Czech National Agency for International Education and Research announced its third annual award winners

The best of international education in 10 categories. We know the winners.

For the third time in a row, the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research awards successful projects realised through its programmes. This year, the DZS Awards has been presented online. In a series of video spots, we have introduced all awarded projects, institutions and individuals in 10 categories according to the programme and sector they were nominated in.  The committee of experts appreciated the projects especially for their quality, originality, innovation and impact on its participants, participating institutions and the local community.   

"We congratulate the winners and we believe that the awarded projects will become an inspiration for other organizations in the field of education," says Dana Petrova, Director of Czech National Agency for International Education, about the DZS Awards.

Have a look at the winners in all categories in videos below.

• Erasmus+ School Education Nakladatelství Dr. Josef Raabe, s. r. o. | Dr. Josef Raabe Publisher WE Learn and COMmunicate Ensemble

  The project brought together eight organizations that aimed to integrate children with various educational needs in kindergartens. They created tools to improve theoretical background and to increase competences in working with a heterogeneous classroom for teachers, a manual for teachers working with pupils with specific educational needs, an app to prepare tailor-made educational activities for pupils, and last but not least special workshops for kindergarten teachers. 

• e-Twinning Základní škola Hlučín, Hornická 7, okres Opava, příspěvková organizace, Jana Losíková | Hlučín Elementary School Let's get on board!

  Through learning about the culture, language and history of cooperating countries, the project taught pupils tolerance for differences and how to overcome stereotypes. The activities were integrated into the sixth grade English curriculum while they also crossed subject boundaries of Czech, geography, history, computer science or music education. Thanks to the project, students tried inhabiting new roles for the first time - they became lecturers, creators of board and online games and they learned to process information.

• Erasmus+ Vocational Education and Training Střední odborné učiliště stavební, Plzeň, Borská 55 | Vocational High School of Civil Engineering Plzeň Keramici a kamnáři v Portugalsku | Potters and stove makers in Portugal

  The project enabled students of ceramic production and stove-making to accomplish internships abroad in companies in northern Portugal, a region famous for its ceramics and stove-making production. The project provided valuable international experience to students who would not have such an opportunity without the Erasmus+ programme and it showed them craft as a desired skill to make a living abroad. Moreover, it supported fields which are in danger of gradual extinction.

• Erasmus+ Adult Education Botanická zahrada hl. m. Prahy | Prague Botanical Garden Botanical Garden: COME IN! ENTER! COM IN! WEJDŹ! GYERE BE!

  The project is based on the development and transfer of innovative procedures in making the botanical garden accessible for the general public with an emphasis on visitors with special needs. The main outputs of the project are Methodology for botanical gardens accessibility, Exhibition for All Senses and international conference The Botanical Garden as an Open Institution - Educational Activities Focused on Visitors with Special Needs (methodology, experience, inspiration).

• Erasmus+ Youth proFem – centrum pro oběti domácího a sexuálního násilí, o. p. s. | proFem - Center for victims of domestic and sexual violence Ambassadors of Love & Respect

  The two-phase training course addressed the issue of violence in relationships of teenagers and young adults. The biggest innovative benefit of the project was involvement of peer education executed by so-called ambassadors – young people who suffered from violence in a relationship themselves.

• European Solidarity Corps Nadační fond ATYP | ATYP Endowment Fund Autismus není vidět | Autism is not visible

  The project was initiated by a group of young people on the autism spectrum under the auspices of the ATYP Endowment Fund. The main goal was to draw attention to the problems that people with autism face and to give them the courage to solve everyday challenges. The organizers focused on awareness-raising through articles and through e-publication with recommendations to promote inclusion. They organized a meeting of people with autism, based on which an exhibition of photographs was created. A great success was the weekly awareness campaign, which included a speech in the Chamber of Deputies. The project highlight was the First Autism Conference which took place in September 2020.

• Erasmus+ Higher Education Veterinární a farmaceutická univerzita Brno | University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Mobility studentů mezi programovými zeměmi Erasmus+ | Student mobility between Erasmus+ programme countries

  After returning from Erasmus+ mobility students complete a final report to evaluate their stay from various points of view. Students visiting the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno appreciate the above-standard support provided by the institution in answering their questions and solving problems.

• CEEPUS Ústav asijských studií Filozofické fakulty Univerzity Karlovy | Institute of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University Study of Religions (Cz11)

  The CEEPUS network builds on the older pre-war tradition of academic study of religion in the Central European region which was interrupted by the communist era. In the form of exchange lectures, key cooperation with the University of Vienna, Comenius University in Bratislava and Szeged University was established. The Institute of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, is currently preparing a project to digitize the Tibetan Buddhist canon in cooperation with Viennese Tibetan studies and the American digital library Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC). Lectures by foreign colleagues complement and expand the existing curriculum.

• Euroguidance Lucie Václavková Facebooková skupina pro kariérové poradce: Kariéroví poradci, koučové, lektoři a další nadšenci CZ&SK | Facebook group for career counselors: Career counselors, coaches, lecturers and other enthusiasts CZ&SK

  The Facebook group was founded to connect career counselors and create space for mutual support, development and growth. This activity enables peer to peer learning and co-careering. The group offers a safe space for the community and enables sharing know-how from different areas and organizations. It also succeeds in transferring know-how from abroad and supporting European mobility.

• Study in the Czech Republic - Internationalization Achievement Award Masarykova univerzita, Středisko Teiresiás | Masaryk University, Teiresiás Center Zpřístupňování virtuálních konferencí a seminářů pro mezinárodní účastníky se sluchovým postižením | Making virtual conferences and seminars accessible to international participants with hearing impairments

  The project aimed to make the final conference of the LangSkills project accessible to an international audience of hearing, deaf and hard of hearing participants who use different communication channels and their combinations: spoken English, written English, the international sign system or national sign languages. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the conference was converted into a virtual event. Therefore, the biggest benefit of the project is the experience of making virtual events accessible.

• Study in the Czech Republic - International Alumni Award Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, Fakulta managementu a ekonomiky | Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Faculty of Management and Economics Emmanuel Selase Asamoah

  Emmanuel Selase Asamoah graduated in Management and Economics at the Faculty of Management and Economics at TBU in Zlín. Currently he works at the University of Professional Studies in Accra where he became the youngest head of the Department of Business Management. He participated in many international conferences and published more than thirty articles in international scientific journals. Emmanuel is a big promoter of studying abroad. He has already supported more than a hundred high school students who, with his help, have successfully started studying at universities.