New Collaboration with Local Businesses: Practical Internships for High School Students
As demands on the labor market continue to evolve and the pace of technological innovation accelerates, the connection between school education and real-life workplace practice gains in importance. At the European Academy of Education (EAV), we believe that a high-quality learning environment should not end at the classroom door. In response to employer needs and in cooperation with local partners, we are proud to announce a major step forward: the launch and expansion of practical internships for our high school students directly in cooperating companies.
Modern education in technical fields must be built on three pillars: solid theoretical foundations, hands-on skills, and familiarity with the actual working environment. While we have long been focusing on upgrading our school facilities—such as our new engineering workshops and IT laboratories—the missing piece has been broader, systematic integration of students into everyday company life. Thanks to partnerships with businesses in our region, we are now able to offer extended internships in electrical engineering, information technology, manufacturing, and related fields.
Why is this step so crucial? According to analyses by the Czech Statistical Office and sector associations, up to two-thirds of companies struggle to fill technical positions, with a critical lack not only of knowledge, but mainly of practical skills and soft competencies. Companies confirm that when hiring, the most valued are graduates who can both work with advanced technology and adapt to real working conditions—communication with colleagues, project management, or a sense of responsibility for entrusted projects.
Within the new system, EAV’s high school students will complete significant parts of their practical education in direct cooperation with partner firms. Under the supervision of experienced mentors, they will contribute to real projects, confront current challenges in practice, and become familiar with the rules and culture of the actual workplace. A major advantage is the individualization: internship programs are tailored to each student’s specialization as well as the specific focus of the company. IT students, for example, can participate in the administration of corporate networks or testing of new software, while future electricians gain experience with modern installations, energy-saving solutions, or the implementation of photovoltaic systems.
For the school, this is a natural extension of our mission. Our graduates are expected not only to master the curriculum, but especially to stand the test of real employment. With the support of our corporate partners, we can offer them the opportunity to acquire habits essential to success: teamwork, punctuality, professional behavior, and adaptability to new technologies and methods.
The relationship is, of course, mutually beneficial—companies gain early access to committed young candidates, the possibility to try out future employees, and input on future curricula. School coordinators regularly collect feedback from both mentors and students, enabling quick correction and refinement of content. Based on initial positive results and interest from firms, we are expanding the partnership network and plan to gradually involve all study streams and grades in the coming semesters.
We are convinced that practical internships are becoming a key element of modern technical education. In the digital and industrial economy of the 21st century, only those schools succeed that create strong bridges between theoretical knowledge, practice, and employer needs. Our goal remains clear: to educate graduates who are not only ready for their final exams, but also for immediate and meaningful involvement in the workforce of tomorrow. We thank all our partner firms for their trust and look forward to new joint projects that will shape the future of young professionals in our region.
PhDr. Pavel Bartoš, LL.M., DBA (Evropská akademie vzdělávání / European Academy of education)
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