A cosmopolitan city is characterized by diversity and openness to people from different countries, ethnic groups and cultures. Its basic traits are respect for difference, ability to accept new ideas and faith in dialogue. Thanks to its tolerance, it attracts foreigners who want to participate in the development of the city and, thanks to a thoughtful strategy, encourages their successful integration into the local community.
The iron law of health for any ecosystem is its diversity. The diversity of Brno will bring with it a greater ability to combine the old and new in an innovative way and respond to new challenges. The more open the city is to new people and new ideas, the greater is its creative dynamism. As in the historical past, the success of Brno's businesses, academic institutions, public and private services, as well as lively and varied culture are significantly enhanced by talents coming from all over the world.
Main Consultant at Brno Expat Center. Born in Ottawa, Canada. At Universities of Toronto and Oxford he studied English language and literature. He first arrived in Czechoslovakia a couple of weeks before 21 August 1968, and in March 1969 he took a job as a lecturer at the Brno State Language School; later he also worked at Masaryk University in Brno (among others as Director of the Center for Foreign Studies). As a manager, he led the Brno Expat Center for several years, and is still active there.
GOAL | INDICATOR | UNIT | ACTUAL VALUE | FUTURE VALUE | TERRITORIAL PROJECTION | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
primary | Attract talented foreigners of all categories and keep them in the city | number of foreigners living in Brno; source: ČSÚ |
number / % of population |
27,000 / 7% |
????? / 20% |
All city |
other | Manage an International House with the broadest range of services for foreigners | Functioning and functional International House |
Institution |
Not yet |
Yes |
All city and its metropolitan area |
other | Get some medium-sized international institution of the EU or UN to settle in Brno | Presence of the institution in Brno |
Institution |
Not yet |
Yes |
All Czech Republic |
other | Act in accordance with a comprehensive city strategy focused on active acceptance and integration of foreigners with the participation of state and municipal authorities, health institutions, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, etc. | Functioning and functional strategy |
Document |
Not yet |
Yes |
All city and its metropolitan area |
other | Ensure the accessibility of the school system for foreigners (by introducing bilingual tuition [foreign language plus Czech] at selected schools as well as by increasing the number of schools with tuition in the Czech language, which have a special programme for the integration of children of foreigners) | % of schools source: MMB |
% |
4% |
15% |
All city |