Foundation Programmes in Economics

Speech by an alumna at the opening ceremony of the academic year at the rectorate building of Charles University

Congratulations to all present on the start of the academic year!

I am very grateful for the invitation and the opportunity to be in this place again, which echoes in my heart with very precious and warm memories. My name is Viktoria, I am a graduate of the UJOP Foundation Course of the year 2022-2023. My studies were supported by The Kellner Family Foundation. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am very glad that it happened at this time in my life. I am now a student in the Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE), but a year ago, if I were you, I wouldn't even know how to decipher the acronym VŠE.

Perhaps there are those among you who are not sure what faculty to choose, what university to enter. Don't worry, it's normal. If you are in this room right now and you have a whole year of coursework, a whole year of interesting lectures and even more interesting breaks ahead of you, I assure you that you are on the right track.

This journey has not only academic significance for you, but also spiritual significance. Because every time a person decides to explore a new country, learn about its culture and learn a new language, he or she broadens his or her own inner horizons, begins to better understand his or her own values and identifies even more as a person. UJOP is your best guide on this journey, your best advisor for any aspect of life in the Czech Republic.

Your teachers and coordinators will protect you every step of the way. Rely on them, open your heart to new impressions and insights, so that at the end of the year you can face your own future plans with a reliable weapon in your hands - language and information. Language is the key to your self-confidence. And he who owns information owns the world. With it in your hands, you will be able to conquer any peak. Don't be afraid of the winds you will meet on the way, be brave and determined. Because the brave are always lucky.

Here I would point out, of course, in addition to the work of teachers, the subjects themselves, because they are all very important. And I would not say that one could just not attend any of the subjects sometimes or that sort of things. Because mathematics is very important due to the various structures that we use in Russian in a slightly different way. And because of this, you can then misunderstand your teacher or speak incorrectly yourself. And English definitely needs to be maintained, because with intensive study of the Czech language, the level of English is decreasing right before your eyes. And, of course, economic subjects are also very important in order to understand some core things in Czech, because most of the students come with some knowledge, but it needs to be slightly transformed into Czech

The full interview can be found at this link