From 8 to 12 June 2026, the Faculty of Economics at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava hosted the international educational programme International School on Project and Grant Management: From Theory to Practice. The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) focused on developing knowledge and practical skills in project and grant management within an international environment.
The programme brought together Bachelor's and Master's students from partner universities across Europe who were interested in strengthening their competencies in project preparation, planning, and implementation. Participants from Hungary, Poland, Finland, and Slovakia took part in the intensive five-day course, where they became familiar with current approaches to project management and internationally recognised methodologies, particularly PMI, IPMA, and PM².
The course was designed as a comprehensive learning journey that guided students through the entire project lifecycle—from project idea formulation and planning to the preparation of project documentation, implementation principles, and project evaluation. Particular attention was also paid to European funding opportunities, European Union grant schemes, and the fundamentals of project financial planning.
During the programme, under the guidance of Ing. Lukáš Melecký, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Ing. Michaela Melecká Staníčková, Ph.D., participants worked with tools and documents commonly used in project management practice, including the Statement of Work (SoW), Project Charter, Logical Framework Matrix (LFM), Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS), RACI Matrix, and Gantt Chart. The teaching was complemented by case studies, examples of good practice, and practical exercises based on real-life project situations.
Another part of the programme focused on the identification and planning phases of projects. Students worked on defining objectives, outputs, and indicators, planning resources and schedules, and preparing complete project documentation. At the same time, they discussed managerial, organisational, cultural, and social aspects of project management, which play a crucial role particularly in international projects and research activities.
An important component of the programme was teamwork in international groups. Participants collaboratively developed model project proposals, enhanced their communication and presentation skills, and gained valuable experience in multicultural cooperation. The programme concluded with presentations of the projects developed by the student teams.
Throughout the week, students shared their experiences, perspectives, and approaches to addressing project challenges. Intercultural collaboration and the exchange of knowledge significantly enriched the learning process and confirmed that successful project and grant management requires not only professional expertise but also the ability to communicate effectively, collaborate, and respond to the needs of a diverse international environment.
We would like to thank all participants for their active involvement and look forward to welcoming them again next year.