University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman spent time in late March reinforcing relationships and developing new opportunities with universities and government agencies in the Czech Republic. Perlman also spent time recognizing the achievements of UNL Robitschek Scholarship alumni on the 20th anniversary of the scholarship program.

UNL and Nebraska ties with the Czech Republic and Slovakia have been deepened by the university’s engagement with rising leaders who receive support through Robitschek Scholarships to spend a year studying at UNL. The scholarship fund is a unique collaboration arranged by the chancellor’s office and the University of Nebraska Foundation, which manages a legacy fund created by Paul Robitschek. Robitschek, who moved to the United States after World War II, used his estate to support student exchanges. He is among a significant group of Nebraskans of Czech heritage who support UNL programs that enhance appreciation of Czech language, society and culture.

Perlman was the keynote speaker at this year’s 20th anniversary dinner, which attracted most of 75 Robitschek alumni. Four Robitschek scholars are currently studying at UNL. The chancellor congratulated the group for their accomplishments in business, government, media and education.

“As a graduate of UNL and its current leader, I take pride in the efforts of individuals like Paul Robitschek,” Perlman said. “He believed strongly that through the means of education at UNL, young people about to begin their careers in Central Europe would benefit enormously from a personal understanding of another nation’s experiment with democracy and its commitment to an entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.”

Perlman’s agenda in Prague included the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Czech Technical University. The agreement covers student and faculty exchanges and research collaboration, including a project set to begin in May that will allow UNL advanced undergraduate and graduate students to participate with scientists from the Czech Republic in water engineering and water science research. Chittaranjan Ray, professor of civil engineering at UNL and director of the Nebraska Water Center, is spearheading the National Science Foundation-funded program with colleagues at CTU.

Perlman also met with leaders from Charles University in Prague to discuss opportunities, including student exchanges. The chancellor spoke with officials at the Czech University of Life Sciences about collaboration and made plans for the rector to visit Nebraska in late July. Later, Perlman met with Jiri Jirsa, senior deputy minister of agriculture, to discuss UNL’s desire to increase exchanges with the Czech Republic, especially in areas related to food security, rural livelihoods, water management, and crop and livestock improvement. After that meeting, the Czech minister of agriculture agreed to join the University of Life Sciences rector during the Lincoln visit.

Perlman also met with education and public affairs officials from the American Embassy and with Hana Ripkova, executive director of the Czech Fulbright Commission, to discuss how the Fulbright Office can help target Czech university students interested in priority fields of study for UNL and the Czech Republic. Ripkova and others recommended that UNL could take advantage of the Robitschek Scholarships to increase appreciation for the full range of academic activities the university offers and expand participation with resources derived from Czech institutions.

“There are so many areas of significant common interest in the work of scientists at UNL and the Czech institutions,” Perlman told the Robitschek Scholars. “I am confident that we can make common cause with them for the benefit of our own communities in Nebraska, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but also for the wider world in the areas of food security, food safety and water sustainability.”

Working with UNL’s Department of Modern Languages and other departments, the chancellor’s office is exploring opportunities to create a new summer study program in the Czech Republic for 2017.