We prepared a rich, tailor-made program for our guests, during which they explored the best of Prague and our region. In Prague, they admired the Old Town, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter, the National Museum, and the Museum of Alchemy. Evening activities included a boat cruise on the Vltava River and a traditional folklore night. As part of the program, an informal dinner was held with the Dean of the Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Ing. Roman Šperka, Ph.D., and the Vice-Dean for International Relations, Ing. Jana Šimáková, Ph.D. The dinner provided a great opportunity for experience sharing and personal connection building.

After moving to Karviná, the students were welcomed by the Rector of the Silesian University in Opava, Assoc. Prof. Ing. Tomáš Gongol, Ph.D., and Vice-Rector Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Iveta Palečková, Ph.D. After this, our guests participated in educational workshops led by Prof. Ing. Daniel Stavárek, Ph.D., and Dr. Martin Klepek. The program also included visits to the Dolní Vítkovice industrial area, the Marlenka confectionery, and the Radegast Brewery.

And now for the most surprising part: some visiting students ended up preferring Karviná over Prague! They were enchanted by the green surroundings of the Božena Němcová Park and the natural area of Lodičky, where they enthusiastically joined in with local leisure activities. One of the most quoted impressions of the trip became: “Prague is nice, but Karviná is top!”

This cultural and educational program brought plenty of inspiration and significantly strengthened the relationship between our universities. Many thanks go to the International Relations Office team and student Dana Chlupová, who played a major role in the organisation. We want to thank the wonderful team from the USA, who arrived with open minds and a genuine curiosity to discover our country.