Czech President Petr Pavel will visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln on Sept. 24 for a campus conversation highlighting the longstanding cultural and educational ties between Nebraska and the Czech Republic.
Pavel will meet with University of Nebraska–Lincoln Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson and Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, president of the University of Nebraska system, before participating in a moderated discussion with the campus community at Kimball Recital Hall. The conversation will focus on Nebraska’s Czech heritage, educational and cultural exchange, and the transatlantic relationship between the two countries.
“President Pavel’s visit is an opportunity to recognize the longstanding ties between Nebraska and the Czech Republic and the important role the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has played in that relationship,” Ankerson said. “For more than a century, our university has been a place where Czech language, culture and scholarship have connected generations.”
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“We are honored to welcome President Pavel and to continue building our educational and cultural connections.”
The event will begin at 11 a.m. Sept. 24 in Kimball Recital Hall, 1113 R St. Tickets are required and seating is limited. Learn more about how to access free tickets.
The University of Nebraska established formal Czech language instruction in 1907, following years of efforts by Czech-American students, community members and state lawmakers. Nebraska was among the first universities in the United States to offer Czech language instruction.
The roots of the program date to 1904, when Nebraska students established the Czech KomenskĂ˝ Club to promote the study and preservation of Czech language and culture.
Czech immigration has played a significant role in Nebraska’s history. Beginning in the 19th century, immigrants from Bohemia and Moravia established communities statewide, contributing to Nebraska’s cultural, agricultural and civic life. The connections created by those communities continue through cultural organizations, academic programs and exchanges between Nebraska and the Czech Republic.
Today, the university is one of the few across the nation to offer Czech language instruction and opportunities for students to study and engage with Czech culture. The university offers students more than 25 different study abroad opportunities. The university also maintains Czech Heritage Collections documenting the history and experiences of Czech Americans.
Visiting students from the Czech Republic find additional support at Nebraska, including the Paul Robitschek Scholarship, available to international exchange students affiliated with an accredited postsecondary institution in the Czech Republic.
The scholarship was created by Robitschek, a Czech immigrant who came to the United States and built a successful career in chemical and plastics manufacturing.
Pavel was elected president of the Czech Republic in January 2023 and took office that March. Before becoming president, he served more than three decades in the Czech military, including as chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces. From 2015 to 2018, he served as chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
The event will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. More information, including details on parking and clear bag policy, is available online.
