This year, an exchange programme between PdF UP and Zhanibekov University in Kazakhstan has been launched. The first event of this programme was a trip of 10 Czech students to Kazakhstan in April. The second step was the stay of 9 students from Shymkent, who also spent a whole month in Olomouc, i.e. from mid-September to mid-October 2024.
The entire stay of the Kazakh students took place in a friendly atmosphere and was accompanied by the enthusiasm of a rich programme, which included a number of lectures and workshops focused on the Czech educational environment. The students had the opportunity to learn about the Czech educational system, its history and the cultural aspects that have shaped it. Lecturers and experts from the Faculty of Education were happy to share their knowledge and experience, which stimulated a mutual exchange of views and knowledge.
Excursions to primary and secondary schools in and around Olomouc were an essential part of the programme. Kazakh students had a unique opportunity to look into the Czech
educational system, observe teaching with their own eyes and compare it with their experience in Kazakhstan. We would like to thank Slovanské Gymnázium, Svatoplukova School, Gymnázium Čajkovského and Waldorf School Olomouc, which were willing to host the Kazakh students. The visit to International School Olomouc was also an important experience for them, as they could see again a different way of education that connects different cultures and languages.
In addition to the academic programme, a rich cultural programme was also prepared for the students. They had the opportunity to get to know the surroundings of Olomouc, visit historical sites, museums and other places of interest. These trips contributed to a better understanding of Czech culture and traditions, as well as to building personal ties between Czech, Kazakh and other international students.
We hope that this project will become an inspiration for other similar initiatives that will open new horizons and bring mutual enrichment between Czech and international students.
