On 16 September 2025, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague hosted the third annual conference of the University Counselling Centre entitled A Year of Support at CZU: What We Have Learnt – and What You Can Try Yourself. The conference was designed for key actors involved in student support and was attended by Vice-Deans for Education, representatives of Study Affairs and International Relations Offices, the Science and Research Office, staff of the Rectorate, faculties and the Institute, as well as contact persons from other parts of the university.
Participants were introduced to the experience gained during the first year of the University Counselling Centre’s operation, along with planned activities for the 2025/2026 academic year, including a timetable of workshops for both students and staff in the winter semester. The programme also included a series of interactive workshops focusing on personal and professional development of participating staff.
The joint morning workshop addressed working with students in crisis. Participants tried out model situations, learnt the principles of the so-called “5P approach”, and gained practical tips on how to respond effectively in challenging moments.
The afternoon session offered three thematically diverse workshops from which participants could choose. The first focused on forest therapy – exploring how mindful time spent in nature can enhance mental wellbeing, improve sleep quality and reduce stress. Practical exercises in the forest were aimed at sensory awareness, calmness and reflection. The second workshop concentrated on self-care, recognising the symptoms of stress and practising self-regulation. Participants took away specific techniques and inspiration for everyday prevention of burnout. The third workshop, organised in cooperation with the University Security Division, focused on the prevention and management of risk situations in the higher education environment. Participants learnt to recognise warning signs, work with verbally aggressive individuals, and apply methods of crisis communication and de-escalation. The programme also included video analyses of the dynamics of violence and model scenarios with demonstrations of self-defence techniques.
The workshops offered inspiration, practical skills and opportunities for sharing experience. Their common aim was to strengthen both the professional and personal development of staff while fostering a supportive and safe university environment. Feedback from participants was highly positive, and the University Counselling Centre plans to build on these workshops in the future, further promoting the development of a healthy and resilient academic community.
