The 12th Edition of the Junior University Is Over
17. July 2025The 12th edition of the Junior University took place from 7–11 July 2025, this year held under the theme “Inspired by Zlín’s Personalities”. The programme was designed for children aged 4–9 and offered a variety of educational, creative, and engaging activities. This year’s event welcomed 33 children.
As in previous years, the event was organised by the Department of School Education at the Faculty of Humanities, in cooperation with several other faculties of TBU in Zlín. Thanks to their enthusiasm and active involvement, a diverse and stimulating programme was created.
The Faculty of Technology, represented by Assoc. Prof. Adámková, prepared the Healthy Food project. During this activity, children learned about different types of food, conducted experiments, and prepared their own healthy snacks. In another session, they explored working with unconventional materials and created bubbles of various sizes as part of a gas-in-liquid experiment.
Mrs Hrnčiříková, DiS, from the Faculty of Multimedia Communications, welcomed the children to the U18 gallery. Here, they were introduced to animated characters from the films of Karel Zeman, produced in the Zlín studios, and had the chance to try out some creative work themselves.
The Faculty of Humanities offered a popular English language club, led by Mgr. Rybářová and Mgr. Fuxová, using playful and engaging teaching methods. Dr Plisková, Mgr. Filová, and Dr Hůsková from the same Faculty ensured medical supervision throughout the event to guarantee the children’s safety and wellbeing.
Throughout the week, the children also enjoyed a wide variety of activities that were both informative and fun. The Brotherhood of Dog Paws introduced the children to canistherapy, while the Museum of South-East Moravia in Zlín offered an interactive journey following the travels of Hanzelka and Zikmund (Czech globetrotters). The František Bartoš Regional Library addressed topics related to ethics and social behaviour, and the children also visited the Baťa Exhibition.
The educational programme, inspired by renowned figures from the Zlín region, highlighted personalities such as Tomáš and Antonín Baťa, František Bartoš, Libuše Niklová, Otto Wichterle, and Emil Zátopek. Students from the Preschool Teacher Training programme, under the guidance of the Department of School Education, prepared a wide range of activities centred around these figures. Early in the week, for example, the children created Olympic rings, measured marathon distances, and lit a symbolic Olympic flame. They also practised animal yoga, made accordion-style animal figures, sang folk songs, tried traditional folk dances, and explored the science behind making contact lenses.
Towards the end of the week, the children explored Bata architecture, built model Bata-style houses, and made paper aeroplanes. They also read books inspired by fairy tales and film scripts by Karel Zeman.
A big thank you to everyone who took part in the preparation and organisation of the entire Junior University. Our greatest reward is seeing the happy children, whose enthusiasm, initiative, and eagerness to explore new things were the driving force behind the whole week.
