“Charles University should make full use of its enormous potential and further strengthen its position among top European universities,” says Věra Jourová. The former EU commissioner was named Vice-Rector for the Development of Human Resources and New Technologies at CU in January. In her first interview in this position, she discusses the importance for the university to take an active role in negotiations on science, research and education policy, even at the highest levels. She sees this as one of the tasks facing her as a member of the Rector’s Board. She also wants to use the influence and contacts she built up around the world as a former vice-president of the European Commission.
How hard was it to get used to Prague again after moving back from Brussels, where you had lived for the last 10 years?
It wasn't hard, I was very much looking forward to going home. Ever since last spring, it had been increasingly difficult for me to return to Brussels. I had already started to mentally prepare myself to start a new chapter of my life in Prague. I turned 60 last year, and this is my message to all those in their sixties: it is possible to start a new chapter in a different place, in a different institution and with a new mission even now.
When your time at the European Commission was coming to an end, you spoke openly about your desire to go into academia. How did things come together?
I wanted to return home to the Czech Republic and to do something meaningful, both of which are fully realised in my work at Charles University. The other very important criterion is whom I would work for and with. Working with Rector Milena Králíčková and her team was an attractive proposition, so our negotiations were not dramatic; rather, we discussed the specific job and whether I could combine it with other activities. We began discussing the possibility of my joining CU around last July.
In an interview for the Czech daily Hospodářské noviny you said that your work in academia might be the "highlight" of your career...
I reaffirmed this recently. I sat in my gown, wearing all the insignia, in Bethlehem Chapel for the awarding of an honorary doctorat. I felt, in contrast to my previous work in a European institution, even with all of the influence, power and somehow ‘obligatory’ expressions of respect, that this was more. This is a question of the heart, of some of the undercurrents that we have in our souls. It's the ultimate mission. For me, CU is a beacon of science and education. I graduated from here twice. I owe everything I have achieved in my life to the university, so I'd like to pay it back, to repay the debt, somehow.
What topics will you focus on as vice-rector?
I have four main pillars. Firstly, a plan to put CU a little more firmly and visibly on the map of the European academic world. In this way, I can contribute to the good work already done by my colleagues, vice-rectors and others. It would be reprehensible to think that we should be on the European map only as successful grant applicants. That is short-sighted and ineffective, especially at a time when the European Union clearly needs robust activity in the field of research and education to be globally competitive. This is where the great potential of institutions such as CU comes into play. At the same time, we need to look at how the university’s potential is utilised today and how to develop it further. The European Commission will introduce a new strategic plan for research and education, and we as CU should be part of its preparation, rather than just waiting for an outcome, which is why I have already been to Brussels for various meetings. The aim is to make CU an institution that will have a strong voice in also setting policy to support science and research in Europe.
Former Vice-President of the European Commission, Věra Jourová, together with the President of the Senate, Miloš Vystrčil, supported the creation of the Gateway to the EU Institutions course, which aims to increase the number of Czech men and women working in EU institutions. The course will be organised by Charles University together with the University of Economics, Prague from 2023.
You have spoken about the competitiveness of the European Union in the field of science and research from your position as a European Commissioner. How can our university enter this space to be a promising science and research centre for the best from all over the world?
CU needs to be involved in all meaningful projects, and in a systematic way, not just when the news ‘jumps out at us’ that the EU is announcing a programme or project. I would like to talk about this directly with people from the European Commission, including at a meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. We need to have access to information and then analyse it properly. To do this, we need to be taken seriously. I think there is really room for Charles University to be heard more.
This was your first area of interest as vice-rector; what are the other three?
My second focus is human resources development. I am taking this up from a fellow vice-rector and will coordinate the so-called HR Award, which means the human resources development strategy of Charles University. This topic is not as naturally close to my heart as the one we talked about just now, but I am fascinated by what can be achieved once the strategy is fully implemented and when it is not just taken as ticking boxes because someone wants us to. I would also like to talk to faculty deans about how to develop human resources within the system.
The third pillar is new technologies: the 'train' of digitisation and artificial intelligence has moved very quickly. There are three areas that we need to address in relation to this. Firstly, we have to address how we deal with artificial intelligence so that it is useful and does not undermine the fairness of education or equal opportunities. Then, we need to learn how to use AI in a way that is useful for the university as an institution. The challenge is to get our research teams involved in excellent projects that advance AI research. And I'm not only referring to European projects – we should also explore opportunities overseas. I am still fascinated by the subject of using technology for the good of society and this is where institutions like Charles University can excel.
