Charles University hosted a topical discussion on the effectiveness of representative democracy on February 27th.  The central concepts were focused on the on-going crisis in which world political systems are facing in retaining core values of participation and active representation.

The Finns achieved independence in the end of the year 1917. Prior to that, starting in 1809 and up to independence, Finland formed a grand duchy in the Russian Empire. Before 1809, the area that is now Finland had been under Swedish rule since at least the 13th century.

The temporary exhibition ‘Between Aswan and Khartoum: Czech Archaeological Explorations between the Nile Cataracts’ (13.10.2015 – 11.11.2015; Carolinum, Ovocný trh 3, Praha 1; open daily 10am – 6pm, FREE entrance) focuses on the Czech and Czechoslovakian excavations in the area of Nubia, located in what is today northern Sudan and southern Egypt along the river Nile.

The traditional autumn concert of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics on Thursday, 24th October 2013, was a special event this year. Students and friends had the first opportunity to admire the new Petrof Concert Piano acquired by the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics for the Aula of the Informatics building in Malostranské náměstí, so called Professed House (Profesní dům).

Students from across Europe flock to study for a semester or a year at Charles University in the magnificent city of Prague through the Erasmus project which proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Alex Leadbitter from De Montfort University in Leicester, England, discovers just what it is that has attracted another group of students who will shortly be arriving in the city to start their Erasmus year at the university.

Theresienstadt, one of many captivating sites of Czech history, caught my research interest after my visit there arranged by the Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University. From my perspective as a student from England, history classes are bias towards American and western European studies, and the rich story of Theresienstadt is dramatically underrepresented generally in Holocaust studies along with the fruitful history of the Czech Republic.

Most people are just going to work when Professor Jan Laco analyses his first morning surgical specimens and examines microscopic findings. As the head of the molecular pathology laboratory at the Fingerland Department of Pathology, in addition to routine diagnostics, he specialises in prognostic investigation and predictive markers for cancer.

In early September 1347, the Roman King Charles of Luxembourg and his first wife, the French Princess Blanche de Valois, participated in the lengthy ceremony to become King and Queen of Bohemia.

“And how will I recognize you?” I asked Kateřina Schlöglová, a geology student at the Charles University Faculty of Science and the main organizer of the Mineral Resources for the Society conference that I was planning to visit. “You definitely won’t miss a female geologist in high heels. They look kind of out of place and dainty compared to her usual footwear – hiking boots.”

There are Erasmus students and Erasmus students. One group takes Erasmus solely as a prolonged vacation in the country and city of their choice and as a great opportunity to meet and befriend people from across Europe. The studying itself is just the “necessary evil” to make this all possible.

A triptych by Czech artist Jiří Sozenský, commemorating the sacrifice of student Jan Palach (who died at the age of 20 from severe burns from self-immolation in January 1969), was unveiled on April 4 at Charles University’s Carolinum.

The Charles University Workshop Production company (also known as Shakespeare Production) performed a succession of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on November 24th-December 3rd in which I attended the first performance at the beautiful Divadlo Na Prádle theatre, their current home stage.

Prague is s city of contrasts, with modernist buildings and centuries-old cobble streets – every corner tells stories of a past that is still present in the reflection of the windows, in the eyes of the citizens. There are secrets and stories waiting to be told, there are people who remain icons of the city transcending the barriers of time.

From Thursday the 20th November to Sunday the 23rd November, the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of Charles University played host to the 7th International Mountain and Outdoor Sports Conference. The event was organised by the Department of Turistika, Outdoor Sports and Outdoor Education and saw experts from departments of outdoor sports in universities all over the world come to Prague to share their work and experiences with like-minded individuals. Outdoor sports enthusiasts and students alike were also present.

Charles University in Prague is in possession of one of the most valuable databases of oral history in Europe. The Visual History Archive, created through the University of Southern California by the Shoah Visual History Foundation, is a rich tapestry of primary research: witnesses, stories, testimonies, confessions of genocide survivors.

In a spectacular new venue at Hybernská 4, Prague 1, Prague Microfestival is staging its biggest ever cultural showcase in nine years of running. 24 writers from 12 countries will read over 4 days, 18-21 May.

There are a number of big decisions that you have to make when becoming a university student, but none more so than what type of university you’re going to study at, city based or campus based.

Room number J1034, the biggest lecture room in Jinonice, is one I have never entered before the audience with the US ambassador Mr. Andrew H. Schapiro but it was full by the time he and his bodyguard entered followed by a little train of politics club members who had set up the event.

Rolando has been actively involved in promoting the empowerment of children with disabilities in the Philippines for six years now. He realized that, in order for him to be more effective, he had to study critical background theory on special and inclusive education. He was really happy when he got accepted for a Master’s degree in Special and Inclusive Education through the Erasmus Mundus programme.

Six students of the enjoyed an unconventional summer: thanks to the international Lautenschläger Azekah Excavation Project, of which the faculty is a member, they travelled to the newly opened archaeological dig of Tel Azekah, not far from Jerusalem. Amongst the group was RNDr. et Bc. Jana Křížová, who had previously studied, and also works in, physics; however, as she is also active in her church, she decided to study theology. Studying in places mentioned in the Bible was a great challenge.