The Faculty of Social and Economic Studies (FSE) is one of nine sections of the J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. The university form is a community of seven faculties (FSE is the second largest). Nearly eight thousand students study full time (75,5 %) and part time (24,5 %) in the study programmes in all the above mentioned parts in the following programmes:
in 18 bachelor’s programmes and in their framework, 23 specializations,
in 5 master’s programmes and in their framework, 45 master’s specializations,
in 4 continuing master’s programmes and in their framework, 7 master’s specializations.
From the entire number of UJEP students, 22 % study at the Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, the bachelor’s level is represented by 42 % and the continuing master’s study by 50 % of the corresponding programme. The faculty constitutes 19 % of the entire body of students studying full time and 33 % studying part time. The position of the faculty is even more significant in view of its importance for the region as a whole. This is not diminished by the fact that in the Ústí region, 6 more economics study programmes are offered by 3 other universities (ČZU Praha, VŠFS Praha, VŠEM Praha).
From its inception, the Faculty of Social and Economic Studies has concentrated exclusively on two specializations, Business administration and management and Social work. In accordance with the overall tendency not only in our country, but also abroad and especially in the European Union, which we entered in 2004, we are aiming at the enlargement of study programmes offered. We want to strengthen the characteristics of the faculty and provide our students with a wider choice. Specific orientation towards the problematic of the region is represented by the programmes Regional development and Management of human resources; a more general orientation by the programmes Trade and marketing and Financial management. In the sphere of Social work the emphasis on social exclusion is important, concerning people seeking asylum and immigrants, but also national minorities, especially the Roma minority.
In the continuing study programme, which finishes with a master’s degree, the study of economic policy in the European Union will be intensified within the framework of Business administration and management. A new, independent specialization, which will be studied in English, should be created in the future. The offer of an English programme is important for the possibility of having foreign students studying here. This is the way to increase international co-operation and, reciprocally, to enable our students to study abroad. What is now ready is a one-term English course “Entrepreneurship in the European Union”, in the framework of life-long learning, which is designed for foreign students.
With the transition to the credit system and with the structuralization into bachelor’s and master’s degree, our faculty drew nearer to the system of studies in other European countries and this has enabled the students to continue their education at other universities both in our republic and abroad. And for this of course, good foreign language knowledge and skills are necessary, however their foundations should be laid at highschools. Tertiary study should connect foreign language tuition with professional issues surrounding the specialization studied.
Our faculty also supports sports and cultural activities of students within the framework of the whole university. In a newly prepared specialization, physical education and sports will be included in two terms; the whole university then supports voluntary sports events for students and academic staff. Also cultural events organised by individual departments of the whole university enjoy full support.
