University of South Bohemia ceremonially entered the 2025/26 academic year. In his opening speach, USB Rector Pavel Kozák highlighted the major investments soon to be completed, which will give the university a new modern canteen and the long-awaited representative aula. He also spoke of the new challenges posed by increasing student numbers in non-medical healthcare and teacher-education programmes, and of support for doctoral candidates, science and research—without which USB could not fulfill its ambition to be a prestigious university. He emphasized the great significance of the new School of Doctoral Studies, whose establishment has made USB a “pioneering” institution. He underscored the strengthening of internationalization, notably through USB’s admission to the prestigious European universities consortium KreativEU. He praised the work of student associations engaged in the cultural and sporting life of the university and their major role in organizing the orientation course at Vranov for first-year students, which this year welcomed over 900 freshmen. According to the Rector, this event—where students receive a wealth of clear information about university life—also helps reduce the failure rate, one of the many important goals USB pursues for the future. He further stressed the defence of the HR Award, which ranks USB among institutions with a high standard of human-resources care in the research environment, and the positive evaluation by the International Evaluation Panel.
Rector Pavel Kozák wished everyone much energy and enthusiasm for their work in the 2025/26 academic year, during which USB will undertake, for example, an extensive revitalization of its campus and face many academic challenges.
Ten students and academics received the Rector’s Award for scientific and pedagogical achievements. The Rector also presented tokens of appreciation for two service jubilees and one significant work anniversary. New associate professors and full professors who earned their titles in the past academic year were introduced. The ceremonial programme concluded with congratulations on two significant life jubilees of USB academics.
The University expressed its gratitude and support to the honoured researchers and educators in their work, not only within the Czech academic environment but also abroad.
SCIENTIFIC AWARDS:
Zdeněk Veselovský Prize in the Natural Sciences category
RNDr. Tereza Patlejchová - PŘF JU
RNDr. Tereza Kozelková, Ph.D. - PŘF JU
MSc. Ismael Soto Almena, Ph.D. - FROV JU
PhDr. Milan Novák, Ph.D. - PŘF JU
Jakub Krčín Prize in the Agricultural and Fisheries Sciences category
Ing. Lenka Kajgrová, Ph.D. - FROV JU
MSc. Mohammad Ghorbani, Ph.D. - FZT JU (doc. Ing. Jan Bárta, Ph.D. accepted the award on behalf of dr. Ghorbani)
Jiří František August Buquoy Prize in the Social Sciences category
Mgr. Jakub Staněk, Ph.D. - PF JU
Jana Anna Kateřina Zátková Prize for the Popularization of Science
prof. Tomáš Machula, Ph.D., Th.D. - TF JU
PEDAGOGICAL AWARDS:
Jarloch Prize for Outstanding Pedagogical Achievements
Ing. Petra Plachtová - FROV JU (Mgr. Miroslav Boček accepted the award on behalf of Petra Plachtová)
doc. PaedDr. Hana Andrášová, Ph.D. - PF JU
New Associate Professors and Professors at USB:
doc. RNDr. Radmila Čapková Frydrychová, Ph.D. - FZT JU
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Futera, Ph.D. - PŘF JU
doc. Ing. Vladimír Kulish, Ph.D. - PŘF JU
doc. Ing. Martin Pech, Ph.D. - EF JU
doc. RNDr. Radek Litvín, Ph.D. - PŘF JU
doc. Dr. phil. Jakub Sirovátka - TF JU
prof. Ing. Vladimír Žlábek, Ph.D. - FROV JU
Work Anniversaries:
Ing. Jaroslava Uherová - REK (40 years at USB)
PhDr. Marta Vágnerová, Ph.D. - PF JU (40 years at USB)
Marie Tesařová - FF JU (retirement after 34 years at USB)
Life Anniversaries:
doc. RNDr. Eva Vaněčková, CSc. - EF JU
In 1961, she joined the Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Agriculture in Prague, based in České Budějovice. She was involved in many changes and developments of the faculty, which gradually evolved from the Faculty of Economics and Management into the Faculty of Agronomy, then the Faculty of Agriculture, and finally the Faculty of Economics at the University of South Bohemia.
As a permanent member of staff, she remained at the Faculty of Economics until June 2019. Associate Professor Eva Vaněčková served the university for a total of 58 years and celebrated the significant milestone of her 90th birthday this June.
prof. Ing. Drahoš Vaněček, CSc. - EF JU
He joined the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Agriculture in Prague at České Budějovice in 1961. He also witnessed its transformation from the Faculty of Economics and Management to the Faculty of Agronomy, then the Faculty of Agriculture, and finally the Faculty of Economics at the University of South Bohemia. As a tenured member of staff, he remains at the USB Faculty of Economics to this day and teaches international students in the Erasmus programme in English. He has served on the faculty for a total of 64 years. The professor will celebrate his 95th birthday in November.
