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Prague schools attractive to East

Students from former Soviet bloc storming the Czech capital

By Kathleen Kralowec
For The Prague Post
June 20th, 2007 issue

KURT VINION/THE PRAGUE POST
Jeannine Mercer, an instructor at UNYP, says English language ability is an asset on the job hunting trail.
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Prague is fast becoming a top destination for many students from former Soviet countries seeking a Western-accredited university degree, which, most agree, helps open a lot of career doors.
With numerous U.S. universities choosing Prague as the location for their overseas campuses, word is quickly spreading throughout the Central and East European region of the affordable “Western-style” education available in the Czech capital.
More importantly, students say they are looking to gain diplomas that will look good to employers in any country they choose to look for work after graduation.
Jakub Oliverius is a second year business student at the University of Northern Virginia, Prague. When he graduates, he will have a business degree “that is recognized all around the world and that I believe has a great potential,” Oliverius said.
Kristýna Bušková, a student at the University of New York in Prague (UNYP), agreed, adding that she was searching for a program with a diploma that would cross national boundaries.
“Overall,” Bušková said, “It offers a smooth transition from the Czech system to the American and the British systems of education.”
Tracy Dove, the director of marketing and recruitment at the University of New York, Prague, said that the “broad recognition of American degrees around the world” is a major factor motivating many students to seek these types of diplomas.
According to Jeannine Mercer, an English composition instructor at UNYP, a U.S. diploma also demonstrates English language ability, which is an asset on the job hunting trail.
“In Prague, because there are a lot of international companies, it definitely gives a person an edge, especially because it shows you studied in English,” Mercer said.
She added that a U.S. bachelor’s degree would also help a student get accepted into further studies in the United States and United Kingdom.
What’s more, educators say, is that Prague opens a door that would otherwise remain closed to thousands of students due to finances, family disapproval, visas and a lack of internationally accredited and recognized programs in their home country.
Milada Polišenská, vice president of educational development at the new Anglo-American College, says she is seeing more students from the former Soviet Union enrolling here. For these students, a U.S. education has particular appeal, according to Polišenská.
“It’s like opening up the world,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
There is no shortage of institutions in Prague that provide educational programs and degrees designed to mirror those of their parent universities in the United States.
While Western-bred students still constitute a significant portion of enrollment at these schools, administrators are reporting an influx of applications coming from countries farther East.
“Eurasia is where the growth is. More and more students are coming from there,” Mercer said.
Thomas Mershon, director of the University of Pittsburgh in Prague, also noted that many more students from Russia, Eastern Europe, and the former Yugoslavia have been rolling into town.
“Next year, we will start advertising farther East,” he said.
But the diploma is not the only appeal of a U.S. education. A lot of students are quick to point out the marked difference between the Western educational style and what they would expect to find at a typical university in their home country.
Cristina Majbova, from the Republic of Moldova, said in her own country she wouldn’t have been able to get the degree she’ll eventually get from the University of Northern Virginia.
“The universities in Moldova offer only Moldovan degrees that, many times, are not accepted internationally,” she said.
Gosia Pietrzak, a current UNYP student from Poland, puts the benefits of a doing her high-education studies in Prague in a different context.
“My general impression and concern of Polish and Czech state universities is the divide between students and teachers,” Pietrzak said.
The teachers “are not as open and approachable,” she added. “I also think there is not so much space for creativity and real development. The focus is more on memorizing parts by heart, without giving them a second thought and questioning the authority.”
Polišenská at the new Anglo-American College points out that such differences are particularly noticeable against the backdrop of communism.
“The difference between Western-style education and the local style is very visible and very strong, and it was especially in the ‘90s, in the post-communist system,” she said.
Of course, there are a number of reasons why Prague’s Western-accredited universities are more realistic options for thousands of students than actually studying in the United States or United Kingdom.
“I wanted to study in the U.S. as my primary choice, but the universities where I wanted to apply were out of my price range,” Pietrzak said. So she decided to focus on Europe instead.
Being close to home is another factor for many students.
University administrators say many students from Central and Eastern Europe are looking for Western-style education that’s cheaper and closer to family.
As Polišenská explained, the university years may be too soon to take a step to the other side of the world.
“For many Russian parents, who are nervous because their children will be away for the first time, study in Prague is a much better option,” she said.
But there is also another looming issue — visas.
“It’s difficult to get a U.S. study visa,” said Martin McGoldrick, the chief academic officer at the University of Northern Virginia in Prague.
“It’s a big problem and it’s really a shame, because you have these students, and they meet the requirements, but if the state doesn’t grant them a visa, then there’s nothing the school can do,” Mercer said.
Nonetheless, students at these universities are confident that their education in this city will help them towards a better future.
“The truth is, I would recommend [studying in Prague] to anyone who wants to work hard, gain practical skills, learn English and get useful and necessary knowledge for her or his career,” said Oliverius.

Kathleen Kralowec can be reached at specialsection@praguepost.com


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