Jan Velinger

Jan Velinger

Studied film directing at FAMU in Prague and began in current affairs in commercial television in 1996. Worked as a reporter and presenter at the English service of Czech Radio for more than sixteen years, before joining Charles University’s media team in June 2018. He is responsible for the English edition of Forum Magazine and Forum Radio podcasts.

Charles University is hosting the 4EU+ Migration and Health Days, a highly-anticipated conference bringing together not only representatives of the university alliance but also key experts, policymakers, UN, WHO and NGO representatives. The event kicked off on Thursday afternoon with a brief welcome from CU’s Lenka Rovná.

Kateřina Čapková from Charles University’s Faculty of Arts will explore the inclusive history of Central and Eastern Europe—examining the past through the perspectives of Roma, Jews, and people with disabilities—thanks to an Advanced ERC grant.

The Czech-American Fulbright Commission plays a key role in fostering academic exchange, bringing international scholars to Czech institutions, and contributing to cross-cultural dialogue. Scholar Djurdja Padejski spent the last year at Charles University.

For over 30 years, Olga Kotková has lived among the Old Masters. Now, a major exhibition she curated -Women Artists 1300–1900 - is one of the most important events of the season at the National Gallery's Waldstein Riding School in Prague.

Advancing higher and professional education in the field of Earth observation is the main goal of the ESA initiative Earth Observation Training Academy, to be led by Charles University. Representatives of the institutions involved outlined the project’s aims this week.

Student Shakil Reja Efti completed an Erasmus+ stay at CU. As a wheelchair user, he showed strength and humour facing unexpected challenges. His experience shows that while CU takes accessibility seriously, improvement is still needed.

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 12:06

Going on Erasmus+ with a newborn!

While most Erasmus students bring a backpack and book, Tuukka came to Prague with his wife Jennimari and their beautiful newborn daughter! Parenthood meets university studies - no problem! All three enjoyed it very much!

Friday, 16 May 2025 10:57

Insights from the annual IAB meeting

Charles University’s International Advisory Board (IAB), comprising global academic leaders and policy experts, met this week for its annual review. The board provided feedback and discussed CU's progress, challenges, and strategic direction for the future.

 Charles University held a timely conference honouring the legacy of Karel Schwarzenberg—statesman, human rights advocate, and former foreign minister. Invited speakers reflected on his values and their enduring relevance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Charles University on Monday as part of his official visit to the Czech Republic. He took part in a discussion with students, focusing on how graduates may contribute to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Students’ Majáles - a celebration of spring, student life and free-spiritedness - returned to Prague for the 13th time. On 1 May, 'royal' entourages gathered at Kampa to take part in the traditional parade, also choosing the next Majáles King or Queen.

It was a formative experience that opened a gateway into another world. Shortly before the Velvet Revolution, when he was a boy, his parents brought home a samizdat translation of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. It had a huge impact.

Around 10% of the population suffers from Scheuermann's kyphosis and idiopathic scoliosis. Motivated by his own experience , student Tadeáš Řáha launched a campaign focused on early detection.

Mobile phones expose children to constant shifts in attention, impacting their ability to focus on tasks requiring patience. Lukáš Barborka, a top teaching graduate and mathematician from CU, says this trend is harming students' skills.

Professor Michael Grätzel, the celebrated chemist behind the invention of dye-sensitised solar cells, was recently awarded an honorary doctorate from CU. The accolade marks the 16th honorary degree in his distinguished career.

More than 160 researchers have received support through the ground-breaking Primus programme ( launched in 2017) enabling them to establish independent labs focused on innovative frontier research. 

Monday, 31 March 2025 15:13

Forum Radio: Society and graphic design

Identita (or Identity) is a project that highlights both the past history and present of Czech graphic design. It was created by design experts Filip Blažek and Linda Kudrnovská (graduates of the Faculty of Arts at CU) who clinched a Czech Grand Design Award not long after our interview. 

Blended intensive programmes (BIPs) are one of the new Erasmus+ features that were introduced in 2021. In this informative article, the author explains how they serve students as well as university staff. Read more to find out if BIPs are right for you!

Tuesday, 25 March 2025 00:05

From poker to Google to the NYSE

First, they developed an AI that was the first in the world to beat the best professional poker players. Then, their DeepStack project, along with the implementation team, was acquired by Google. The dream of the CEO of EquiLibre is to run the best trading firm from Prague.

Experts from the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies have shared insights and the results of a key study on post-trauma aid. Cooperation between CU and NKVTS was initiated following the tragic events of 21 December 2023.

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