Between November 10th and 15th, 2025, representatives from the Faculty of Arts visited the partner Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (UNT) in Peru. The visit took place within the framework of the three-year International Credit Mobility Erasmus+ 2024-2027 project (Peru segment). On behalf of the Faculty of Arts of USB, participated doc. PhDr. Rostislav Smíšek, Ph.D., Vice Dean for International Relations and Development, PhDr. Jana Pešková, Ph.D., Head of the Spanish Philology Section of the Department of Romance Studies, PhDr. Jan John, Ph.D., and PhDr. Tereza Šálková, Ph.D., from the Institute of Archaeology of the Faculty of Arts.
On the first day, representatives of the University of South Bohemia were received by UNT Rector Dr. Hermes Sifuentes Inostroza. He expressed his satisfaction with the current cooperation and support for both thematic lines: Spanish Philology (from 2018) and Archaeology (from 2022). The Rector also expressed his interest in the future involvement of other disciplines cultivated at USB.
In the following days, other activities took place that contributed to deepening the existing cooperation and its further development.
Cooperation in the field of Spanish Philology
The programme in the field of Spanish Philology started with participation in the evaluation process at the Departamento de Lengua y Literatura (FCCC UNT), which aimed at accrediting the Lengua y Literatura course there for the next period. One of the evaluation criteria discussed was the degree of internationalization, which the representatives of the Faculty of Arts, USB, presented and illustrated with examples of ongoing collaboration. Its form was described by the evaluators as exemplary practice.
During the visit, a meeting was also held with five Peruvian students who had participated in study stays at the Faculty of Arts, USB, from 2021 to 2024. The students evaluated the benefits of the mobility very positively, especially with regard to the experience they gained during the stay and now use in teaching Spanish in their country.
During the following discussions, attention was paid to the mobility of students in postgraduate programmes (similar to the follow-up Master's degree) and the need for joint research projects and conferences. UNT representatives expressed interest in the possibility of a double-degree program, which the Department of Romance Studies could build upon its experience with the Double Degree program with the Universidad de Salamanca.
Another outcome of the discussions was the confirmation of interest in the implementation of virtual mobility, which would partially compensate for the limited number of physical exchanges. At the same time, the USB's Faculty of Arts promised to seek an increase in quotas for physical mobility.
As part of the professional programme, Dr. Jana Pešková gave a lecture on Corpus Linguistics and Parallel Corpora, which was attended by students and teachers of the Facultad de Educación y Ciencias de la Comunicación and thematically linked to the project plan.
Cooperation in the field of archaeology
On the recommendation of the Rector of UNT, contact was made with Dr Carlos Rengifo, currently Director of the University Archaeological Site of Huacas de Moche (part of UNT). The majority of the stay, which consisted mainly of the activities listed below, took place at this site on the outskirts of Trujillo:
- a detailed introduction to the Huacas de Moche site and its long-term archaeological research,
- a discussion on the possibilities of future cooperation, particularly in the fields of non-destructive archaeology and bioarchaeology,
- a geophysical survey of part of the site carried out by a team from the Faculty of Arts of the University of South Bohemia,
- lectures for UNT archaeology students and members of the Huacas de Moche archaeological team (Dr. T. Šálková: Métodos de Arqueobotánica; Dr. Jan John: Magnetometría en Arqueología).
Dr. Carlos Rengifo expressed interest in continuing the collaboration in the future and promised to help coordinate the exchange visits.
Two study stays in Spanish philology and one internship in archaeology (both at USB) are planned for 2026. At the same time, mobility of academic staff from Peru to teach and research at Faculty of Arts, USB, is also envisaged. Both parties have already declared their intention to directly follow up the current project with a new application, again in two thematic areas - Hispanic Studies and Archaeology. The main goal is to maintain the continuity of the cooperation and to further strengthen the inter-university relations.
Beyond the scope of the ICM project, cooperation with cultural institutions in Trujillo has been agreed. This will strengthen relations through events introducing Peruvian culture, as outlined during the recent visit of the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru to the USB.
