Social and Economic Committee
Social and Economic Committee
Social and Economic Committee (KSE)
is an advisory body of the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions. It addresses the social and economic aspects of studying at higher education institutions. Its agenda includes the issue of higher education financing, which currently faces major problems, including insufficient financial support for students from the state. It deals with scholarships, the concept of student loans and repayable grants, financial support for students in difficult situations, and also the promotion of accessibility of study for students from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
Within the area of higher education financing, the committee places particular emphasis on the question of direct financial support for students. The committee addresses the issue of scholarships and other social support instruments, both systemically and in relation to current socioeconomic challenges.
It also monitors the availability and quality of dormitory accommodation and dining hall (menza) catering. It further deals with the working conditions of students on internships or work placements, as well as the employability and job placement of higher education graduates.
The Social and Economic Committee collaborates on the preparation of the Student Chamber’s positions on issues concerning the budget of higher education institutions in the Czech Republic, as well as on related legislative documents. At the same time, it serves as a platform for sharing experience among its members and produces handbooks for academic senators to help them better navigate the issue of higher education financing in the Czech Republic.
The KSE identifies student loans as a missing pillar of support and a certain barrier to access to higher education; in many European countries, they represent a standard instrument of direct financial support for students. Their form, conditions, and extent of use, however, vary considerably across Europe. In the Czech Republic, though, this important instrument is still lacking.
