UJEP leads cross-border project linking study and practice
J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem as lead partner has started the implementation of a three-year Czech-Saxon project ‘Professionally oriented studies in the border region’ (‘PraStud’), which is aimed at linking theory and practice in higher education. The aim of the project is to support the establishment of dual studies, i.e. the linking of studies with practical experience in the field.
“Our faculty is involved in the project together with the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of the UJEP and other partners: the Technical University of Liberec and especially the Duale Hochschule Sachsen, which is an inspiring example of a well-functioning dual education system. UJEP has a long-standing cooperation with this institution, which is now taking on a new dimension,” describes the Secretary of the Faculty of Science of UJEP Ing. Petr Lauterbach.
The ‘PraStud’ project is not primarily aimed at the creation of new study programmes, but at qualitative improvement of existing ones – through knowledge transfer, sharing of best practices and deeper cooperation between the academic and business sectors in the region. The initiative brings together universities, SMEs, public administrations, professional organisations and chambers from both sides of the border, contributing to the development of the cross-border labour market.
One of the first key moments of the project was the kick-off conference held on 11 April 2025 in Radebeul, Germany, at the Tagungszentrum der sächsischen Wirtschaft. The conference offered a rich programme dedicated to the possibilities of developing dual and practice-oriented studies in the Czech-Saxon border region. It was attended by representatives of universities, professionals, companies and institutions.
The conference was addressed by Prof. Dr. Ing. habil. Andreas Hänsel, Rector of the Saxony Dual College, Ivona Valhová, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Dresden, and representatives of UJEP – Hana Galiová, Martin Špaček, Petr Lauterbach, who presented our university and the project as such.
The programme included expert contributions by academics, presentations of working examples of dual education and discussions on its potential introduction in the Czech Republic. The conference also included an analysis of labour market needs and challenges facing universities and a discussion on the development of Czech-Saxon economic cooperation. The afternoon part offered thematic workshops, which ended with a joint debate of all project partners.
“For us, the PraStud project is a logical and very welcome step towards a deeper connection between theory and practice. Our goal is to provide students not only with a quality theoretical background, but above all to enable them to test the acquired knowledge in a real environment. Thanks to cooperation with other partners, we have the opportunity to draw inspiration and transfer proven approaches to our environment,” says Ing. Martin Špaček, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Development and External Relations of the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of the Jagiellonian University, adds: ‘I am convinced that such an approach will increase the employability of graduates on the labour market and can also contribute to the development of the labour market in the entire Czech-Saxon border region.’
The project is funded by the Czech-Saxon Interreg 2021-2027 programme.