The Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice is the most comprehensive department in Europe with bachelor, master, and doctoral studies, research and applied research, habilitation and professorships in fisheries and water conservation. The Faculty has experimental facilities for the study and research of aquaculture, hydrobiology, fish diseases, reproduction, genetics, fish and crayfish farming, environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, toxicology, and a unique fisheries library.
Mission of the Faculty
The Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters plays the role of centre of scientific, educational, and service activities in the field of fisheries and protection of waters in given fields:
- Preserving and expanding attained knowledge, and developing scientific, research, development, innovation, and other activities
- Acquisition of appropriate professional qualifications and preparation for research
- Offering further forms of education and thus being involved in lifelong learning
- Playing an active role in public discussion in building civic society and preparing young people to live in it
- Contributing to development on national and regional levels and cooperating with public administration, local authorities, and businesses
- Developing international and especially European cooperation and promoting common projects with institutions abroad and mobility of academic staff and students
Vision of the Faculty
Within the integrated research program of the faculty, we want to understand the ongoing processes in freshwater ecosystems and their importance in terms of biodiversity conservation, protection of the water environment, but also protection of water resources for life and human activities.
As the only faculty of this type in the Czech Republic and unique in Central Europe, we want to be modern, open, and dynamically developing in accordance with the surrounding world.
As an internally consolidated, stable, and financially healthy faculty, united by its internal culture, the faculty intends to continue promoting a creative academic environment where scholars will expand the boundaries of human knowledge pass on their intellectual wealth to the students, and train them to become highly qualified professionals in fisheries and protection of waters.
Objectives of the Faculty
Achieving scientific and research excellence in the field of freshwater fishery and protection of waters. To support (motivate) publishing in prestigious journals ranked according to the fields in WOS in CIL To produce applied results such as patents, licenses, and contractual research. To stimulate future principal investigators (coordinators) of European projects.
Education of expert and socially excellent graduates in the field of fishery and protection of waters with bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees that will be applicable to the labour market.
- Education in the bachelor's and master's degree — to bring up independent and highly qualified fishermen and aquatic environmentalists, able to decide and manage, in order to develop fishery, aquaculture and for long-term sustainable exploitation of the environment working in practice, government and self-government, as well as science, research, and innovations in the Czech Republic, Europe and worldwide
- Education on PhD level — to train future generations of scientists that will be able to solve problems and challenges for the development of fishery, aquaculture, and long-term sustainable exploitation of the aquatic environment in the Czech Republic, Europe, and worldwide
- Lifelong learning — straighten the knowledge of the respective specialists in CR and EU about innovations in fishery, aquaculture, and the need for sustainable use of the environment
Achieving min. 10 % profitability in the field of service and commerce at the faculty (it will not be supported activities without additional value anymore). To perform specific and targeted contractual research and other commercial activities in the fields of expertise (perspective research fields), esp. analytical chemistry, toxicology, fish breeding, sale of fish products, and lifelong learning. To focus on licensing and patents.
Customers of the Faculty
The target customer of our research is a society with a clearly identified demand for new knowledge and findings published in journals and scientific lectures. Furthermore, we aim at particular entities such as international research agencies in the world and the EU. It is also necessary to remember the demands of Czech agencies such as Gall, TAtR (National and Technological Grant Agency), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Environment, Regional offices, etc. Furthermore, we focus on customers inquiring about qualified contract research and expertise in aquaculture, such as national agencies for water management, the Czech Fish Farmers Association, fish farms, and other related entities in the Czech Republic and the world.
The target customers of our bachelor studies are Czech students. In master's and especially doctoral studies, besides Czech students, we target foreign students. In lifelong learning, we target broad public, laic as well as professional, from children to seniors.
It regards the outside customers demanding specialized services such as products, fish, and qualified services in aquaculture and protection of waters (analysis of waters, adjustments of fish product characteristics, development of special fish breeding methods, etc.). Purchasers of value-added services (custom contractual research) are state enterprises for river administration (provide), the Czech Fish Farmers Association, fish farms, and entities in the Czech Republic and the world. Furthermore, internal customers are also from the Faculty and the University demanding services within their activities.
