ABSTRACT
The emerging market economies of central Europe, which include the Czech Republic, are very different from their counterparts around the world. Unlike many emerging markets, the Central European countries started their economic transition to an open market economy with a strong industrial base and a developed education system. As the Czech Republic makes its political and economic transition to democracy and capitalism and becomes more open in the process, it represents a country consistent with this volume’s definition of an emerging market. This chapter will focus on higher education as an important tool that can help to determine the success or failure of the Czech Republic’s transformation. The movement toward market principles can be observed in the Czech Republic’s higher education policy, such as the decentralization from state control, more flexibility in seeking sources for funding its educational activities, and competition for research funds. As is the case with other formerly communist countries, it is critical that political, educational, and economic changes are tightly linked and coordinated.
