At the start of February 2025, CZU Prague's Department of Landscape and Urban Planning was honored to host an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) for 41 top students from four European universities—Lyon Catholic University (France), Geisenheim University (Germany), Lietuvos Inžinerijos Kolegija (Lithuania), and Slovenská Technická Univerzita V Bratislave (Slovakia).
This innovative programme, led by Dr. Ing. et Ing. Miroslav Kravka, was aimed at finding the effect of greenery on urban climates through guided lectures, hands-on experiences, and group discussions.
Learning Through Experience: Programme Highlights
The programme started with an online session in January, paving the way for an intensive week-long study (Feb 3-7, 2025) in Prague. Students engaged in:
- Green Spaces & Climate Models – Researching the role of green spaces in mitigating Urban Heat Island Effects through scientific modeling and forecasting techniques.
- Practical Applications – Researching green solutions such as trees, shrubs, vertical gardens, and green roofs as green urban design methods.
- Student Presentations & Expert Debates – Green projects from their home towns were showcased by participants, preceded by engaging debates by experts from the Institute of Education and Communication, CZU.
Excursions: Seeing Green Solutions in Action
Beyond the lecture rooms, students saw real-life uses of green design through action-packed excursions:
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences' Sustainable Building – The very best of green architecture and water conservation.
- ČSOB Sustainable Campus (Adapterra Award Winner 2020) – A model green corporate responsibility and sustainability example.
- Green Spaces in Prague Castle – A pioneering historic yet innovative solution for landscape and environmental protection.
Learning Through Fun: The Kahoot Knowledge Game
To round off a week of fun, students tested out their new knowledge with a thrilling Kahoot quiz—proving learning about sustainability can be enjoyable as well as fascinating!
A Step Towards a Greener Future
This Erasmus+ initiative was not a mere exchange of scholars—it was a center for cooperation, ingenuity, and innovation. In inciting conversation around green cities and green solutions, CZU and its collaboratories are making strides to equip future leaders with the tools needed to create better, greener cities.
We are thrilled to have hosted such an inspiring group of students and professionals, and we look forward to the next installment of international collaboration in sustainability and landscape planning.
