Author: Veronika Novotná

"The purpose of International Week is to bring together colleagues from different countries to discuss teaching, joint research and collaboration. And at the same time, some of the lecturers will be teaching within the study programmes, so we are trying to spice up the daily teaching process for our students by having foreign lecturers here," explains the Dean of the Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Roman Šperka.

One of the interesting features of this year's edition was the organisation of the first ever STARS EU Staff Week. This special stream was attended by members of 9 partner universities (including Silesian University) associated in the STARS EU alliance ("Strategic alliance for regional transition"). During the Staff Week, a total of 5 working groups of the alliance held meetings at the faculty. These were working groups of mostly non-academic staff, experts on internationalisation, Erasmus+, e-learning, strategy or communication. All working group meetings, including the top representatives of the alliance (the so-called "Steering Committee"), were organised in a hybrid format, i.e. with the possibility to connect online. 

The activities of the STARS EU alliance and its ambitions were presented on Tuesday 25 April in the Small Auditorium by alliance leader Rima Dijkstra from Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands. Her presentation was followed by the Vice-Rector for Science and International Relations of Silesian University Prof. Daniel Stavárek with his presentation on the European Universities Initiative and the related benefits of these alliances, challenges and future perspectives. Niels Hexspoor from Palacký University in Olomouc, a member of the Aurora Alliance, shared his experience and examples of good practice and challenges they face.

Foreign teachers prepared several intensive two-day lectures and seminars in English for our students. Topics represented included consumer behaviour, marketing management, central banking and monetary policy, youth skills or partnerships in the higher education sector. Students who participated in the lectures and seminars were eligible to earn 3 credits within freely elective course "International Business Case Studies". 

The IW programme was suitably complemented by other speakers with their contributions, e.g. the presentation by PhDr. Krystyna Heinz from the Department of Tourism and Leisure Activities from our faculty. Dr. Heinz introduced the participants to the international project e-HOTEL, which is implemented at SU SBA within the Erasmus+ programme. Prof. Diederich Bakker from Hanze University of Applied Sciences shared his experience with teaching abroad and how to work with foreign students from different cultures. How does cooperation between universities and innovation agencies help support entrepreneurship in regions undergoing transition? Adéla Píchová from the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre came to talk about this topic.

An integral part of the event was also a social and cultural programme, which included, for example, an excursion to Marlenka in Frýdek-Místek, a trip to the Leaning church of St. Peter of Alcantara, a tour of Karviná or golf lessons for beginners in the Lipiny resort. The gala dinner at the end of the IW was held at Petrovice Chateau.

For a detailed programme, photo gallery, reports and more information about the event, including links to previous editions, please visit go.slu.cz/intweek. To find out more about the STARS EU alliance, please visit starseu.org.

Thanks to everyone involved and see you in 2025!