The University of South Bohemia opened a new headquarters for the rectorate

České Budějovice - The University of South Bohemia today ceremonially opened a new building for the rectorate and the faculty of philosophy. The rectorate, which was previously rented, has obtained its first own headquarters, while the faculty of philosophy has gained modern facilities for education after three years. The five-story building with a glass facade cost 360 million crowns to construct. An academic library building has also been built, which will open in January, said Hana Bumbová, a university spokesperson, to ČTK.
The construction began last March, and the occupancy permit was granted this July. Within the faculty of philosophy, the third floor features 12 classrooms, including three with a capacity for 24 students and nine with a capacity for 32. Additionally, there are two lecture halls with capacities of 120 and 140 students, as well as three specialized laboratories for the Archaeological Institute of the Faculty of Arts. Currently, nearly 850 students are studying at the Faculty of Arts, with an increase to as many as 1,150 expected after the opening of new fields of study. The faculty also provides education for about 650 future teachers.
In the third and fourth floors of the building, the rector and university leadership members are located. About 60 staff members of the rectorate work there. The building is equipped with modern technologies, from touch screens to computer and security systems, as well as smart blinds.
"The new building of the academic library will be ceremonially opened in January 2010. The university did not previously have a central library - library and information services were provided by five faculty libraries. The new facility will accommodate up to half a million volumes," Bumbová stated. The library will accommodate 500 students, and the computer classroom will have 40 places. The same number of people will ensure the operation of the library, which will also serve the public.
The construction, costing 360 million, was subsidized by the Ministry of Education, with the university contributing 21 million crowns from its own resources. In the 2009/2010 academic year, 12,820 students are enrolled at the University of South Bohemia. Since this year, it comprises eight faculties and the Institute of Physical Biology in Nové Hrady.