From the Jesuit College in Telč, a modern university campus will be created

Telč (Jihlava Region) - A reconstruction of the historic building of the former Jesuit college has commenced in Telč in the Jihlava Region, which houses the University Center of Masaryk University in Brno. Thanks to an investment of more than 155 million crowns, the conditions for teaching will be significantly improved - over the next two years, an integrated university campus with modern classrooms, lecture halls, and accommodation will be created there. The project is funded by so-called Norwegian funds, university spokesperson Tereza Fojtová told ČTK today.
    The project has two main goals. The dilapidated building needs to be saved. "The second goal is to create a center of education that will meet all modern requirements," the spokesperson said. The subsidy amounts to 133 million crowns, and the remaining part of the costs associated with the reconstruction of the college will be covered by the university from its own resources. The work is expected to be completed by January 2011.
    The campus will then serve for the education of accredited study programs as well as lifelong learning programs, including programs for seniors. A conference center will also be created in the historic building. The campus will be visited by about 450 students annually. Currently, the center focuses on combined studies, but the modernized spaces could serve for full-time study in the future.
    The renovation of the former Jesuit college will be carried out in two phases. First, a total renovation of the building will be completed for 84 million crowns. Some original architectural elements, such as the courtyard arcades, will also be restored. In the second phase, rooms with a total capacity of 72 beds will be built into the attic spaces. Students, teachers, and conference participants will be able to stay overnight in them.
    The project also plans to establish a library and a consulting and information center focused on issues of cultural heritage. A café and a dining hall will be opened on the ground floor. The building will have barrier-free access.
    The former Jesuit college is listed in the Central Register of Cultural Monuments. It is located in the heritage reserve of the town of Telč, which is included in the UNESCO list of heritage sites. The building was constructed between 1651 and 1655. Over 119 years, several thousand Jesuit novitiates passed through it. After the order was dissolved, it served for about a hundred years as a barracks and has housed educational institutions since 1883.
    Currently, the University Center Telč is located in the college. The Faculty of Arts began its teaching there in 2002. Later, the Faculty of Economics and Administration joined, which opened bachelor's degree programs in combined studies in Telč.