a modern student intranet.
• The VŠRR devotes attention to quality management and academic staff development through regular staff development activities, etc.