Carolina University

The Charles University in Prague, founded in 1348 by King Charles IV, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, as well as the oldest university institution in Central Europe. Inspired by the University of Paris, it was established to promote higher education and research in Bohemia, at a time when academic knowledge was emerging as a driving force in European society. The contribution of Charles IV was fundamental to the foundation of the university. Through a papal bull obtained from his friend and ally, Pope Clement VI, Charles IV managed to establish a university that included the four traditional faculties: theology, liberal arts, law, and medicine. This configuration made Charles University a center of educational excellence, attracting students from all over Europe. During the Middle Ages, the university became a focal point for the spread of reformist ideas. Personalities like Jan Hus, one of the most influential reformers of the 15th century, taught here, contributing to creating an environment of intellectual and spiritual fervor. Hus’s presence and his preaching against the corruptions of the Roman Catholic Church led to tensions that culminated in the Hussite Wars, during which the university played a crucial role. In the following centuries, the university underwent numerous transformations. During the Habsburg occupation, it was divided into Czech and German sections, reflecting the national divisions of the time. This separation lasted until the end of World War I, when the university was reorganized under the new Czechoslovak state. The second half of the 20th century saw the university resist the influence of the communist regime, still maintaining a prominent position in Czech higher education. Today, Charles University is composed of 17 faculties located in different cities, including Prague, Hradec Králové, and Plzeň. Its academic reputation remains high, with rankings placing it at the top in Eastern Europe and among the top 250 universities globally. The faculties of medicine, natural sciences, and humanities are particularly renowned. The university’s historic campus, the Carolinum, is a place of great historical and architectural importance. Built in the 14th century, it was the administrative center of the university and continues to be used for official ceremonies, conferences, and other academic activities. The Carolinum also houses numerous historical collections and museums that illustrate the institution’s rich academic heritage. Among the many distinguished alumni of Charles University are Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, founder and first president of Czechoslovakia, and Edvard Beneš, another Czechoslovak president and key figure in the country’s history. The field of science also boasts prominent figures like Jaroslav Heyrovský, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry in 1959 for his invention of polarography. The university is strongly committed to research and international collaboration. The Center for Economic Research and Higher Education – Institute of Economics (CERGE-EI) is an example of this vocation, being a research and educational institute in economics that collaborates with numerous prestigious universities and research institutes globally. CERGE-EI stands out for its interdisciplinary approach and significant contribution to the economic analysis of post-communist transitions.