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Barely 150 students in Pilsen and Cheb combined. The beginnings of the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen in 1990 were very modest. Today, it is a modern institution with approximately 2000 students, offering six bachelor's, four master's, and two doctoral programs in the Pilsen and Karlovy Vary regions, and enjoying full academic autonomy, including habilitation and appointment procedures. Dean Michaela Krechovská recalled this during the celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the faculty’s founding, held at the Moving Station venue. On December 4, the former railway building in Pilsen's Jižní předměstí district was transformed into a meeting place for current and former employees, partners, and friends of the Faculty of Economics (FEK).

According to the dean, the faculty has long focused on the quality of teaching, scientific excellence, and preparing graduates for the dynamically changing labour market. Do those who have been involved in the development of FEK from the outset view it in the same way? What do they believe has moved the faculty forward the most, and which direction should it take in the coming decades?

Jiří Beck (Dean of FEK 1994–2000)

Over the past 35 years, FEK has made significant progress. Key milestones included gaining accreditation for bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral programs, and, most importantly, the right to conduct habilitation proceedings. From the very beginning, the emphasis has been on high-quality teaching, which has been reflected in the successful employment of graduates. Cooperation with external experts and extensive student participation in study abroad programs have also played an important role. In the future, the faculty faces equally demanding challenges, particularly in connection with the rapid development of artificial intelligence. This will require adjustments to study programs, the development of critical thinking among students, and closeer cooperation with industry. The faculty's success will depend on its ability to respond to technological changes and prepare graduates for a transforming labour market.

Miloš Nový (Dean of FEK 2000–2006) 

The most significant shift was achieved through the long-term efforts of individual management teams to build a fully-fledged higher education institution from a faculty that was literally created from scratch. This process was not easy and involved several stages. The faculty gradually expanded its range of study programs – from a single bachelor's program to obtaining master's accreditation in 1996 and doctoral program accreditation in 2004. Attention then shifted to the development of scientific and research activities, as well as the academic growth of employees. After 35 years, the founders' vision has been fulfilled, and FEK is now a stable and fully established academic institution. I wish it every success in maintaining this level in the years to come.

Milan Hrdý (Dean of FEK 2006–2010)

The faculty made significant progress, particularly in the development of international relations and intensive cooperation with other faculties and entities from the field. Thanks to these activities, FEK became part of the international academic community and gained valuable experience and know-how that contributed to its further development. Another important milestone was obtaining the right to conduct habilitation procedures and professorial appointment procedures, which placed the faculty among the best in its field in the Czech Republic. In the coming decades, the faculty should continue in the same direction, focusing more on innovation in education, for example, through digital technologies and modern teaching methods. It will also be essential to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation, which will offer students a broader perspective and better prepare them for the dynamic demands of the labour market.

Miroslav Plevný (Dean of FEK 2010–2018)

Long-term successful accreditations played a key role in the faculty's development, both for new, often interdisciplinary study programs and for gradually achieving higher levels of accreditation, culminating in the granting of the right to conduct habilitation and appointment procedures in 2023 and 2024. These milestones reflect a qualitative shift in the faculty’s staff development and creative output, which is reflected in the quality of teaching and the professional preparedness of graduates. Looking ahead, it is essential not to relax the demands placed on students, graduates, and academic staff and to maintain the faculty's trajectory of growing prestige. In the short term, this means primarily defending the rights of habilitation and appointment procedures, and in the long term, strengthening involvement in international consortia in the areas of education and research. 

Michaela Krechovská (Dean of FEK 2018–2025)

Over its 35 years of existence, FEK has undergone significant changes. If I had to name one factor that has contributed most to its progress, it would be people. The experts who were there at its inception, the academics who have developed teaching and research over the years, the staff ensuring the day-to-day running of the faculty, and also the students and graduates who have shaped the faculty through their expectations, questions, and professional engagement. It is precisely this combination of human potential, expertise, and mutual trust that has created the solid foundation on which the faculty stands. For the future, I hope that FEK will be a place open to the world – a place where students and academics gain international experience, collaborate on global projects, and connect their knowledge with emerging trends. At the same time, the faculty should stand firm on its values and traditions, inspiring those around it not only regionally but also internationally.