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The Homo Economicus summer school offered children experiential learning in the form of games, practical workshops, language lessons, and excursions. The program was divided according to the age of the participants, and each day had its economic theme – from the basics of the market to trade in raw materials to the impact of transport on the environment. The children also collected the game currency "Spořílek", which they used at the end of the week in an auction of rewards. This year's summer school took place for the fourteenth time, during the week of July 7-11.

„It was interesting for me to learn how pepper got to Pilsen. Then we came up with our trade routes for the future. It was like being a real trader and traveler simultaneously," said 15-year-old Ema from Pilsen. „I was very interested in how things used to work in guilds, and that craftsmen had to follow strict rules. But what I enjoyed most was when we tried to design our craft of the future and thought about how much such a craftsman would earn," said 12-year-old Štěpán from Cheb, describing his experiences.

Each day focused on a different topic—for example, Monday was devoted to the basics of economics and how markets work, Tuesday introduced guilds, craft laws, and spice trade routes, and Wednesday took the children on a journey across Europe with an emphasis on the history of transportation. There were also English lessons and a game called "crafts and trade," which helped the children understand the connection between production and markets.

Thursday was devoted to the traditional joint excursion – children from Pilsen and Cheb visited the Brewery Museum, where they took part in the Forgotten Crafts program, obtained a journeyman's certificate, and also toured the historic underground of Pilsen. Final exam marked Friday – older children worked on a map of future trade routes around the world, including calculations of costs and environmental impacts, while younger children designed the "craft of the future," including earnings, equipment, and the craftsman's appearance.

The participants received symbolic diplomas at the graduation ceremony, which took place simultaneously in Pilsen and Cheb. „It's fascinating to see how children think about economics – sometimes in a completely different way than adults. They come up with crafts that don't yet exist, discuss prices, impacts on nature, and what makes sense. The summer school subtly shows them that economics is not just about money, but mainly about the world around us," said Jan Tlučhoř, vice-dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia.

For more information about the Homo Economicus Summer School, visit its website.

The summer school in Pilsen was held with the financial support of the Regional Authority of the Pilsen Region within the framework of the program Support for the Development of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen in 2025 and the statutory city of Pilsen within the framework of the Pilsen - University City program.

The summer school in Cheb took place with the financial support of the city of Cheb and the Karlovy Vary Region.