How to build a functional shelter, secure drinking water in the wild, light a fire, use techniques to calm children and protect them from anxiety, navigate in unfamiliar terrain, or provide first aid – the field trip to the Boletice Military Training Area was tailored for future teachers by the University of South Bohemia in cooperation with the Army of the Czech Republic. The course program, called “Stronger Together,” was designed to help prospective educators safeguard their students in crisis situations. They experienced POKOS activities (Preparation of Citizens for the Defense of the State) firsthand.
The program was developed through a collaboration between the Faculty of Education at the University of South Bohemia, the University’s Career Center, and the Army of the Czech Republic.
“This collaboration is extremely valuable to us because it allows future teachers not only to address important topics such as cyber security and psychological resilience, but also to demonstrate how to teach students essential first aid, ensure safety, and prevent risks,” explains Martina Hrušková from the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Education, USB.
During the workshop, the Army presented participants with the POKOS project as it is implemented in primary and secondary schools under the leadership of Regional Military Commands.
“The Army of the Czech Republic, together with the University of South Bohemia, organizes the RECIT (Resilient Citizen) workshop aimed at future educators, which builds greater psychological and physical resilience and trains them in areas such as first aid, cyber security, and the basics of self-sufficiency in the outdoors,” adds Lieutenant Colonel Mojmír Zachariáš from the POKOS Department, Territorial Forces Command of the Czech Army.
The Career Center of the University of South Bohemia supports the development of students and alumni and bridges the academic environment with practice. The topic of resilience support arose from the current generation of students, among whom experts perceive resilience as the counterpart to vulnerability.
“University studies give young people professionalism in their chosen field. The Career Center supports this professionalism by developing soft skills. We consider resilience one of the essential soft skills needed to meet the challenges of today’s job market. RECIT, or Stronger Together, is about managing crisis situations. It is a joy to see how young people absorb practical skills,” says Alena Čarvašová, instructor at the USB Career Center.
In the future, the Career Center would like to prepare a program with a similar focus and impact for students of other USB faculties as well.
