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Virtual reality, artificial intelligence, influencers, and first aid — these are just a few of the topics high school students explored during the very first year of UniTEEN. A total of 103 young participants joined the project organized by the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FPE), and 61 of them fulfilled the requirements for the graduation ceremony. One participant completed the entire program with 100% attendance, while five participants received a red diploma for outstanding achievement. For many students, UniTEEN became an important experience in deciding their future path.

“I looked forward to every course and truly enjoyed the atmosphere of the individual faculties, the friendly lecturers, and especially the useful information for both life and future studies. It was an honor to be part of something so wonderful and unique,” said participant Martina Mošnová, one of the high school students involved in the project. She also added that the experience motivated her to continue studying at one of the University of West Bohemia’s departments.

From February 19 until mid-May, the Faculty of Education offered a program every Thursday afternoon tailored for young students who wanted to experience university life beyond a traditional open day. Participants attended seminars, excursions, and hands-on activities led directly by faculty teachers and university students. According to the faculty leadership, interest in the program was exceptional.

“Right from the launch of registration, it was clear that high school students were genuinely interested in this type of program. Most courses filled up within moments, and almost all capacities were occupied within a few hours. For us, that was a huge motivation and confirmation that UniTEEN truly makes sense,” said Vice-Dean Lenka Benediktová, who oversees the project.

UniTEEN builds on the faculty’s experience with the FPE Children’s University, which has been opening the world of science, education, and creativity to elementary school children for the past eleven years. “UniTEEN naturally follows the long-standing success of our Children’s University. We wanted to offer a similar experience to high school students who are already making decisions about their future studies. The first year showed us that there is great interest in this kind of connection with the university, which is why we want to continue the project in the coming years,” Benediktová added.

The Faculty of Education plans to open the next UniTEEN year at the beginning of 2027. Before that, the 12th year of the traditional FPE Children’s University will begin in autumn.