The network of Czech Centres is heading for its biggest transformation in years. Speaking shortly after his appointment to Czech Radio, Ivan Jukl repeatedly stressed that he sees the Czech Centres' future not in reducing their international footprint but in making better use of their resources. He described the concept as something resembling a franchise model, in which trusted organisations abroad could represent the Czech Republic under the Czech Centres brand while maintaining agreed professional standards. Petr Macinka and Ivan Jukl | Photo: Roman Vondrouš, ProfimediaThe cautious tone also extended to the politically sensitive debate surrounding the organisation. Yet one message emerged consistently from Ivan Jukl's first Czech Radio interview as incoming director: the government no longer sees the Czech Centres as a network to be downsized.