On 15 May 2026, the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice welcomed the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Zambia, H.E. Mr. Jiří Kyrian. The visit took place in a friendly and informal atmosphere and provided an opportunity to discuss existing cooperation, its further development and the possibilities of support from the diplomatic mission.
The Ambassador met with the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Vladimír Žlábek, and other representatives of the Rectorate and the Faculty of Theology of the University of South Bohemia. The main topic of the meeting was the long-developed cooperation with Zambia, particularly the activities of the Faculty of Theology, which plays a key role in this area. Both the results achieved so far and the prospects for further deepening of the partnership were discussed, especially in the fields of education, science and research, and international mobility.
The Faculty of Theology presented a cross-section of its activities in Zambia, which date back to 2010, when the first practical internships for students were conducted. The cooperation gradually developed in a systematic manner, including through partnerships with non-governmental organisations and the subsequent establishment of institutional cooperation at the university level. A significant step was the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with Cavendish University Zambia and with the organisation Caritas Czech Republic operating in Zambia, which support student internships, exchanges and joint research activities.
In recent years, the cooperation has deepened considerably thanks to international mobility projects under the Erasmus+ programme (KA171), implemented also with financial support from the Czech Development Agency Czech Aid, and other initiatives aimed at supporting internationalisation. These projects contribute to the development of professional and intercultural competencies of students and academic staff, support the creation of joint scientific outputs, and reflect current global topics such as social services, work with vulnerable groups, sustainable development and the intersection of theology and social work. A specific contribution of the cooperation is the emphasis on linking the academic environment with practice — for example, through activities carried out in collaboration with Caritas in Zambia. Students and academics thus gain direct field experience, enriching both teaching and research and contributing to the overall improvement in the quality of education.
One of the concrete outcomes of the developing partnership is also the implementation of student exchanges between the University of South Bohemia and Cavendish University Zambia. Currently, female students from Zambia are staying at the University of South Bohemia, undertaking a study visit within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. It was with these students that the Ambassador had the opportunity to meet personally at the conclusion of the visit and to speak about their experiences of studying in the Czech Republic.
