Hundreds of children, university students and adults are heading to EUPeace member University of West Bohemia (UWB) in Pilsen this summer. Language, art, technical, economics and science courses combine education with experiences and practical skills. The two largest summer schools started this Monday.
This summer, 21 summer schools will be held by the faculties and departments of the University of West Bohemia (UWB). The International Summer Language School and ArtCamp attract the greatest interest every year. “This year, we are offering courses in eight languages. We have seen surprisingly strong interest in Korean and Japanese. We also offer Spanish, Italian, French, German and, of course, English. We still have a few places available,” said language school coordinator Zdeňka Hončarová.
The 20th jubilee edition of ArtCamp will offer more than 40 art and design courses to 430 participants. “Our core programme, which includes popular courses such as figure drawing, illustration, graphic design and jewellery design, will be expanded this year with new courses such as videomapping, creative writing and the creation of original board games,” said ArtCamp operations director Lenka Kodýtková. The programme will also include exhibitions, artistic presentations and an accompanying public programme.
Learning Through Creativity and Innovation
One of this year’s lecturers is Dejan Slavuljica from the University of Sarajevo. His group of 12 students is interested in sharing his illustration skills. “My friend Adi, also from the University of Sarajevo, taught at ArtCamp last year. It was he who called me and offered me this opportunity at UWB, and I said yes! Even I can learn a lot from these students,” said Dejan.
In addition to these two largest events, there will also be courses for secondary and primary school students who want to experience university study or explore a field they might pursue in the future. The Faculty of Economics is inviting students to the Homo economicus summer school, which will focus this year on logistics. The Faculty of Applied Sciences will offer programming and technology camps, including a new hackathon called Campo Lampone, where participants can explore artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and game development. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will open courses in CNC machine programming and 3D printing, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering is preparing JuniorFEL, and the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy is offering courses such as archaeology, philosophy of artificial intelligence and Anglophone cultures.
A Vibrant Summer of Learning
“Summer schools provide an opportunity to gain new knowledge, experience the university environment and meet people with similar interests. Many of them combine theory with practical learning in laboratories, studios or directly in the field,” said Vice-Rector for Studies Jiří Kohout. According to him, the EUPeace member University of West Bohemia remains a vibrant place even during the summer holidays, where education naturally connects with discovery, creativity and international encounters.
A complete list of summer schools, including dates and contact details for the organisers, is available on the UWB website. Most courses have already been fully booked since spring.
