A group of students and lecturers from Hof University of Applied Sciences visited the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen at the beginning of October to participate in a joint project on the effects of anti-corona measures on life in the Czech-Bavarian border region (“campuls-digital” reported). The kick-off event for this international project now took place in Pilsen on October 6-8. The representatives from Hof met for the first time personally with students of the Czech study program Economic and Regional Geography at the Faculty of Economics.
Under the guidance of the Czech-German research team, groups were formed during the three-day working meeting to begin researching and searching for information on the selected topics. These included the cross-border economy, political aspects of Schengen, workforce recruitment, and changes in work organization and digitalization, as well as (geo)marketing, logistics, and transportation. The three-day program also included a visit to the center of Pilsen and a trip to the world-famous Pilsner Urquell brewery.
I was surprised how quickly the groups formed, how naturally the students communicated with each other and how warmly the Czech group welcomed us. I also liked how well the groups planned and carried out the joint activities.
Tina Wiegand, Research Assistant
Over the next few weeks, the students will continue to explore their topics in greater depth. In the first week of November, a four-day excursion is planned for the students, during which they will meet management of selected companies in the Czech-Bavarian border region. The project will then conclude with a panel discussion at the Czech-Bavarian-Bohemian Center in Schönsee, where the students will not only present their research results but also discuss them with invited experts from the fields of business, regional development and regional politics.
I firmly believe that such projects will strengthen the international partnership between the two universities and that students from both countries will improve their intercultural and language knowledge and skills. At the same time, we hope that the good neighborliness between the Czech Republic and Germany and the importance of the European Union and the Schengen area as a whole will be strengthened”
Jiří Price, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen
