Every Wednesday evening during the semester, Kampus Hybernská comes alive with gatherings of students from various faculties, fields of study, or countries. Sometimes the event is a cultural evening; other times, it’s karaoke, a quiz, or an informal discussion. Now in its third year, the International Středa – Mezinárodní Wednesday event series brings together Czech and international students not only from Charles University but from all colleges and universities, creating a space for socialising outside of class.
“We don’t target foreigners only. Czech and Slovak students come here to improve their English, meet people from different countries, and gain the kind of experience typically associated with studying abroad. After all, not everyone can or wants to go on an Erasmus exchange. You can gain international experience right here at home, too,” notes project coordinator Aldana Vlasáková from UK Point.
The content of each individual meeting is largely determined by the students themselves. Approximately thirty student ambassadors from English-taught degree programmes across various faculties are involved in the organisation. Most of them are international students who already have firsthand experience with studying and living in the Czech Republic and are able to share it with newcomers. Czech and Slovak students who have chosen to study in English also participate.
International experience even without Erasmus
According to Aldana Vlasáková, personal experience is one of the greatest strengths of the ambassador programme. In addition to organising events, its members help share information with their classmates, represent the university at off-campus events, and contribute to building an international student community. The programme is not imposed from above; ideas for individual events come from members of the ambassador team themselves, who know best what kinds of activities their peers are interested in. Cultural evenings are traditionally the most popular. Foreign embassies are also keen to collaborate with Charles University, as they want to support students from their own countries while introducing Czech students to their cultures. The program regularly features language exchanges, quizzes, karaoke, workshops, and swap events.
“On Japanese Day, for example, participants tried their hand at passing beans with chopsticks. This competition generated an unexpectedly high level of enthusiasm and became one of the highlights of our programme so far,” laughs Aldana Vlasáková. According to her, the most interesting thing is observing how visitors’ motivations change. Many come to a cultural evening because of a specific country or event, but gradually they start attending other activities as well. What keeps students coming back are the people they meet here. Part of the project’s success lies in its informality. Participants don’t have to register, earn credits, or meet any requirements. They can drop by for just a little while, join in the programme, or simply sit down and chat. The absence of academic pressure is often one of the reasons many students keep coming back.
A community across disciplines…
Thanks to frequent, regular meetings, a steady community has gradually formed around International Středas. Many students come for the first time because of a specific topic or on the recommendation of friends, but they don’t stop at just one visit. “What gives me the greatest joy is seeing people come back and start attending regularly,” says Vlasáková. According to her, it is precisely these repeated visits that are a sign that the project is fulfilling its purpose. One-time visitors thus gradually turn into active participants who then begin to shape the programme and help develop the entire community.
…and continents
Continuous turnover within the ambassador team also plays an important role. As team members progress through their studies and eventually leave the university, they pass on their experiences to younger peers. Some graduates then transition into the role of alumni ambassadors. Thanks to these efforts, the university is building a global alumni network. One example is a medical school graduate living in Dubai who helps prospective students from the region learn about study opportunities at Charles University.
International Středa isn’t limited to Prague. Smaller gatherings are also organized in Hradec Králové and Plzeň, tailored to local conditions and the needs of students. But whether they take place at Kampus Hybernská or at faculties outside Prague, their goal remains the same: to create a space for people to meet – future doctors, lawyers, and students of the natural and social sciences – who might not otherwise easily cross paths in a typical academic setting. “They aren’t confined solely to their fields and faculties. They get to know people they would otherwise probably never have met,” concludes Vlasáková.
