The Czech Republic has a new education minister: Mrs Miroslava Kopicova was appointed minister of education, youth and sport earlier this month. Mrs Kopicova has already given an important contribution both to national and European education and training: Prior to her new appointment, she was director of the National Training Fund in the Czech Republic, which participated in many ETF's projects. She was also responsible for a number of Phare labour market and VET projects as well as for the Leonardo programme in the Czech Republic.