How to strengthen cooperation in Europe. Leaders of the EUPeace visited UWB

Two years have passed since the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen joined the EUPeace European university alliance. The alliance’s leadership paid an official visit to learn how international cooperation is being implemented in science, education, and research at the UWB.

The opportunity to enroll in courses at other European universities, participate in an internship at a partner institution, or be part of a collective effort to build a Europe that emphasizes justice, peace and the inclusion of all social groups. For now, these benefits stem from the University of West Bohemia’s (UWB) membership in the EUPeace alliance, which was established in the fall of 2023. In mid-March, UWB leadership reached an agreement on this with a delegation from Marburg, Germany, the university that chairs the alliance.

Another topic of discussion was the alliance’s role in societal resilience and security. At a time of escalating international conflicts, the discussion focused on how universities can contribute to addressing current challenges and prepare students for situations associated with a rapidly changing social and security environment. “EUPeace needs to focus on societal resilience and security, both in terms of research and education, and to offer this expertise,” said UWB Rector Miroslav Lávička.

Other key areas of cooperation include supporting study abroad programs for students and staff and making them more widely accessible. In fact, the alliance’s mobility strategy is the focus of Work Package 4, led by the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. Representatives from both sides also discussed the development of the EUTrack initiative, which offers the opportunity to study virtually at another partner university within the alliance, as well as the preparation of joint study programs.

The university alliance project is now entering its next phase, and one issue under consideration is expanding the partnership from the current 9 universities to a broader group. In addition to the Czech UWB, the alliance includes universities in Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Italy, France, and Spain.

The meeting was attended by Evelyn Korn, Chair of the EUPeace Governing Board, along with a delegation from the alliance’s leadership. On behalf of the University of West Bohemia, the meeting was led by Rector Miroslav Lávička and representatives of the alliance’s governing bodies, Vice-Rectors Josef Basl and Jiří Kohout, along with Magdalena Rousová, Director of the University of West Bohemia’s International Office, and Dagmar Vokounová Franzeová, Director of the University of West Bohemia’s Project Center.

The program also included a meeting with representatives of individual work packages. These focus, for example, on joint research projects, teacher training programs, student and staff exchanges, and the popularization of science. UWB Ombudsman Petr Šimon then shared the university’s perspective on equality, diversity, and inclusion, as well as opportunities to further develop these principles within the alliance and in education itself.