Within the frame of studies of the German language at ŠKODA AUTO University chosen students can take part in weekly project seminars “Europe im Wandel” that are held in collaboration with our partner school Fachhochschule Münster. Seminars are always held in November (Münster) and in April (Mladá Boleslav).
During the past 8 years 177 students have participated in these seminars. The seminars are always divided into several thematic parts – economics, general education and accompanying programmes (for example culture or sport). Introduction of economics and educational issues not only have interactive seminars with field experts, but also participate in student presentations. The emphasis is placed mainly on active communication among Czech and German groups during subsequent tasks or projects. For students of ŠKODA AUTO University this enables students to deepen their communicative, intercultural and professional competences.  Furthermore they can effectively put into practice their existing knowledge and the project is an irreplaceable form for mutual cognition and understanding of foreign cultures.  Contacts between the schools are provided by prof. Klaus Kobold and Mgr. Martina Žáčková.

Project “Developing New Distribution Skills for SMEs and HEI students” will be undertaken from October 2011 to September 2014 by the Universities in Steyr (Austria), Gdansk (Poland) and Acona (Italy) with EU support that subsidizes this project with more than 250.000 EUR. The aim of the project is to prepare students of the Universities and workers of small and medium enterprises for new forms and methods of sales in the 21 century. On the basis of surveys from dealers of different brands (for example ŠKODA or KTM) in 5 various European countries (the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy) specific problem areas will be indentified in which current staff in the area of the automotive industry will be instructed. This exchange of experience among companies and universities will enable graduates and employees in the automotive sector to have better quality education programmes. This project will mainly be of use to students of the Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and Sales at ŠKODA AUTO University who can expect subject innovation and a closer collaboration with retailers – dealers in the educational process. Furthermore, form this research it may also be possible that new courses will be created and will be focused mainly on the issue of the sale of cars and motorcycles.

Our Partner school FH Ingolstadt prepared for students a winter school, in this school students from ŠKODA AUTO University were also invited. The project took place from 11.02 to 24. 02. 2012 in Ingolstadt. Intensive study in international groups, excursions and a rich accompanying programme awaited the participants.

The first year of the summer school of “Global Management in the Automotive Industry” was held at ŠKODA AUTO University from 01.09. to 17.09.2011. Other partners of the project were the University of Žilina in Slovakia, FH Oberösterreich in Austria, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in Finland and Westächsische Hochschule Zwickau in Germany. 15 foreign and 15 Czech students and 2 foreign and 2 Czech professors took part in this project.
The course was interactive and included intensive team work in international groups. The subjects taught were finished with final tests and presentations and successful students obtained an evaluation, including the award of 2 – 6 ECTS.
Managers from ŠKODA AUTO who are experts in their fields, gave interesting seminars and discussions.
An integral parts of the course was the excursions which began at ŠKODA AUTO where students visited the museum and factory, followed by a tour of the metallurgical division.  Further excursions led to external companies and suppliers to ŠKODA AUTO, Johnson Controls in Česká Lípa and consequently TI Automotive in Jablonec nad Nisou. All communication was in English and students had to process what they learned into case studies and presentations.
The programme of the summer school also included by trips, cultural-cognitive, social and sporting activities.

From 22.08. to 09.09.2011 the second year of intensive Czech language course for students of Erasmus programme was held. ŠKODA AUTO University welcomed a group of 14 foreign students from 6 EU countries. They came to the Czech Republic with the aim to study or to have an internship within the frame of the Erasmus programme for the academic year 2011/2012.
In addition to intensive lessons of the Czech language (totalling 60 hours of Czech language + self-study + project work), the programme included cognitive trips, excursions, social and sporting activities. All these parts were integrated into the programme. After they passed the oral and written part of the exam, they obtained a diploma and 5 ECTS.

ŠKODA AUTO University has been cooperating with a University in Moscow – VGNA University (Всероссийская государственная налоговая академия Министерства финансов Российской Федерации) since 2011. This cooperation was started by a first mutual project – Summer School of the Czech language. During 2 weeks students from Russia and also with a pedagogical staff member attended a course of basic Czech language and a rich cultural-cognitive programme. Students of ŠKODA AUTO University also took part in this programme and cooperated with the Russian students. This project presented new knowledge in the field of intercultural communication, a new view on Russian/Czech mentality and practical experiences. The Russian students are still in contact with lecturers of the Czech language and some of them have decided to enrol in the Master Degree programme at ŠKODA AUTO University in next academic year.