Independent experts of the International Evaluation Panel evaluated the research activities of the College of Polytechnics Jihlava

Seven experts from the fields of economics, technology, health care, coming from the Czech Republic and abroad, assessed the College of Polytechnics Jihlava as a research organisation according to the Methodology for Evaluating Research Organisations and RD&I Purpose-tied Aid Programmes (valid for years 2017+). This is a common national framework for the evaluation of research organisations in the Czech Republic, which focuses on the qualitative evaluation of research activities with an emphasis on the societal benefits of research, the quality of outputs and the environment, international impact and the strategy for managing research activities.

During the visit, the Rector of VŠPJ Zdeněk Horák presented the overall profile of the school to the panel members. The heads of the individual departments then presented the achieved results of research activities and plans for the future. The programme also included a tour of the college's laboratories and a discussion with students and academic staff, which provided valuable feedback directly from the college environment.

"The College of Polytechnics Jihlava is a public university that not only provides professionally oriented education, but also carries out high-quality applied research and development. For this reason, we attach particular importance to the evaluation of an independent panel of respected experts from different countries and disciplines. The conclusions and recommendations of the International Evaluation Panel will enable us to better target our efforts, identify strengths and also identify areas for further improvement. We consider this process to be crucial for the further development of the College of Polytechnics Jihlava," said Zdeněk Horák, Rector of the VŠPJ.

The evaluation of research activities of universities in the Czech Republic according to Methodology 17 emphasizes not only publication outputs, but also the contribution of research to society, the quality of the research environment, strategic management and student involvement. The results of the IEP evaluation will play an important role in the future direction of the VŠPJ as a research institution and will contribute to the overall improvement of the quality of research work at the school.

The evaluation according to the 2017 Methodology in the higher education segment involves not only public universities and colleges but also others that have submitted the required documents. The results of the evaluation not only influence the allocation of institutional support from public budgets, but also serve as a strategic tool for improving the quality of research and provide important feedback for the further development of the school.