We are an institution that is “in the heart of Europe” not only by its geographical location, but also at the academic level. Leading experts from the Czech Republic and abroad meet at our faculty; owing to the wide study offer and interdisciplinary permeability, we are a faculty that is also very attractive for students and researchers from abroad.

We are a top scientific workplace with an international reach – the large number of international projects or cooperation within the 4EU+ Alliance testifies to this. In addition, within the whole university, our faculty has the highest number of joint international programmes (joint and double degrees) as well as the highest number of foreign-language study programmes. We cooperate with European universities within the ERASMUS+ programme, which is complemented by other programmes of international mobility with leading non-European educational and scientific institutions.

Our people

Our teachers are invited as key speakers to prestigious conferences and become members or advisors to major national and international boards. Thanks to this, studying at our faculty offers an extraordinary opportunity to gain foreign experience at prestigious workplaces. In the Czech Republic and Central Europe, we are among the clear leaders in international rankings in all our study fields.

Our graduates and teachers hold important positions in public life - as experts at the ministries, embassies of the Czech Republic, the European Union, in Czech and international or multinational commercial companies, as leading economists in banks, well-known journalists, politicians or members of research agencies. Holding such positions, they then become important co-framers in the process of creating public opinion on serious issues of a society-wide character.

We intend to create and disseminate knowledge that contributes to the knowledge, development and quality of life in contemporary society. In all areas of our activities, we strive to be a faculty that honours the values it is based on. In particular, the values of the four INs are key to us: interdisciplinarity, innovation, internationalisation and inclusivity.

We strive to be a leading educational and research institution in the field of social sciences, which shows the right path and analyzes the topics of contemporary society and contributes to their solution through its academicians and graduates. Thanks to the high level of education and research, we want to continue to occupy a leading position in both domestic and international comparisons. This is linked to the emphasis placed on a high level of language and communication skills used in teaching, research and also by administrative staff.

All our students thus have the opportunity to gain first-class knowledge in their study field and general academic skills. Moreover, we nurture the academic environment, which is a fertile ground for free discussion and the search for new scientific knowledge.

We want to keep the trend of the faculty’s change into a modern institution, which, although conscious of its tradition, can react to the current challenges and be proactive within the entire Charles University. Last but not least, we continue to cooperate with the private, public and non-profit sectors, which contributes to social development and also to the viability of the faculty.

To create modern and innovative study programs, from Bachelor to doctoral.

To improve the conditions for inspiring and innovative scientific activity.

To strengthen the international reputation of the faculty.

To prepare a modern base for the future development of the faculty.

To strengthen the position of FSV UK as the faculty of first choice for the best students, teachers, scientists, and administrative staff.

Support a plurilingual environment, guarantee the development of language competences and support student and employee mobility.

Raise awareness of cultural diversity and provide important information in Czech and English.

We support the professionalism, purposefulness, individuality and achievement of each of our students, employees and the faculty as a whole.

We value academic freedom, encourage creative thinking and academic discussion.

We respectfully approach diversity and strive for the atmosphere of a just, friendly and supportive community.

We strive to make the faculty a pleasant and stimulating place for a wide range of academic activities.

In all areas of our activities, we place emphasis on responsibility, whether when participating in public discussions, or in the process of transferring findings and acquired knowledge, or in the educational and research process itself.

Thanks to the firm anchoring in the unique centuries-old academic tradition of the Central European region, we create a bridge between Western and Eastern Europe.

INterdisciplinary

We closely follow developments in our and related study fields and actively seek functional interconnection and opportunities for collaboration in new areas.

INnovative

We are expanding our range of study programmes, raising the level of the existing ones, keeping pace with the latest trends in information technology in academic and scientific activities.

INternational

We support the mobility of students and academic staff, provide language courses, host leading international experts, and actively participate in international scientific projects.

INclusive

We see diversity as an enrichment of the academic community. We create a welcoming environment and equal conditions for everyone and raise awareness of cultural diversity.

Diversity enriches our academic community, particularly in social sciences, and we strive to create a welcoming environment. We offer help where it is needed to ensure equity for everyone.

On the university and faculty level, we look after our students with special educational needs. We offer study assistance, provide access to study resources and other services. Psychological and legal counselling are also available.

For socially disadvantaged students, we offer accommodation scholarships and social scholarships. Our international students from developing countries and countries going through a process of political and economic transition can receive scholarships as well. 

People from LGBTQ+ community are welcome among us. On the university level, the club Charlie unites students and (non)academic staff and organizes regular meet-ups and other events. For the faculty employees, we prepared a training on the etiquette towards trans and non-binary colleagues and students to ensure they feel good here. Students can contact also our therapist who is open to discuss gender identity and sexuality related topics. We include LGBTQ+ topic also in the events organized by the faculty: we hosted a discussion about marriage for everyone and another discussion took place within FSV UK Cinema. In 2023, we participated in Prague Pride with the exhibition Towards: searching for queer safe space. Several of our students chose LGBTQ+ as a topic of their diploma theses.

FSV UK decided to establish a new position of student ombudsmen, who, as a new supporting body, will advocate for a more friendly environment at the Faculty. The Student Ombudsmen will help to solve problems and conflict situations more efficiently and quickly. They will act as consultants, intermediaries and mediators among students, teachers and management of individual institutes and the entire faculty.

Rainbow pins are available at the Public Affairs and Communications office. Contact: Mgr. Markéta Šmídová, marketa.smidova@fsv.cuni.cz.