Professor wins ninth award from a Central European university

Business Professor John Anchor receives his award from the Technical University of Ostrava

A Huddersfield professor is celebrating his ninth award from a Central European university. 

Dr John Anchor, who is the Professor of International Strategy and also Associate Dean (International) in the University of Huddersfield Business School received his ninth award from a Central European university.

The ceremony was held at the Technical University of Ostrava to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of Economics in the University’s Business School. 

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Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic, with a population of 330,000 and is a former mining area in the Silesian coal field, which straddles both Poland and Slovakia.  The same week, the City of Ostrava celebrated 750 years of existence and the 99^th anniversary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia at the end of the First World War.

Huddersfield’s links with the Faculty of Economics date back to Professor Anchor’s participation in a EU-funded TEMPUS curriculum development project in 1998-2000.  He subsequently attended a research conference organised by one of the Faculty’s departments, which were a more common occurrence than in the UK, where professional associations and civil society organisations organise most academic conferences.  Regular visits have taken place ever since.

“Our co-operation has taken a variety of forms,” said Professor Anchor, “and has included lecturer exchange in the Erasmus programme and only recently two visitors from Ostrava gave a research seminar in the Business School.  The programme has facilitated the recruitment of 60 fee-paying students on to our top-up and Master programmes since the Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 and their Dean has been a regular visitor to our graduation ceremonies.”

“I am delighted that the hard work of a number of Huddersfield colleagues, over many years, has led to this recognition.  Successful partnerships often take many years to develop – so it is rewarding to see the fruit of our labour.”

The ceremony was attended by approximately 200 guests and included the deans of a number of other faculties of economics (Business Schools).  The certificate was in appreciation of the contribution made by Professor Anchor to the Faculty’s development.

This is the ninth award that the Professor of International Strategy has received from a Central European university in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the building of international research and education partnerships with Czech and Polish universities.  His interest in post-communist transition continues to this day even though the Czech Republic and Poland are now categorised as advanced emerging economies.