The professional development of academics – assistant professors and associate professors – is one of the priorities of the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, aiming to ensure the continuity of the special character and high standard of individual departments and institutes. In compliance with the requirements of the Czech university system, academic staff can enhance their qualifications in procedures to attain associate professorship (habilitation procedure) and procedures for the appointment of full professorship.
Granting of Associate Professorship (Habilitation) and Full Professorship Appointment Procedures
Any candidate who meets the requirements set by the Higher Education Act and the internal regulations and documents of Charles University (List of Regulations) may apply for the initiation of the procedure to attain associate professorship or the procedure for the appointment of full professorship. The candidate must submit all required documents as stipulated by the aforementioned law. Attention should also be paid to the provisions of the Code of Procedure for the Research Board of Charles University and Rector’s Directive No. 43/2020. Habilitation and full professorship appointment procedures at Charles University are initiated in academic fields accredited in accordance with Act No. 111/1998 Sb., to regulate higher education institutions and to change and amend other laws.
Habilitation procedure
A candidate can become an Associate Professor (docent) in a specific field if they are usually a doctoral graduate (Ph.D.) with sufficient teaching experience and demonstrate their pedagogical and scientific competence in the habilitation procedure. This includes defending their habilitation thesis and delivering a habilitation lecture before the Research Board of the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. The appointment is subsequently approved by the Rector’s Board and finally confirmed by the Rector.
The letters of appointment for new Associate Professors are handed over during a ceremonial assembly at Karolinum. The event is organized by the Research Support Office of the Rectorate of Charles University. Newly appointed Associate Professors of Charles University are invited to the presentation of the letters of appointment by an official letter from the Vice-Rector for Academic Appointments.
Full Professorship Appointment Procedure
A candidate can become a professor in a specific field if they have successfully completed their habilitation, are a distinguished and internationally recognized scientific authority in their field, and have authored significant scientific or artistic publications of an appropriate scope.
As part of the appointment procedure, the candidate must deliver a lecture before the Research Board of the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, and subsequently before the Research Board of Charles University, where they present their vision for research and teaching in their field. After successful approval at all levels, the procedure is forwarded to the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic.
New professors are appointed by the President of the Czech Republic, and the appointment decree is countersigned by the Prime Minister.
Letters of appointment for new university professors are presented at a ceremonial assembly at Karolinum. The event is organized by the Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education. Newly appointed professors of Charles University receive an invitation to the event via a letter from the Rector of Charles University.
