This year's International Student and Alumni Meetup took place on December 4, 2025 at Pevnost poznání (Fort Science) in Olomouc. Co-organised by the Palacký University Olomouc, the event brought together over 100 students and alumni from all over the world, offering them a unique opportunity to connect, share experiences, and get inspired. Apart from facilitating networking between alumni and students, the event presented post-graduation opportunities for international students and graduates in the region. It also showcased alumni programmes and university career centres from across the region.
CAREER workshops
The afternoon kicked off with a guided tour of the Science and Technology Park, where the attendees got a look inside the Element Coworking spaces, the DIGI2Health digital innovation hub, and the UP Lab.
Participants could then choose from two career workshops. The first, titled
"From Student to Professional - Your Legal Survival Guide to Working in Czechia," was led by experts from the Brno Expat Centre - a public service helping internationals turn Czechia into their home. They gave the audience a detailed overview detailed overview of how to work safely and confidently in Czechia, covering employment contracts, residence status, taxes and insurance, and tips for building a secure future in Czechia.
The second workshop, "Starting Your Own Business," was delivered by the Science and Technology Park. The hosts explained how they support participants on their 
business journey. They introduced the Podnikavá hlava (Enterprising Mind) competition, where aspiring entrepreneurs can test their ideas, as well as mentoring opportunities for early-stage projects and support with intellectual property protection. Participants also learnt about the facilities offered by Element Coworking and inspiring events such as the UP Business Camp conference.
Evening networking
The evening networking session proved to be the highlight of the day. As six o'clock approached, more participants began to arrive. The opening speeches were made by Roman Klepetko, the Deputy Director and Head of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Division at the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) and Bára Křenek Sobotková, the Head of Study in Czechia initiative. Bára concluded her speech with a teaser for the upcoming Czechia Alumni platform, which will serve as a central source of information and a hub for finding new connections.
Students and alumni were then warmly welcomed by Michael Kohajda, the Rector of the Palacký University Olomouc, and Ivona Barešová, the Pro-Rector for International Relations.
"I attended the very first Alumni meetup in Prague, and the event was just great. Ever since then, we’ve wanted to host the meetup here, and we’ve finally succeeded... It’s a great opportunity to drive the entire Czech higher education system forward," explained Alena Vyskočilová, the Head of Welcome Office of Palacký University.
Running alongside the networking session was a Fair with Higher Educational Institutions & Organisations. This offered an opportunity for participants to meet representatives from various higher educational institutions and regional employment and integration organisations at their info booths in an open, informal setting. Everyone interested could
explore job opportunities, ask their questions, and get inspired. The university booths of Palacký University Olomouc, University of Hradec Králové, Charles University, Masaryk University, University of Ostrava, Silesian University Opava, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technical University of Liberec, and Czech University of Life Sciences Prague provided information on their alumni programmes, further study options, and opportunities to connect with university representatives.
Other booths featured Study In Czechia and Czechia Alumni, Science and Technology Park, Olomouc Integration Coordination Team, ESN, Ostrava and Brno Expat Centres, Center for Support of Integration of Foreigners – Olomouc Region, and Archdiocesan Charity Olomouc.
The language corner, organized by the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies (UJOP), allowed attendees to practise their Czech through board games like Člověče, nezlob se! and Codenames.
Finding Common Ground in Czechia
Chu Kung Te, a medical student from the Palacký University, shared his views on his studies and the meetup with us: "Currently I am studying at the Palacky University and they provide a lot of events besides the study programme. That means I can just focus on my studies but also experience the life here...I think meetups like this are important to organize because it is a good opportunity to meet other students and share their experiences with living and studying in Czechia."
Apart from students, we also spoke with alumni who have chosen to stay in Czechia after graduation. "At the beginning, it might be difficult to build your network and your group of friends but once you are in, then it suddenly becomes very easy and people are open and friendly...and then those are friendships for life," shared Niels Hexpoor, who is currently working for the Palacký University as Aurora Sustainability & Impact Leader.
"And what I liked about Czech Republic is the fact that, in order to gain full time employment, the bureaucratic procedures are not too complicated," added Vaibhav Dewan, an alumnus of the Charles University with a degree in International Relations.
"Students most frequently come to us with questions regarding their residence permits, wanting to ensure all their necessary documents are in order. We also assist them in overcoming language barriers and, in general, help them navigate our society," explained Pavlína Moťka, the Head of the Center for Support of Integration of Foreigners – Olomouc Region. "After their studies, students often become employees in the Czech Republic; they should therefore know their rights and obligations and have a good understanding of the cultural context," added Eliška Genčurová, Social Worker at the Center.
With the atmosphere still buzzing, the event continued into the late evening. Part of the success was the Czech-Bosnian band called No Barriers, whose live performance provided amazing accompaniment to the entire networking event. As ten o'clock drew near, the participants gradually began to depart.
View the photos from this event here.
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