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Second year of bachelor's studies, winter semester - during this period, students of the University of West Bohemia (UWB) most frequently participate in the Erasmus+ exchange programme. Czech students have had the opportunity to go abroad for a considerably longer time than the celebrated 20 years, thanks to the Erasmus program. It was one of the first forms of integration of the Czech Republic into the international community as the first student exchanges took place as early as 1998.

For example, Matyáš Kopp, a student of the Faculty of Economics, spent a semester at a university in Venlo, the Netherlands, near the German border and Düsseldorf. Matyáš Kopp had already made up his mind to apply for the Erasmus+ project when he applied to UWB. "I saw the greatest motivation in living in a foreign city and getting to know the local students and customs. Expanding my horizons about life on the other side of the world or continent has always been one of the most beneficial experiences for me," said Matyáš Kopp.

Living in the Netherlands for six months also required adapting to the local lifestyle - such as covering hundreds of kilometers by bike to get from point A to point B. Matyáš would like to try studying abroad at least once more. "As part of writing my bachelor's thesis, I plan to go to Oslo, Norway, where I will work on its practical part. I would recommend Erasmus to anyone who is even slightly tempted by the idea of going abroad. Living abroad is an unforgettable experience," says Matyáš.

Klára Frausová studies at the Faculty of Education, specializing in English and German teaching. She saw Erasmus as a clear opportunity to expand her language skills, so she decided to study in Graz, Austria. "Of course, I was afraid at the beginning, but that changed very quickly after my arrival. I even found some peace of mind there," said student Klára Frausová. She eventually returned to Austria to write her bachelor's thesis and now helps other students with their Erasmus applications as an employee of the International Office at UWB.

Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, or France - these are the countries that students have favored for their exchanges in recent years. "So far, in this academic year, students from the Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Economics, Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art, and Faculty of Education have most frequently gone on Erasmus. These students consistently show the greatest interest," lists Romana Suchá from the International Office.

However, Czech Republic's accession to the European Union did not only mean opportunities for students and teachers to go abroad. A significant shift also occurred in the field of science and research by connecting with European institutions, which meant opportunities to establish new collaborations. This was also accompanied by support for scientific research from European funding programs. "A more intense connection with European research structures is evident. Thanks to the Research and Development for Innovation Operational Program (OP VaVpI), the Czech Republic managed to obtain funds from EU funds for scientific and research projects from 2007 to 2013. Four research centers were established at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, including ours," says Dita Sládková from the NTC UWB research center. Research opportunities still exist, whether through Interreg projects that strengthen regional cooperation or Horizon program projects.

We also asked the leadership of UWB about the most significant change they believe Czech Republic's EU membership has brought.

Prof. RNDr. Miroslav Lávička, Ph.D., Rector

Czech Republic's accession to the EU was a natural culmination of the changes that began with the events of November 1989. For me personally, it was a dream fulfilled, which I began to dream as an eighteen-year-old university student in 1989. It's almost unbelievable that it's been 20 years already. Today, we can't even imagine many things that EU membership has brought us were different before. And although the European Union is often criticized today, sometimes rightfully so, it is still a unique and excellent project that has brought and continues to bring many positive and useful things to our country. If I were to choose some specific examples from the perspective of higher education, here at UWB, thanks to EU financial support, we have built four successful research centers, and last year, by decision of the European Commission, we received financial support from the ERASMUS+ program to cover the costs of the European university alliance EUPeace, of which we are a proud member along with eight other universities. But there is, of course, much more.

Prof. PhDr. Jan Váně, PhD., Vice-Rector for External Relations

The most significant change I see is that a significant part of the population (both in the context of the Czech Republic and UWB) has learned to think, evaluate, and perceive circumstances in the context of much larger entities. This applies to both societal trends and the possibilities associated with science. As a result, we have adopted greater aspirations, ambitions, and stricter demands on ourselves than before our accession to the EU.

Prof. Ing. Josef Basl, CSc., Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development

For me, it's primarily the opportunity to travel. From our perspective as academics, it's for the purpose of deepening and expanding research collaborations, and for students, it's through study stays to gain knowledge and valuable life experiences. ERASMUS is a suitable program for this. Mobility also brings an increased number of foreign students to UWB, who also shape our internal university environment.

Doc. Mgr. Jiří Kohout, Ph.D., Vice-Rector for Educational Concept and Student Affairs

From UWB's perspective, the change I see is primarily the opportunity to fully integrate into the European university space and start a process that eventually led to UWB's involvement in the European university alliance EU Peace. Although this alliance includes universities from non-EU countries (Bosnia, Turkey), it is an initiative driven and financed by the EU.