Czech Academic Mission to the U.S. Midwest: Building Partnerships Through Targeted Cooperation
The Czech academic mission to the U.S. Midwest, held from 13 to 18 April 2026, brought representatives of twelve Czech higher education institutions to Iowa and Illinois to strengthen academic cooperation with U.S. universities, researchers, alumni and partners from the Czech and Slovak community. The mission was organised by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) as part of the national Study in Czechia initiative, which DZS develops and implements on behalf of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT/MEYS).
The programme combined targeted institutional visits with B2B meetings, networking blocks and receptions designed to create space for new contacts and follow-up. It included visits to the: University of Iowa, University of Chicago, Northwestern University and Illinois Institute of Technology , but its core value also lay in afternoon B2B sessions with universities from the wider region, working lunches and evening networking formats. Together, these activities helped participants move beyond general introductions, identify shared academic interests and start conversations that could lead to concrete cooperation.
Why the Midwest?
The U.S. Midwest offers strong potential for Czech universities. It combines research universities, links to industry and innovation, active international offices and a visible Czech and Slovak heritage. In Iowa, the delegation visited the University of Iowa and continued to Cedar Rapids, where the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library hosted U.S.–Czech academic panels, B2B meetings and networking with the local community.
This part of the mission showed that heritage institutions can be strategic partners in international education. They help universities understand local context, connect with alumni and communities with Czech roots, and create formats that link education, research, language, culture and public engagement.
From Meetings to Real Cooperation
In Chicago, the mission continued at the University of Chicago, where the delegation met representatives of UChicago Global and experts across several academic and institutional areas, including regional studies, library collections and global partnerships. The programme showed what a working campus visit can look like in practice: rather than a general introduction, it created space for focused discussions on possible academic links, existing contacts and concrete areas for future cooperation.
A working lunch hosted at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago added an important practical perspective by bringing together the Czech delegation with Czech academics and experts working at U.S. universities. Veronika Ročková from the University of Chicago pointed to the strong theoretical foundation of Czech education as a solid basis for research cooperation. Hana Weisserová from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln highlighted the potential of Czech and heritage communities in the U.S., while stressing that this potential needs to be connected with specific academic fields, young researchers and targeted short-term or scholarship programmes. The need for concrete follow-up was also highlighted by Jiří Skládanka, Vice-Rector at Mendel University in Brno: “The approach of the partner institutions was very open and concrete. These were not merely courtesy meetings, but discussions that often ended with clearly identified next steps. That is essential for building cooperation.”
At Northwestern University, the delegation joined thematic discussion tables in areas such as study abroad, Slavic languages, engineering, business and theatre. At Illinois Institute of Technology, the programme opened topics including double degrees, short-term research stays, engineering, computing, business, law, sustainability and biotechnology. Both visits confirmed that the value of a campus visit lies in field-specific conversations with people who can move cooperation forward.
The mission was made possible thanks to partners in the region. The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago helped identify relevant U.S. partners, supported networking and opened doors to academic, alumni and community circles. It also hosted one of the key B2B parts of the programme, where universities and higher education partners from Chicago and neighbouring states joined consultations with the Czech delegation, followed by informal networking.
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library gave the programme a strong regional and community anchor. It hosted academic panels and B2B meetings in Cedar Rapids and helped connect university cooperation with Czech and Slovak heritage in the Midwest. Together, these partners helped create trust, context and continuity.
Mission or Education Fair?
Unlike education fairs such as NAFSA, EAIE or APAIE which are essential for visibility and broad networking, a mission allows for more targeted work with selected partners. It brings the delegation directly to institutions and creates space for B2B meetings, focused discussions and concrete follow-up.
The two formats complement each other. A fair can open many doors. A mission helps decide which of them are worth opening fully — and what should happen next..
