The second group internship as part of the OP JAK project “Support for the Training of Teachers in Vocational Education at the CZU Prague” took place in the Netherlands in period April 12–18, 2026.
It focused primarily on group classroom observation practice, which is the key for developing the pedagogical competences of future VET teachers. Six students from the part-time study programme Pedagogy for Teachers of Practical Training and two academic staff from IVP participated in programme, which took place at four Dutch secondary vocational schools in Wageningen and Amsterdam. It offered participants the opportunity to directly engage in teaching through classroom observations, job shadowing vocational subject teachers, and sharing experiences with foreign colleagues and students. Right at the start of the internship, there was a presentation of the Czech schools where the individual students work, followed by a discussion on the differences in the educational systems of various countries. This part significantly contributed to the development of the participants’ communication and intercultural competences.
During the internship, participants had the opportunity to explore various forms of vocational education. The program included, for example, a visit to a gastronomy school, where they observed block instruction supplemented by practical baking demonstrations. The following days were devoted to instruction focused on animal husbandry, where students actively worked with demonstration methods, engaged in practical activities, and developed their professional knowledge in the field of animal anatomy and behaviour.
Equally beneficial was the instruction focused on botany, floristry, and technical skills, where participants could observe the links of theory with practice and the use of modern teaching methods. An interesting insight was the comparison of different approaches to students, particularly in the less formal relationships between teachers and students. Observing the coaching teaching method, which is typical of the Dutch education system, was very beneficial.
The entire internship confirmed the importance of international cooperation in education and provided a number of inspiring ideas for future teaching practice. Participants particularly appreciated the modern didactic approaches, systematic student support, and emphasis on the practical application of acquired knowledge.
The experience gained will be utilized not only in the participants’ further studies but also shared with fellow students of the programme Pedagogy for Teachers of Practical Training.
The internship thus significantly contributed to the development of the participants’ professional and pedagogical competences and to the fulfilment of the project’s goals aimed at improving the preparation of future teachers.
