Between 18 and 22 May 2026, the Faculty of Arts at the University of South Bohemia hosted an international conference and training week organised within the Erasmus+ project TEFE A+ (Teachers of English for Future Europe). Focused on the internationalisation of English teacher education, the programme brought together academics, student teachers, mentor teachers, and representatives of partner institutions from across Europe. The week included an international conference, professional workshops, classroom observations, roundtable discussions, and the ceremonial opening of the TEFE A+ poster exhibition.
The Faculty of Arts at the University of South Bohemia hosted an intensive international TEFE A+ training and conference week from 18 to 22 May 2026 as part of the Erasmus+ project Teachers of English for Future Europe – TEFE A+.
The central event of the week was the international conference International Teaching Practice: Teaching English, Bridging Cultures, Shaping Futures, held on 21 May 2026 at the Faculty of Arts. The conference focused on the internationalisation of teacher education and the integration of international teaching placements into the preparation of future teachers of English.
The programme brought together student teachers, mentor teachers, academics, representatives of educational institutions, representatives of the Ministries of Education of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and members of the international TEFE A+ consortium from across Europe.
The conference programme included presentations, roundtable discussions, and contributions from members of the TEFE A+ consortium representing Aston University (United Kingdom), the University of Passau (Germany), Eötvös Loránd University – ELTE (Hungary), Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia), the Public University of Navarre – UPNA (Spain), and the University of South Bohemia (Czechia). Participating colleagues included Dr Joyce Lim and Dr Nur Kurtoğlu-Hooton; Prof. Dr. Karsten Fitz, Matthias Fuchs M.A., Teresa Fischler, M.A., and Dr Jonas Scharfenberg; Tímea Tiboldi, PhD., Assoc. Prof. Ildikó Lázár, PhD., and Nóra Tartsay Németh, PhD.; M.A. Linda M. Steyne, Ph.D., and doc. Mgr. Ivan Lacko, PhD.; Prof. Dr. Mª Camino Bueno Alastuey, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mónica Aznárez Mauleón, and M.A. Jesús Lasheras Balduz; and Mgr. Helena Lohrová, Ph.D., Mgr. Alena Prošková, Ph.D., and Mgr. Tomáš Jajtner, Ph.D. et Th.D.
Alongside the conference, the Faculty of Arts also organised a four-day TEFE A+ Intensive Staff Training programme (IST03) for partner universities and mentor teachers, held between 18 and 22 May 2026, with training sessions taking place from Monday to Wednesday and on Friday. The programme included professional discussions, classroom observations, the development of dissemination materials, project evaluation, reflection activities, and preparation for the upcoming TEFE A+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), which will take place at the University of Passau between 5 and 9 October 2026.
As part of the training programme, participants visited partner schools cooperating with the Faculty of Arts and observed English language teaching at Biskupské gymnázium J. N. Neumanna and Střední odborná škola, Husova 9, České Budějovice. The organisers would like to thank both schools and their mentor teachers for their long-term cooperation and support for international teaching placements.
The Faculty of Arts would also like to thank colleagues from partner institutions and invited guests who joined the training programme and conference activities, particularly Zuzana Krchová (Gymnázium Matky Alexie, Bratislava), Katalin Hubai (Apáczai Csere János Secondary Practice School), Prof Emmanuel Acquah (Åbo Akademi University), and Dr Katalin Doró (University of Szeged), for their participation, collaboration, and continued interest in the TEFE A+ project.
The international conference and training week also included the ceremonial opening of the TEFE A+ Poster Exhibition, held on Monday, 18 May 2026, in the foyer of the Faculty of Arts. The exhibition was officially opened by doc. PhDr. Ladislav Nagy, Ph.D., Director of the Institute of English Studies, and doc. PhDr. Rostislav Smíšek, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for International Relations and Development.
A particularly memorable part of the opening programme was the performance by the chamber ensemble Bendissimo, whose energetic and highly accomplished interpretation of Central and Southern European music created an exceptionally welcoming atmosphere for the beginning of the international training week. The musical programme, prepared by Mgr. Tomáš Jajtner, Ph.D. et Th.D., symbolically reflected the cultural diversity of the countries participating in the TEFE A+ project and became one of the highlights of the conference week.
The conference and training week confirmed the importance of long-term cooperation between universities, schools, and mentor teachers in creating sustainable opportunities for international teaching practice and the professional development of future language teachers across Europe.
