This year, the faculty welcomed nearly 80 guests from 15 universities and 10 different countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey. The aim of their visit was not only to share experiences and engage in professional discussions, but also to establish new connections and deepen cooperation.

The program also included the second edition of the STARS EU Staff Week, held in a hybrid format, which offered a series of working meetings within the STARS EU (Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition) alliance of European universities. International guests were introduced to modern teaching environments and innovative methods used by SBA academics. More than 100 faculty students took part in organizing and participating in the event – not only as attendees of lectures, but also as key supporters of the entire organizational team.

The Dean of the Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Roman Šperka said that the goal of International Week was to connect educators from various countries, allowing them to share their teaching experiences, discuss opportunities for joint research, and explore new forms of collaboration. He mentioned that students had the chance to meet foreign lecturers directly during classes, which significantly enriched their academic experience. The event also focused on topics related to the STARS EU alliance – from the digital campus and conditions for traineeship programs to innovative Living Lab concepts and joint academic programs. Thus, International Week was not only about sharing best practices, but also about collectively shaping the future of European higher education.

This year's edition offered a wide range of thematic workshops, lectures, hybrid working group meetings, and professional activities. The topics focused on modern teaching, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, and regional development. In addition to academics, the program traditionally included experts in project management, internationalization of study programs, and support for international cooperation in higher education.

International lecturers prepared lectures and workshops in English for OPF students, focusing on current issues related to innovation and education. Joaquim Leite from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal) presented the topic of digital tools for corporate performance management and also demonstrated how to use citation tools effectively. Ipek Eker from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in Turkey discussed a modern approach to education in her presentation Co-Creation Campus: Rethinking Teaching and Learning Together, where she introduced the concept of co-creating education by students and teachers.

Roman Zajíc from the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre (MSIC) spoke about the importance of connecting universities with regional development. In his lecture Regional Innovation Ecosystem in Motion: The Role of Universities, he emphasized the role of higher education institutions as key players in regional transformation and the development of innovation ecosystems. The topic of curriculum internationalization was addressed by Jos Beelen from The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) and Eva Janebová from the Czech Mestenhauser Institute for International Collaboration. Their joint workshop Internationalization of Curriculum presented ways to integrate international elements into study programs and promote student and academic mobility as part of regular teaching. A key factor turned out to be informal education and the so-called “hidden curriculum,” which influences student development through everyday interactions with teachers, shared values, and academic culture.

The week also included activities that introduced guests to the region and Czech culture. Participants enjoyed an interactive tour of the city of Karviná and visited POHO Park – a site on the grounds of a former coal mine that is being transformed into a space for education, culture, and community life. The informal part of the program offered networking opportunities during an evening at Lodičky and culminated in a festive gala dinner that brought the entire week to a close.

International Week and STARS EU Staff Week left a very positive impression—not only among international participants but also among the students and staff of the faculty. It became evident that these events play a key role in developing international cooperation, strengthening academic relationships, and bringing fresh ideas into teaching.

You can find the detailed program, photos, and more information about this year's edition on the page: go.slu.cz/intweek.

More about the STARS EU alliance can be found at www.starseu.org.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event, and we look forward to the next edition in 2027!