Imagine standing on a stage. Just you, your slides, and that tiny drop of nervousness reminding you how much you care. And then, within a few minutes, you win over the audience and the expert jury. That’s exactly what our students experienced this year. Twice!

From 17 October to 14 November, the second edition of the BIP took place. Students first joined four online workshops covering: how to structure an effective presentation, content and storytelling, the use of verbal and non-verbal communication, and the creation of visually attractive presentations. Then came the most exciting part: the in-person programme from 10 to 14 November in the University Library. There, students learned, practiced, fine-tuned… and also celebrated - Laser Game, Karaoke Night, and plenty of other shared experiences.

And as if that wasn’t enough, on 12 and 13 November our faculty also hosted the well-known International Student Seminar on Management and Financial Issues. Both events were organised by our School of Business Administration together with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and the Rzeszów University of Technology, Faculty of Management. A total of 29 students participated: 8 from Czechia, 6 from Portugal, and 15 from Poland. The expert jury included Anna Sofia Cardim Barata, Natacha Jesus Silva, Marzena Hajduk-Stelmachowicz, Dana Chlupová, and Michal Stoklasa. A big thank-you also goes to the International Office and the University Library staff for their excellent care throughout the entire week.

The main topic of both events were, of course, the student presentations. The goal was clear: prepare students for real-world presenting, give them the chance to compare their skills with others, and receive feedback from professionals. Each participant had exactly 10 minutes, sometimes an eternity, sometimes the blink of an eye. Topics ranged from wellbeing, marketing, and artificial intelligence to original student projects and results from seminar or thesis work. It felt like a talent show where the ability to sell an idea matters more than singing or dancing. And believe us, our students did it with such flair that even Steve Jobs would have taken a seat in the front row.

Both events concluded with the traditional Closing Ceremony. All participants received a participation scholarship, and the best presenters also earned prizes worth 10,000 CZK. And it was close! The jury once again faced a very tough decision. Some presentations stood out for their creativity, others for their scientific approach, and some for their flawless teamwork.

The top five were:

• 1st place: Krzysztof Cebula (Poland) – Teenage Wi-Fi millionaires promises, mechanism and risk of MLM (multilevel marketing).
• 2nd place: Vinicius Duarte Virtuoso (Portugal) – The Magic of Making: How 3D Printing Brings Ideas to Life.
• 3rd place: Simone Melo (Portugal) – Talk Less, Hear More: Why Listening Changes Everything.
• 4th place: Jakub Němec (Czech Republic) – GOATA Movement.
• 5th place: Martyna Kliś (Poland) – Squid Game: Big Success, Hard Lessons.