About UJEP

 

We are UJEP

Established in 1991 on the basis of the former Pedagogical Faculty, our university currently comprises eight faculties (Faculty of Art and Design, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Environment, Faculty of Health Studies, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social and Economic Studies).

We have adopted the name of the renowned North-Bohemian native of Libochovice J. E. Purkyně (1787–1869), an outstanding biologist, pharmacologist and anthropologist, and one of the founders of modern physiology. Just as well-rounded a personality Purkyně in his time was, we too, in these days, offer a wide variety of study programmes (more than 50 programmes with more than 150 specialisations) focusing on the most varied areas of human activities. We educate around 8500 students and employ a staff of about 900, of those around 500 in academic positions (that is a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1).

We are proud of being the only university founded and located in northwest Czechia, the region with stunning environmental diversity as well as a turbulent political and economic history over the last two centuries. This all, along with diverse intellectual traditions at our university, create a unique research and educational ecosystem to address the most pressing challenges faced by the society in our region and beyond.

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision –⁠ Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem comprises a diverse community of students and employees, a strong, constructive and respected institution, creating stable international ties, with clearly defined excellent interdisciplinary scientific research and artistic directions.

Mission –⁠ UJEP fulfils the role of the most important and irreplaceable scientific, research, artistic, and educational institution of the Ústí Region and the role of an important actor and partner in socio-economic relations at the regional, national, and international levels. In all its activities it will ensure the highest possible level of quality and responsibility, apply and develop information technologies and systems to support educational and creative activities, reflect the new needs and challenges of society, the labour market, and technological development. In achieving its strategic development goals, it will at the same time honour its social mission – to be an active carrier and promoter of education, moral and social values.

Values –⁠ in all our activities we honour the following values:

  • Freedom of research, creativity, and expression: We value free research and creative activity, creativity that crosses disciplinary and territorial boundaries, openness to new ideas and the free expression of ideas and opinions. We believe that a free society must be based on the critical and informed discussion of diverse ideas. Inherent in this commitment is the freedom to express reasoned disagreement with messages to which one is opposed. 
  • Integrity and credibility: We strive for honest and ethical behaviour which demonstrates high moral standards and is consistent with the university’s role as a creative, educational, and discussion platform that articulates its views and positions transparently and independently of political and economic interests. We uphold the principles of the integrity of academic work and accountability for our results. Only as a credible, respected, and honest institution can we fulfil our vision, mission, and goals.
  • Inclusivity and social relevance: We are a community where everyone is welcome, where everyone belongs, and everyone is treated with dignity and mutual respect regardless of age, religion, faith, race, gender, sexual orientation, family status, socio-economic differences, health status, or caring responsibilities. We consider inclusivity and empathy as the foundation of our social relevance, and the pro-social fulfilment of all our creative and educational activities.
  • Sustainability and social responsibility: We are committed to leading by example in protecting natural resources and natural diversity, preserving cultural heritage, ensuring a just quality of life, and in our approach to responsible financial planning. We value our role in shaping, discussing, and promoting ideas and solutions for a sustainable future, and we emphasise the relationship between people and the natural environment with responsibility for the lives of current and future generations. At the same time, we also recognise the social, economic, and environmental responsibility we have to the region in which we live and to the people who are part of our community.

Chapters from our history

Our history dates back to 1954 when the Higher Teacher Training College was set up – to become the Pedagogical Institute in 1959, and the Pedagogical Faculty in Ústí nad Labem (1964). Through Act No. 314/1991 Coll., the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem was set up and promoted on 28 September 1991, priding itself with three faculties and one research institute. Those were the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Faculty of the Environment, and the Institute of Slavonic & Germanic Studies.

  • 1993 – The Institute of Art Culture was established as an art school of an art & industrial orientation.
  • 1998 – The Institute of Technology and Production Management was set up as part of UJEP.
  • 2000 – The Faculty of Commercial Art and Design was established, being transformed from the then Institute of Art Culture.
  • 2003 – The Institute of Healthcare Studies, grooming students for their career in cooperation with higher healthcare school facilities of the Ústí nad Labem region, was founded.
  • 2005 – The Institute of Humanities and Institute of Natural Sciences were established. The Institute of Natural Sciences was transformed into the Faculty of Science.
  • 2006 – The Institute of Humanities was transformed into the Faculty of Philosophy. The Institute of Technology and Production Management was transformed into the Faculty of Production Technology and Management.
  • 2008 – The Institute of Slavonic & Germanic Studies became part of the Faculty of Philosophy. The Faculty of Commercial Art and Design changed its title to become the Faculty of Art and Design.
  • 2012 – The Institute of Healthcare Studies was transformed into the Faculty of Health Studies.
  • 2017 – Faculty of Production Technology and Management was transformed into Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
  • 2021 – 30th Anniversary of the university and the completion of our university campus.
  • 2022 – Completion of the Faculty of Health Studies, being the only faculty located outside of the campus, in the the Masaryk Hospital to facilitate collaboration between the hospital and medical training.

The development of tertiary education in Ústí nad Labem is tackled in The History of Ústí nad Labem Municipality document, in Chapter Tertiary Schools in Ústí nad Labem.