Organisational aspects

Tertiary professional schools

Concerning continuing professional development of teachers of tertiary professional schools (vyšší odborné školy), see Continuing Professional Development for Teachers Working in Early Childhood and School Education.

Higher education institutions

The continuing professional development of academic staff is then closely connected with the general enhancement of the qualification and development of scientific and research skills (through scientific work, post-doctoral study, foreign internship, in the case of physicians or veterinarians also through attestations, etc.). The obligation of academic staff to further educate themselves is not explicitly formulated in the Higher Education Act. Nevertheless, this obligation is implicitly included in other legislative documents. According to the Labour Code, all employees are obliged to deepen, i.e. to maintain and renew, their qualifications. All the costs incurred for such a qualification improvement are financed by the employer. Furthermore, according to the Government Regulation on Standards for Accreditation in Higher Education, one of the conditions required for the higher education institution (vysoká škola) to obtain the accreditation is, among others, securing financial resources for continuing professional development for academic staff. Academics have the opportunity to attend various continuing education courses focused on professional development), general skills (particularly foreign language courses and courses developing computer skills), teaching skills, and personal development.

Incentives for participation in continuing professional development (CPD) activities

Tertiary professional schools

Concerning continuing professional development of teachers of tertiary professional schools (vyšší odborné školy), see Continuing Professional Development for Teachers Working in Early Childhood and School Education.

Higher education institutions

In-service training of academic staff depends on the individuals' motivation and is associated with the development of their academic careers. In-service training of academic staff is fully encouraged by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

For continuing professional development of academics, 6 months' sabbatical leave can also be used. According to the Higher Education Act, it is provided to academic staff of higher education institutions, at their request, once every seven years, unless this is impossible because of serious circumstances related to carrying out the educational tasks of the higher education institution. Academic staff on sabbatical leave are entitled to their salaries.