The fourth topic is very close to me professionally, and that is foreign interference, the so-called counterforce (research security). Many areas of research are of strategic and security importance, so much so that it is crucial to address hostile actors who seek to steal our intellectual property or undermine our efforts. This topic will become increasingly important for research institutes not only in the EU but also in the US and other democratic countries. I, with my experience in this area, would like to contribute to setting up an effective defence system. I realise that in many of the areas I will be involved in and also that there is some overlap with the agendas of colleagues, but I think it is clear that this is in the interests of our common cause. I like teamwork.
When it came to the portfolio that Jozef Síkela will get as the new European Commissioner for the Czech Republic, you were openly sorry that it was not science and research in the end because you would have immediately seen interesting opportunities for the Czech Republic in this area. What were they? (Jozef Síkela was ultimately appointed Commissioner for International Partnerships in the new European Commission, ed. note).
It would have been nice to approach Jozef Síkela if he had overseen this area as EU commissioner; on the other hand, I have known Ekaterina Zaharieva for many years and have had very frequent and intensive discussions with her as EU Commissioner. Back to the point: the commissioner must of course never play favourites with their own country, but there would undoubtedly have been easier access. I think that Jozef Síkela would have had a very good insight into this area. He is a former minister of industry, so he already has some idea about the commercialisation of science and research. We would have a common space to look for new possibilities in this area. But we cannot limit ourselves to the Czech Republic. I dream that one of the university research institutes here will develop something that will then be used by a major foreign company.
M. Ladmanová, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in the CR, V. Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, and M. Králíčková, Rector of Charles University.
This was one of the big topics you addressed as European Commissioner. What role should the university play in the public space at a time of increasing disinformation and deepfake videos spreading through the online space? Is it enough to cultivate critical thinking today? Or is more needed?
Building critical thinking and awareness of how to take in information can be the content of one particular course to be taught at CU. Working with information can also permeate the whole course of study. But that is the easier task. The far more difficult task for academia in the Czech Republic is to rebuild or increase trust in science, in knowledge and wisdom, to create a greater hunger for scientifically verified truth. In his second inaugural address, US President Donald Trump said he would restore common sense. That sounds nice, but it can also mean a disdain for knowledge. And that must not happen to us. The role of academia is to communicate with the public in an understandable way and to popularise science. With today's avalanche of information and its flattening and truncation, this is extremely difficult.
As European Commissioner, you toured the member states last year before the European Parliament elections and warned their representatives about possible voter influence and interference in elections by foreign powers. The Czech Republic will hold parliamentary elections in the autumn. Do you want to make a similar statement as vice-rector and warn of these possible risks?
I will try to take every opportunity to appeal to the fact that in the heat of the election campaign, we need to listen to the fact-checked truth because it is more important than ever. I have been calling for years for the care and preservation of an independent and public media. In other words, we must not allow the information space to be taken over by manipulators. In mid-June, the GLOBSEC security conference will be held in Prague. I would be very happy to work for this organisation, but I am waiting to see whether the European Commission will approve this engagement. Through this initiative, I would like to make Prague a hub for finding ways to reduce the influence of countries hostile to us and strengthen our resilience to them.
You mentioned Finland as a country that is very resistant to foreign influence. How does it achieve this? What could we, as the Czech Republic, draw inspiration from?
I wish I could say, in light of the upcoming elections, that Germany and the Czech Republic are just as resilient. You ask about Finland, but the same applies to the Baltic countries. The common border with the former Soviet Union and the decades of coexistence during the Cold War, particularly in Finland, cultivated a high degree of resilience. The society there has been working through its education system to build critical thinking for a long time, based on historical experience, and has been building resilience for decades. It is a kind of self-preservation instinct.
In addition to working at CU, you also have a seat on Czech President Petr Pavel's panel of foreign policy advisors. How do you plan to combine the two roles?
I devote a lot of time to preparation: to work for Charles University, I need to draw from completely different areas of information than what I need to be a trusted advisor to the president where we discuss foreign policy issues. We have had only one meeting with the president so far. He wanted to hear from me specifically about election manipulation and systems that can reduce it. I was very impressed: in my 10 years at the European Commission, I spoke with many heads of state, and not one of them could sit for an hour and take notes to learn more about the subject. I think that is a great strength of our president.
In closing, I will digress a bit from the serious topics that we discussed. I heard that in Brussels, you liked to sing Jan Jakub Ryba's traditional Christmas Mass ahead of the holidays. Charles University has its own orchestra and choir that traditionally performs every year in the Great Hall of the Carolinum. Will you join them ahead of the Christmas holidays this year?
I'm sorry I missed it last year; I would have loved to have taken part.
Can look forward to that? Do you have any favourite repertoire?
When I'm alone at the piano, I like to sing everything from the Beatles to Suchý and Šliter. I play by ear, I never open the sheet music, but I would love to join the university choir at Christmas.
