Key agreements and memoranda were signed in the first week of April. First, on 1 April, the cooperation between UNOB and a consortium of seven universities that will carry out work on the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computing on IBM machines provided by CTU came into force. On the same day, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the Czech Technical University in Prague was signed. On Wednesday, the rectors of the University of Defence and CEVRO University signed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation in education and research, which will link the educational, scientific, and professional capacities of both universities.

The aim of the cooperation between CEVRO University and the University of Defence is to jointly develop educational and research activities focused on key areas of defence, security and crisis management. The agreement will enable students and academic staff from both universities to share their expertise and create projects that will contribute to the defence and security of the Czech Republic. The signing of the agreement is an important milestone in the deepening of cooperation between the institutions, which have an irreplaceable place in the education of professionals for the defence and security sector. The expected result of this cooperation is an increase in security not only in the Czech Republic but also in the wider international context.
 
"In today's dynamic and technologically advanced world, security experts can no longer be specialised only in narrowly defined areas of defence and security. On the contrary, they must understand the broader context - modern technologies, geopolitics, economics, public law and international relations. It is precisely the interconnection of the professional know-how of our universities that will enable students to obtain a comprehensive education that will help them better respond to current and future security challenges," commented the Rector of CEVRO University, Associate Professor Mgr. Tomáš Jarmara, Ph.D.

The Rector-Commander of the University of Defence, Colonel Jan Farlík, Ph.D., commented on this cooperation, "The defence and security of our country is not only a question of modern technologies and strategic procedures, but above all of the people who protect our country and allies. At the University of Defence we do not only focus on providing top education to future specialists of the army, but also on educating responsible, team-oriented and empathetic professionals. We want our graduates to not only understand their field perfectly, but to use their knowledge and skills to the best of their knowledge and conscience - in service to their country, in interaction with their colleagues, citizens and our alliance partners. Our traditions and experience commit us to preparing leaders who will be not only experts but also moral supports for their teams in any situation. Cooperation with CEVRO University will enable us to look at defence and security issues in a broader context, from the outside world. The experience gained will enhance the knowledge, expertise and competence of our students and academic staff. This approach will help us increase our ability to successfully meet current and future security challenges."

Our editorial team asked the Head of the Department of Security Studies at CEVRO University Martina Heranová and representatives of the University of Defence (UNOB Vice-Rector Mark Sedlacek and UNOB Chancellor Miloš Dyček) the following questions regarding future cooperation:
 
What does the signing of the agreement on strategic cooperation in the field of education and research mean to you?

CEVRO University: the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement with the University of Defence is a significant impetus for CEVRO University to further develop and expand its activities, especially in the field of science and research. We would like to implement joint projects aimed at supporting the defence and security of the Czech Republic and strengthen the mutual ties between academic staff. In the field of education, there is a clear benefit in linking the professional know-how of both universities, which will benefit especially students of our security programmes.

UNOB: There will be a number of benefits of mutually beneficial and mutually beneficial cooperation between the University of Defence as a state military university and the private CEVRO University, which is an established educational and scientific research institution primarily in the fields of security, management, economics, public administration and law. The signing of the framework agreement was an important milestone in the deepening of cooperation between institutions that have an irreplaceable place in the education of professionals for the defence and security sector. The framework cooperation agreement will enable students and academic staff from both universities to share professional know-how and create projects that will contribute to the enhancement of the defence and security of the Czech Republic. It is the development of joint scientific projects that has great potential in terms of improving the quality of scientific work at UNOB. One of the first effects of the cooperation between UNOB and CEVRO University will be the linking of the General Staff course with MPA-level education, which is certified by CEVRO University. The different areas of cooperation between UNOB and CEVRO University will be regulated by implementing arrangements.

Will there be new degree programmes at your university and will you, for example, share academics with each other?
 
CEVRO University: The new programme should be directly tailored to the needs of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic and reflect its requirements for expanding the education of officers in specific areas key to national defence. We also plan to discuss the possibility of sharing academics in our Master's programmes.
 
UNOB: New military degree programmes are currently being prepared at UNOB and are expected to be accredited in 2026 and open from the academic year 2027/2028. In particular, cooperation with CEVRO University is foreseen for professionally oriented accredited degree programmes in the field of security education. The subject of the framework agreement is not only the cooperation of academic staff, but also of students; among other things, mutual cooperation of student organisations of both universities is envisaged.