A New Start to Studies at FIR: Welcome Meetings for Hundreds of First-Years and Introductory Courses Like Never Before

Bachelor’s studies at FIR began differently this year than ever before. Two programs — International Business and Tourism and Hospitality Management — got a completely new form of introductory course: a combination of lectures, intensive workshops, work on real projects, and meetings with people from professional practice. Behind the transformation is a team led by the VŠE Vice-Rector and guarantor of the International Business program, doc. Ing. Pavel Hnát, Ph.D. The intensive week opened with the events Welcome to FIR and Welcome to FIR, attended by roughly 350 first-year students. Right at the first residential session, they were greeted with an introduction to economics from Prof. Tomáš Havránek — according to the RePEc database, the most-cited Czech economist, who also works at Stanford in the US.

Hundreds of Students, the Dean, and a Campus Tour

Before classes even began, around 350 incoming students gathered at the events Vítejte na FMV and Welcome to FIR. Both meetings had the same goal: to present the faculty through students’ eyes, not in official language. The program was organized by the student PR team, and most points were presented by students from higher years themselves.

The opening remarks were given by the Dean, doc. Ing. Martina Jiránková, Ph.D. Then came everything that really matters to every first-year student in the first weeks: how the academic year is structured, the difference between a lecture and a seminar, what the course code abbreviations in the study plan mean, how the credit system works and where credits can get lost, how to log into InSIS and Moodle, where to eat in Žižkov and Jižní Město, and how to top up an ISIC card in the cafeteria. Questions were collected continuously via Slido, so even students who might not otherwise have found the courage to raise their hand could ask.

A large block was devoted to studying abroad. Erasmus exchanges take place in the fourth and fifth semesters; VŠE has more than 250 partner schools, and points for the selection process can be earned not only through GPA but also through a specialized course taught in a foreign language, a language certificate, or participation in the Buddy Program — helping incoming international students.

Student clubs also presented their activities: SKOK (Student Club of Trade and Competitiveness), Junior Diplomat Initiative, CUFR (tourism students’ club), Model United Nations, Le club français, and the VŠE Eco team. Activities presented ranged from networking events and embassy visits to trips abroad to Brussels, London, or Geneva.

Finally, first-years took a tour of the school so they wouldn’t get lost between the Old, New, and Italian buildings on their very first day.

What if the Program Weren’t Built Around Knowledge Alone?

That was the starting idea behind the whole transformation of the bachelor’s program. Program guarantor Pavel Hnát summed up the preparations by saying that reforming their bachelor’s programs isn’t about adding more courses — it’s about identifying talent and helping students change the world. The goal was to stop relying on one standard template for everyone and instead make room for what makes each student different — less standardization, more individuality, greater impact.

The new form of study applies to first-year students in two bachelor’s programs: International Business and Tourism and Hospitality Management. Alongside academic knowledge, it is now also built on experiential learning, teamwork, reflection, ongoing feedback, and entrepreneurship development. Throughout their studies, students gradually build their own portfolio of skills and achievements, connect theory with practice, and learn to create value in an international environment.

The whole teaching team took part in the preparation, undergoing their own training led by instructor Petr Moravec of projectYOU — meaning they tried out for themselves what they now teach. Ongoing feedback between students and instructors is supported by the online platform FeedbackFruits.

Three Intensive Workshops and Real Projects

Instead of a regular weekly class, the introductory course is split into three intensive blocks, between which students work through online content at their own pace and attend selected lectures. During the residential sessions, students work in teams in modular classrooms, discuss, and solve concrete assignments.

Each block has its own theme:

How to Change the World – developing a growth mindset, collaboration, and leadership.
Discover Your Talent – identifying personal strengths, self-awareness, team roles, and a personal development plan.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship – recognizing opportunities, creating value, developing ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The course also includes meetings with people students would normally only encounter much later — instructors from their own program, company representatives, alumni, and older students.

Tomáš Havránek Opened Up Economics for First-Years

The first residential session took place September 16–18, still in the week before the official start of the semester. Right on Wednesday, Prof. Tomáš Havránek gave a lecture introducing the study of economics.

Prof. Havránek has long focused on how to verify the reliability of economic research — his work is used by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and numerous central banks. He also advised the management of the Czech National Bank for several years. Besides the Institute of Economic Studies at Charles University, he is a research associate at Stanford University. This gave students an easier start in the subject that, according to the faculty’s survey, they find most intimidating.

Profile of a Typical FIR First-Year Student

Before the semester began, incoming students were asked why they chose FIR, what attracts them, and what they’re afraid of. Several hundred first-years responded, producing a fairly clear portrait.

Came to see the world. International experience is by far the main goal — roughly four out of five students name it as their top priority. Most chose FIR for its international environment and, three years from now, see themselves on Erasmus or on an interesting internship.
Doesn’t want to be just a theorist. The strongest interest is in developing language skills, communication, and working with people. Marketing and communication attract the most interest, followed closely by international trade operations.
Has entrepreneurial ambitions. More than two-fifths of first-years aim to start their own business during their studies — the second most common goal after Erasmus.
And has worries — which is completely normal. The biggest fears are math and economics, followed by the overall difficulty of the studies and public speaking.

We Know Why You’re Here

The survey results actually confirm exactly what the new form of study is built on — and it’s no coincidence that Erasmus got so much attention at the welcome event. Students aren’t here just for a degree, but for international experience and practical skills. The whole concept of the introductory course is built precisely around that: hence all the teamwork, presenting, and real assignments instead of passively sitting in a lecture hall.

And if you’re one of those whose blood runs a little cold at the mention of math and economics: almost half of your classmates feel the same way. You’re not alone, and the faculty won’t leave you to figure it out by yourself. There’s student mentoring available, older classmates who’ve been through it all before, and instructors’ office hours. As for fear of presenting — the best cure is simply presenting, and there will be plenty of chances to do that during the remaining sessions.

Anyone who wants to get more involved can reach out to one of the student clubs, join the student PR team, or find out now how study-abroad exchanges and internships/practical placements work.

Dates to Watch on the Calendar

Classes: September 21 – December 18, 2026, i.e., 13 weeks. The exam period begins January 4, 2027.
Innovation Week: November 2–6, 2026, when regular classes at VŠE are fully replaced by events, workshops, and lectures.
2nd residential session: November 3–5, during Innovation Week.
3rd residential session: January 20–22.
The course appears in the InSIS timetable and does not clash with other regular classes; each block’s notes specify the exact date. The exception may be Friday seminars/exercises, which run continuously throughout the term.

Students can find further details on the pages “Introduction to the Study of International Economic Relations” and “Introduction to the Study of Tourism and Hospitality Management.”