The Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) has long been a popular destination for students and professionals from all over the world, drawn by its engaging research and educational projects. And for the past five years, the university has operated a Welcome Centre dedicated to supporting international academics and their families. Today, it’s an invaluable resource for anyone arriving at CZU — but its beginnings were far from easy. The centre was founded in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, its founder Mirka Perst managed to bring a great idea to life — or perhaps, more accurately, to a hopeful beginning.
So how did it all start in the summer of 2020, and what had to happen for the Welcome Centre for International Scholars to fulfill its mission?
It was a time full of both hope and uncertainty. The idea for the Welcome Centre was born from a genuine need to help foreign researchers coming to CZU, many of whom struggled with an unfamiliar system, a language barrier and sometimes a sense of isolation. The initial spark came from Lukáš Pospíšil, who had a clear vision: that the university should offer foreign guests more than just a work contract — they should truly feel welcome.
I already had experience in international relations and knew there was a significant gap in support. We lacked a place that could connect the worlds of the university, Czech institutions, and the international community.
The first months were hectic — building relationships with offices, finding partners, setting up processes that had never existed before. And then the pandemic hit. Instead of meeting people in person, we were arranging residence permits over Teams, helping people in isolation, finding doctors, interpreting over the phone.
Looking back, I know that this period defined the very DNA of the centre: to always be there with empathy, humanity, and readiness to help — even in unpredictable situations. Thanks to that, we now have a vibrant hub that connects cultures and proves that hospitality and kindness belong in academia.
What was your vision at the start? And did things turn out as you planned?
From the very beginning, my vision was clear: to create a safe haven where anyone arriving at CZU from the other side of the world would feel welcomed, understood and supported. I wanted the Welcome Centre to be more than just an office for paperwork — a place where people could turn even with everyday questions or moments of uncertainty.
I wished for it to have warmth, humor, and perspective — because when someone arrives in a new country, doesn’t speak the language, and has to deal with complex bureaucracy, what they often need most is a calm word and the feeling that someone understands them.
Of course, not everything went smoothly. Some processes took time to establish, and sometimes we faced misunderstanding or bureaucratic obstacles. But at its core, the original vision came true. We built a team with heart — people who genuinely care about others.
The Welcome Centre team: Mirka Perst (left), Martina Paďour Šlesingerová (centre), and Alena Gentile (right).
Looking back on these five years, how would you describe the experience?
It’s been an incredible ride — sometimes wonderful, sometimes challenging, but always meaningful. It taught me a lot about people, intercultural communication and myself.
Every day brings something new. One day you’re handling a work permit, the next you’re sorting out health insurance, and then you’re helping find a kindergarten for a child from the other part of the world.
Looking back, I see hundreds of stories — some funny, some touching, but all important. From a small office meant to help a handful of researchers, the Welcome Centre has grown into a place that connects cultures, builds community and helps people feel at home in a foreign country. That’s something truly special.
How do international academics perceive the services of the CZU Welcome Centre? What do they appreciate most?
From their feedback, it’s clear that they value our personal approach and openness the most. We often hear comments like, “Nowhere else have we received such help,” or “Thanks to you, I can finally focus on my research.” That’s the greatest reward for us.
They also appreciate that we communicate clearly and humanely — that we explain everything and stand by them even when things get complicated. For many, their stay in the Czech Republic is their first long-term experience in Europe, so they often find themselves in an entirely new reality. And that’s where we come in — to help them navigate it.
You help foreigners deal with bureaucracy and daily life, which surely brings some amusing situations. Can you share one?
We’ve had countless funny or unusual moments. One happened during the pandemic: after six hours of waiting in the emergency room, a passing nurse gave us “helpful advice” — if our scientist pretended to faint, she’d be seen faster! (We still laugh about it today, though it wasn’t funny at the time.)
And then there are moments that stay in your heart for their humanity — like when we were waiting for a car inspection with one researcher, sitting on the grass, and he started teaching me to identify medicinal herbs growing around us, telling stories about their uses. That was when administrative support turned into a truly human encounter.
Your famous discovery trips across the Czech Republic are also well-known. How are they received, and what have you managed to visit so far?
Our excursions are one of the most popular parts of our work, with great feedback from both academics and their families. I always say it’s not just a trip — it’s a shared experience that brings people together across cultures.
We’ve explored nearly the whole country — from Kutná Hora, Jindřichův Hradec, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, and Telč, to the Krkonoše Mountains, Tisá Rocks, Český ráj, Dolní Morava, and the Jeseníky Mountains.
Sometimes we pick lesser-known places with a special charm. Due to high interest, we ’ve also visited Dresden, the Bastei Rocks, and Christmas markets in Vienna. The feedback is wonderful — for many, it’s their first chance to see other places in the Czech Republic outside of Prague.
International academics also meet each other at your events. How successful is their integration into the local community?
Integration takes time — and openness on both sides. Our goal is to help not only foreigners but also the Czech environment better understand their world. That’s why we organize events where Czech and international colleagues meet.
Over the past five years, we’ve held more than 80 networking events, seminars, cultural trips, and community-building activities — from festive Christmas and Easter gatherings to lively international garden parties, inspiring excursions across the Czech Republic and abroad, and even interactive Czech language courses.
The Welcome Centre has become a genuine hub for meeting, learning, and sharing.
What has been the most difficult part for you and your team over these five years?
Probably balancing between different systems and expectations 0— between what researchers need, what the law requires, and what the university allows. We’ve often had to act as “translators” — not just of language, but of mindsets.
And of course, starting the Centre in the middle of a pandemic was a huge challenge. Supporting people who were isolated in a foreign country was far from easy.
And the happiest moments?
There are so many. Every successful residence permit, every thank-you message, every meeting where I see people leaving with a smile.
It’s beautiful when researchers return after years to say hello and tell us they wouldn’t have managed without the Welcome Centre. Or when I see their children laughing and playing together during our trips.
Those are the moments when I know all the work — the emails, the paperwork — has deep meaning.
Surely you already have ideas for expanding the Centre’s rich activities…
Yes — plenty! I’d love the Welcome Centre to continue developing as an open platform for international collaboration, connecting not just researchers, but also their families, students, and university staff.
We want to focus more on intercultural understanding and wellbeing, and strengthen cooperation with city institutions so that academics feel part of the wider community of Prague and the Czech Republic.
We’re planning more EURAXESS seminars, regular international evenings with food tastings and cultural presentations, digital relocation guides and checklists, an online directory of English-speaking doctors, and an expanded database of recommended apartment landlords willing to cooperate with the university.
Above all, we want to keep nurturing the community around the Welcome Centre, because the energy that arises when people from all over the world meet — that’s simply irreplaceable. And that’s what gives our work its true meaning.
Interview by: Lenka Prokopová Photos: Welcome Centre