The Vice-Rector for International Affairs of Charles University has been awarded the French title of Knight of the National Order of Merit. She received it on 6 March from His Excellency Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic.
The National Order of Merit (Ordre national du Mérite) is the second most important French order after the Legion of Honour. It was founded in 1963 by General Charles de Gaulle and is awarded for outstanding civilian or military merit in the service of the French nation. Prof Voldřichová-Beránková received it for “her outstanding commitment to teaching, research, and university cooperation.”
The nomination, initiated by the Department of Romance Studies at CU FA, was due to her twenty-five years of work in the field of French philology, including teaching, research, and organizational activities.
The French side also appreciated her activities carried out from the position of Vice-Rector for International Affairs, including the Tandem CEFRES project, the development of new forms of cooperation with prestigious French institutions (such as the Collège de France or École Pratique des Hautes Études), projects within the 4EU+ alliance with Sorbonne, the Francophone summer universities of the Jan Hus Educational Foundation or the co-organization of the My Thesis in 180 Seconds competition.
“The Order of Merit is a great honour for me. However, it is also a recognition of all my colleagues who have worked with me in promoting French culture in the Czech Republic over the last thirty-five years,” Prof Voldřichová Beránková said.
