At the end of September 2025, six students from the programme Pedagogy of Practical Training had a unique opportunity to spend a week at French vocational secondary schools. The internship abroad was carried out with the support of the OP JAK project "Support for the Preparation of Teachers in Vocational Education at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague."
During their stay, the students visited two agricultural schools in historical towns Toulouse and Albi, a forestry lyceum in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and ENSFEA, a university department that trains future VET teachers.
The internship participants had the opportunity to observe various teaching methods during several group observations, to evaluate the teachers' approach to pupils and the overall atmosphere in the classrooms. An interesting benefit was the comparison of different approaches to teaching and working with pupils, which reflected the specific focus of each school and study level.
The program also included a visit to a school farm, where students learned how pupils are involved in its activities and how theoretical teaching is linked to practical skills.
Interviews with local students offered insight into how they perceive their studies, what their experiences are, what interests them, and what their ideas are for their future.
The outgoing students rated the mobility as extremely beneficial: "Our stay in France provided us with a great deal of inspiration for our future teaching practice. We were able to compare different approaches to teaching and adopt innovative methods that can make learning more enjoyable for both pupils students and teachers. The experience we gained helped us to better understand how schools work abroad and the importance of cooperation between teachers and pupils."
