Support for sustainability and ethical behavior – main themes of the Academic SWAP organized by the Faculty of Economics at the USB for students, employees, and the public. Interest in ethics and sustainability is high among students, as reflected by the attendance at the event. Participants had the opportunity to bring and exchange women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, accessories, toys, books, and other household items. All proceeds from the entrance fee of 100 CZK were donated to ARPIDA, a non-profit center providing comprehensive, coordinated support in the spirit of an integrated rehabilitation system for people with physical and combined disabilities.
In addition to the swap itself, visitors could also enjoy a rich accompanying program. During the afternoon, there were musical performances by students of the Faculty of Education (Matouš Fiala, Michaela Kalinová, Kateřina Kočová, Veronika Procházková, and Veronika Vaňáková). This year’s event also featured a lecture entitled “Sustainable Fashion: Luxury or Necessity?” led by Nikola Sagapova and Roman Buchtele, and the lecture “When Business Speaks: Where Does Ethics End?” by Nikola Soukupová. There was also cosmetic consulting by Adéla Jandová from MARY KAY, aromatherapy led by wellness advocate dōTERRA Veronika Suchá, and a photo booth.
The swap became not only an opportunity to exchange items but also to make new contacts and strengthen the community spirit. Participants appreciated being able to reduce waste, support sustainability, and help a good cause at the same time.
With this second charity swap, the Faculty of Economics at USB continued a successful tradition that supports not only sustainability but also mutual help and solidarity.
Social Responsibility Also at the Ethics in the 21st Century Conference
The academic swap was preceded by the 4th annual international scientific conference "Ethics in the 21st Century." The event was held under the auspices of Senator Tomáš Fiala, Mayor of České Budějovice Dagmar Škodová Parmová, and Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of South Bohemia, Zuzana Dvořáková Líšková.
The topics of this year’s conference included ethics in business and social responsibility, environmental ethics and sustainability, ethics in the context of digitalization and artificial intelligence, as well as current ethical challenges.
At the plenary session, Kateřina Drahotová from the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague delivered a lecture “Ethics in Practice: Navigating the Age of AI,” and Pavel Seknička from the Society for Ethics in Economics, Business, and Administration gave a presentation called “Value Orientation and Sustainability from the Business Ethics Perspective.”
Both contributions opened key questions related to the application of ethics in a time of rapid technological development and globalization. The discussion focused on how ethical values and principles shape decision-making in companies and institutions, and how they can contribute to long-term sustainable development—whether in the context of artificial intelligence, the business environment, or public administration.
A significant part of the program was also a roundtable discussion addressing the practical application of ethical principles in daily business and management. Participants discussed current challenges faced by both the private and public sectors in the context of sustainability, ethics in marketing, and responsible corporate behavior. Representatives of companies such as ČEZ, E.ON, Kooperativa, and the Association of Corporate Ombudsmen addressed ethical questions related to the use of AI, gender diversity, work-life balance, or Generation Z. This dialogue between academics and practitioners not only connected theoretical knowledge with real-world experience, but also outlined possible paths to effective and long-term sustainable behavior in today’s global economy.
The conference was attended by more than 50 experts, academics, students, and practitioners. During the program, 17 presentations were given, contributing to a deeper discussion of the need for ethical behavior in all aspects of society.
On the second day, participants had the opportunity to explore the historical and cultural context of the location through a guided tour of the center of České Budějovice. The shared walk through a city that combines tradition with modern development provided an inspiring parallel to the main themes of the conference—especially to questions of rooting ethical values in practice and respecting local and cultural contexts.
