Czechia as an Attractive Destination for Study and Career. Annual Meeting of International Students and Alumni Held for the First Time in Brno
The International Student and Alumni Meetup 2024 brought together students and alumni with academia and the business sector.
Last week, we held the largest gathering of international students and alumni of Czech universities - International Student and Alumni Meetup 2024 - in Brno for the first time. The event, organized by Study in Czechia and Czechia Alumni at Masaryk University and Fléda Club, followed previous meetups in Prague and Ostrava. It attracted nearly 200 students and alumni from more than 60 countries who met with representatives of universities, businesses, and public administration. The gathering offered a platform for sharing experiences about studying and living in Czechia, supported the international student community, and created valuable opportunities for connecting talents with Czech companies and organizations. The event was also supported by the Mayor of Brno, Markéta Vaňková.
A new addition to this year’s meetup was a series of practical workshops organized in collaboration with partners such as the Brno Expat Centre and the South Moravian Innovation Centre. These workshops helped international students better understand life in Czech university cities and strengthen their professional skills. Systematic support for international students and their integration into the Czech labor market should indeed be a priority not only for higher education but for society as a whole. "If Czechia wants to become a knowledge-based economy—and it does—it cannot do so without foreign graduates, especially given the demographic decline. They contribute not only to society as a whole but also to the Czech economy in the amount of billions of crowns," emphasized Michal Uhl, Director of the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), who opened the evening program with a keynote speech.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Study in Czechia initiative and the 5th anniversary of Czechia Alumni. Both initiatives have long connected Czech universities with international students at the national level and have helped foreign alumni integrate into the Czech labor market and society. “We are pleased when international students come not only to study here but also to stay and build their careers. At the same time, it is important for us to keep in touch with those who return home after their studies, as they spread the good name of Czech higher education,” explained Bára Křenek Sobotková, head of the Study in Czechia department.
New Friends and Career Opportunities
With 18% of its students coming from abroad, Czechia ranks among the most internationalized countries in Europe. As shown by the latest research from DZS, the reasons for choosing Czechia range from the quality of study programs and affordability to its strategic location in the heart of Europe. “Brno is not only accessible but also open and friendly,” noted Mario Kiliński, a Polish student of Slavic studies at Masaryk University, during the evening. Juanita Sierra Parrado from Colombia, a student at Mendel University, added, “I chose Brno not only for the quality of education but also for the quality of life, and I found a job here as well.”
For many international students, the first encounter with Czech culture is challenging. Czech universities have therefore developed a number of programs to make the transition to a new environment easier. “Our welcome office takes care of international students from the very beginning—we have an orientation week, special brochures, and support from the Erasmus Student Network,” explained Štěpán Sakin from Masaryk University. Afghan graduate Iman Mehmandoust, who now works for the Czech branch of a global IT company, added, “Events like today’s helped me make friends and find career opportunities. That’s why I decided to stay.”
Through meetups like this year’s event in Brno, Czechia has the opportunity to showcase the quality and accessibility of its educational system and demonstrate that it offers a high quality of life and safety. Moreover, these events help retain international students in Czechia, which is key for the further growth of a knowledge-based economy. International students and alumni become ambassadors of Czechia, spreading awareness of its advantages and contributing to the international reputation of Czech education.
Alongside regular International Student and Alumni Meetups, we also organize a series of meetings for alumni and students abroad in cooperation with Czech Centres and Czech embassies. We have already held events in Sweden, Spain, and Moldova, and recently in the USA. This way, we help universities maintain contact with their alumni and provide a space for their further development.
