Academic Skills Center
There is no other academic body in the world quite like the ASC.
What other institution actually teaches students how to write and think at the graduate level? That's what the ASC does at CERGE-EI.
We add professional Economics-specific language and research skills instruction and consultation to CERGE-EI educational programs. ASC faculty have impeccable educational qualifications and a long history of working with Economists on their texts and presentations. Our courses and consultations are geared towards second-language learners, but virtually all of what we teach is beneficial also for native speakers.
Students in our educational programs are required to take our courses and get full university credit for the courses. Often CERGE-EI graduates find the ASC component of their study one of the most valuable parts of their curriculum after they enter the workplace or start writing their dissertations.
Testimonials from students and alumni
"On the first class of my ASC course, I learnt that academic research has something that most of the other professions don’t – a very critical audience. The ASC’s devoted work helps non-native English speaking students to successfully meet that challenge. The lecturers have a crucial role in training us in how to communicate and present our research. They helped me improve the structure of the way I think, analyze the problem, and present a solution."
Dragana Stanišic, CERGE-EI Junior Researcher
"The ability to write and present scientific work that is consistent with the standards and rules of the modern academic community is a valuable skill. However, the Academic Skill Center has been trying to offer something more to CERGE-EI students: critical analysis, idea organization and efficient communication are a set of skills useful well beyond academia."
Beka Lamazoshvili, CERGE-EI Junior Researcher, Country Economist, OGResearch
"The ASC does not target only future academics. If some day I open up a consultancy [office] or become an entrepreneur, I can easily imagine myself applying those invaluable skills in my everyday life. Having the help of the ASC faculty on top of the excellent Economics programs is one of the most valuable strengths CERGE-EI possesses over other equivalent programs in both Europe and the United States."
Petar Stankov, Sr. Asst. Professor of Economics, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria
"Prior to entering CERGE-EI, I thought I would write academic texts in English in economics on the fly. Even after 4 years of experience of trying to write such a text, I still feel that I need guidance sometimes. In this respect, the Academic Skills Center at CERGE-EI seems to be one of its strong advantages. The center has helped me to improve in my skills of writing (and thinking) in English in economics significantly. Currently it continues doing so, and its help is invaluable.
Vahagn Jerbashian, CERGE-EI Junior Researcher
"I think that including reading, writing and presentation skills is an excellent idea ... before coming to CERGE-EI no one really thought me how to write or present. CERGE-EI [ASC] courses are making my (working) life easier now, you can be sure of that."
"I think communication and presentation skills is an important part of a program. The CERGE-EI program is strong in this respect. However, we of course have a lot of experience with CERGE-EI PhD students not realizing the use of our English courses until they go out into the 'real world'!"
Faculty
Go to the Faculty section to view profiles of the professors in our Center.
The ASC is also unique in that all its members are expert and experienced editors of academic Economics texts. We provide editing consultation services to authors for all CERGE-EI publications, including Working Papers, Dissertations, Policy Briefs, and books.
If you have any comments or questions please contact the center’s Organizer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
