The Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences (SVU) was founded in Washington, DC in 1958. The main goal of the society was ‘to provide a forum for the free development of Czechoslovak culture in exile and make the world aware of Czech and Slovak cultural traditions, which date back more than a millennium.’ Since the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989, the Society has been instrumental in assisting the fledgling democracies in reestablishing the normal functions of a free society, through material assistance, lectures, seminars, and workshops, and most of all, through the personal expertise and experience of its members.
The SVU is known in particular for its biannual World Congresses. The 26th World Congress was held in Žilina, Slovakia (July 1 – July 6, 2012). The congress received the personal aegis of President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus and President of Slovakia Ivan Gašparovič. The opening ceremony featured speeches by the President of the Society Karel Raška and representatives of the University of Žilina – Vice-Rector for Foreign Affairs & Public Relations Peter Fabian, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Vlasta Cabanová, the Mayor of Žilina Igor Chroma and others. The meeting was also attended by the Rector of Charles University Václav Hampl, and then representatives of Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Education of both countries. The president of the Academy of Sciences Jiří Drahoš highlighted in his speech the need to stand up in defense of education. The emeritus professor of Palacky University in Olomouc, and former Senator Josef Jařab stressed in his speech that politicians seek to dominate the field of education and that it is necessary to take steps to our defense. He added that students are not just clients and education is not the subject to mere business.
More information on www.svu2000.org.
12 Jul 2012
Česky
