Download Part I: Factual review

Week of Czechs Living Abroad
Section of English-speaking Countries (except in Europe)
Sept. 21st – 22nd, 2006
Section leader: MUDr. Martin Jan Stránský, MD
Thursday Sept. 21st, 2006 9:00 - 12:00
Relations between secondary schools and universities
of the Czech Republic and other countries
The aim of this section is to analyze post-November 1989 development and to strengthen
mutual ties.
Part I: Factual review
- Analysis of post 1989 development in terms of foreign students studying in the CR
and Czech students abroad.
- Identifying the key organizations/institutions that offer information for those students
interested in studies abroad (both to the CR and from the CR abroad).
- Examining existing visa and living conditions (in the CR for foreign students and in
specific countries for Czech students). Are there countries that pose greater
bureaucratic and/or other obstacles to international studies/students?
- Identifying the main organizations/institutions in the CR that offer studies to
foreigners in the CR and for Czech students abroad. What are the ingredients to their
success? Why do Czech students prefer specific institutions/ universities/ countries?
- Identifying the possibilities for financial support to exchange students (to the CR and
from the CR abroad)?
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9:00 – 9:05 MUDr. Martin Jan Stránský - Introduction
9:05 – 9:25 Prof. Mestenhauser – “Student Mobility in the Framework of
International Education“
9:30 – 9:50 Min. Školství – WHO?? Statistics and Trends in the Czech Republic
9:50 – 10:10 Prof. Michal Kraus – “American Universities and Czech Students –
Missed Opportunities?
10:10 – 10:30 Barbara Adams – “International Mobility of Czech Students in Higher
Education“
10:30 – 10:45 Break
Part II: Discussion and synopsis
 10:45 - 11:15 Opportunity for other short presentations
 11:15 – 12:00 Summary, and formulation of key conclusions, including:
Outlining the possibilities/limits to further increase of flow of foreign
students to the CR and for Czech students to study abroad, with specific
recommendations.
- Outlining the role that can be played by Czechs living abroad and their organizations
regarding the strengthening of exchange.
- Is there a “brain drain, and should it be prevented?” If not, then outlining measure to
induce Czech students to come back after finishing their studies abroad.
12:00 -13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 16:30.
Czechs abroad and in the CR: what divides us, what connects us?
The aim of this section is to engage in a strictly positive and objective discussion of the above
question as outlined below.
Part I: Negative factors.
- Czech and Czechoslovak emigrations – varying expectations
- Anti-Americanism in the CR and Europe and other causes of negative attitudes
between Czechs at home and Czechs abroad.
- What is the impact of visa regulations on Czechs going abroad or people of Czech
background coming here?
- What role do citizenship, voting rights, and possible restitutions play in forming
attitudes on the part of Czechs outside the CR?
 13:30 – 13:50 MUDr. Martin Jan Stránský – “Emigrations, expectations, realities“
 13:50 – 14:15 Dr. Jiří Pehe – “The Roots of anti-Americanism“
 14:15 – 14:30 Mr. S. Hatcher, Gen. Consul - US Visa policy
 14:30 – 14:45 Mr. Erik Best “OUTLINE??”
 14:45 - 15:15 Opportunity for other short presentations
 15:15 – 15:30 Break
Part II: Positive factors.
- 15:30 - 15:45
Ms. Adamcová (ppt. presentation) “Presenting the Czech Republic
Overseas”
Part III: Discussion and synopsis
 15:45 – 16:30 Summary and formulation of key conclusions, including:
- What are the positive characteristics of Czechs at home and abroad and how can they
be used to further relations? Are they the same for Czechs at home and those
abroad?
- Examining the role of culture, sport, science, and media.
- Mapping out the organizations in the CR that support Czechs abroad and that
strengthen mutual relations.
- Is there a national identity? How is it grasped by Czechs at home and Czechs abroad?
How can it be strengthened? What role can organizations play?
- Overview of the above negative and positive factors and recommendation of needed
steps for their respective reduction/strengthening.
Friday, Sept. 22nd, 2006, 9:00 – 15:30
Strengthening of mutual economic cooperation
between the Czech Republic and Czechs abroad
The aim is to analyze the Czechs abroad – Czech economic relations and to suggest possible
steps in order to improve mutual investments and economic cooperation.
Part I: Factual review
- Investment from/to the CR after 1989. What percentage of outside investment into the
CR is Czech and vice-versa? How does this compare to other post-communist EU
members?
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What is the position of Czechs abroad in supporting Czech export and investments?
What is the current investment climate of the CR as pertains to tax policy, green cards,
transparency, political climate and infrastructure?
What are the chief organizations/institutions that operate in the export, import, and
investment spheres? How can investors find them/each other?
9:00 – 9:05
9:05 – 9:30
9:30 – 9:50
9:50 – 10:10
10:10 – 10:30
10:30 – 10:50
10:50 – 11:10
11:10- 11:40
MUDr. Martin Jan Stránský – Introduction
Prof. Jan Švejnar – “OUTLINE??”
Min. Fin. Či Min.OP – WHO?? “Statistics and Trends”
Ondřej Jonáš – “Czech Integration within the EU and World Markets“
Jan Sýkora “The Czech Republic as a Target for Investment“
Tomaš Hruda, Czechinvest (Ppt.presentation) “Czechinvest“.
Martin Illner – „Reasons for Choosing Prague“
Break
Part II.: The role of psychological factors and the „image“ of the Czech Republic
- What are the factors and causes that make the CR “non-attractive” for investors?
- What are the factors that make the CR attractive for investors?
- What is the overall “image” of the Czech Republic?
 11:40 – 12:00 Ladislav Kopecký (Ppt. presentation) “Brand ČR“
 12:00 – 12:20 Jaroslav Anděl – “The Czech Republic: Identity, Culture and
Branding“
12:20 – 14:00 Lunch
Part III: Discussion and synopsis
 14:00 - 15:30 Opportunity for other presentations
 15:30 – 16:30 Summary and formulation of key conclusions, including:
- Based on the above, outlining both the obstacles to investments to the CR and needed
measures to overcome them as well as the advantages of investing in the CR and
measures on how to improve them. Second, assessing the possible role of CzechCzech relations regarding import into the CR as well as CR export.