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He is studying Cybernetics and Control Engineering with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Automation. Honza Šimek has been fascinated by the world of robots and computers for a long time. However, he has always been drawn to the Czech language as well, and combining it with AI seems more than logical to him. Once he graduates, he wants to focus on speech technologies. What has his journey at the Faculty of Applied Sciences at UWB been like?

• What surprised you more on your first day at university—the difficulty of the subjects or the price of lunch in the cafeteria?
  Definitely the difficulty of the subjects. I remember starting with mathematics, and the biggest surprise was walking into a modern lecture hall with 150 students, whereas in high school, we were at most 30. It felt like I had entered a different world. But the math professors, despite being absolute experts, were kind to us at the beginning and gradually built up the material. Still, you have to put in the effort.
  
  
• If you had to describe your field as a movie genre, would it be a thriller, comedy, or sci-fi?
  When we work with artificial intelligence, it's sci-fi. When we can't connect a computer to a robot, it's a comedy. When we're waiting in the hallway for an oral exam, it's a thriller.
  
  
• What's your best survival trick for exam season?
  Study, study, study—but stay calm and don’t panic.
  
  
• What was your biggest "I see" moment during your studies? Is there something you wish you had known in your first year?
  I was surprised that the program I enrolled in was slightly different from what I had imagined. I thought artificial intelligence would dominate, but it’s actually a 50-50 split between AI and control engineering. But I understand that mastering both is necessary and that companies value versatile professionals.
  
  
• If you could give your first-year self one piece of advice, what would it be?
  Don’t doubt yourself. In my first year, I failed two subjects and started questioning whether this school was right for me, even considering switching to math teaching. But I pushed through, stayed persistent, and even though I had to extend my bachelor’s degree, I made it. Now, I’m about to take my final master’s exams, and I’m grateful.
  
  
• Imagine you have 30 seconds to convince a prospective student to choose your faculty. What would your "ad" sound like?
  The faculty is housed in a modern building with a great study environment and friendly professors. Most importantly, this is a place where real, valuable science is being done.
  
  
• What’s the biggest myth about university studies that you’d like to debunk?
  Many people think university is easygoing. It’s true that many say their student years were the best time of their lives, and I feel the same way. But it’s not like my classmates and I spend three days a week in clubs or bars. We really have to study to succeed here.
  
  
• What challenged you more during your studies—programming or communicating with people?
  Definitely programming. But I was lucky to have a friend from high school as a classmate, and together we got through the first semester. By the second semester, I was handling it on my own.
  
  

Studying during the day or late-night cramming?
During the day – my brain works better.

Cafeteria or instant noodles?
Cafeteria – ’m too lazy to cook and don’t want to eat noodles all week.

Front row in a lecture or in the back by the power outlet?
Somewhere in the middle.

Group projects or doing everything solo?
Group projects – if the team is good.

Oral or written exams?
Oral, because the professor can sometimes steer me in the right direction.

Early exam or last-minute?
Last-minute.

Interested in FAV? You can apply to the Faculty of Applied Sciences at UWB for bachelor’s programs until March 31, 2025. The faculty offers 10 bachelor’s and 13 master’s (Ing.) programs, with the master’s application deadline on May 31. Don’t wait – start your application here.