The agreement was signed by uu色情 Vice President for Academic Affairs Miroslav Svoboda and Business Leaders Forum Executive Director Michaela Stachov谩.

The partnership creates a bridge between academia and the business community. Through the collaboration, uu色情 students will gain access to industry experts, internship opportunities within BLF member organizations, and selected BLF events, including complimentary tickets to the annual Future-Proof Leadership conference. uu色情 has also become an honorary member of Business Leaders Forum. In turn, uu色情 faculty members will contribute to BLF seminars, workshops, and conferences as speakers and subject-matter experts.

As part of the agreement, Business Leaders Forum will provide guidance on ESG principles and corporate sustainability while supporting uu色情’s sustainability-focused educational initiatives. The partnership reflects uu色情’s commitment to connecting academic learning with real-world experience and will help students build professional networks, gain practical industry insights, and explore career opportunities in responsible business and sustainability.

Read the original Czech announcement .

New data collected by the uu色情 Office of Institutional Research shows that 122 out of 176 graduates, nearly 70% of the graduating class, are already working, interning, self-employed, or pursuing advanced degrees immediately upon graduation. Among the 154 graduates who responded to the Graduate Outcomes Survey, this represents 79% of respondents. 

The results point to a graduating class that is entering the next stage of life with confidence. Even more encouraging, 81% of professionally active respondents secured their opportunity before graduation, suggesting that many uu色情 students are building their professional pathways while still completing their degrees. 

These results were reflected on June 19 as family, friends, faculty, staff, guests, and students gathered at Bethlehem Chapel in the heart of Prague to celebrate 176 graduates during two commencement ceremonies. Representing 38 nationalities and with 86% of graduates coming from outside the Czech Republic, the Class of 2026 included 54 graduates of the School of Business; 69 graduates of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; and 53 graduates of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy.

The newly released Graduate Outcomes Survey highlights the strong connection between uu色情’s education and students鈥� early professional and academic pathways. Among professionally active respondents, 74.3% reported that their role was directly or somewhat connected to their field of study.  This alignment is led by the School of Business, where 85% of professionally active respondents reported that their roles were connected to their majors.

Furthermore, the data proves the immense marketability of the liberal arts: an astounding 94% of professionally active respondents among Humanities & Social Sciences graduates secured employment prior to graduation day.

uu色情 graduates also continue to demonstrate a truly global mindset. Of those planning further studies, 31% intend to remain in the Czech Republic, while 69% are taking their skills abroad, targeting elite postgraduate opportunities across Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Jeff Medeiros, Business Lecturer, moderated and introduced the uu色情 staff and faculty on stage, and President Schwarz gave the opening address. The commencement speaker, political scientist Dr. Tom谩拧 Klva艌a, then congratulated the students for their grand achievement, giving them advice. 

Klva艌a spoke about decision making under uncertainty because that is the reality that the 2026 graduates are walking into. As a student in 1989, Klva艌a was part of a strike committee, making decisions that led up to the Velvet Revolution. Everything that has happened between then and now has never been predictable, yet we live and work through it together.

The 2026 Valedictorians included: Emma Marie Cot茅, Visual Arts: Art and Curatorial Studies, and Alex John Marincas-Bucy, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: Humanities, Society, and Culture.

uu色情 and its students have continued to earn recognition on both national and international stages this year鈥攆rom being named the top university in Europe to winning the JA Czech national startup competition for the fourth consecutive year. The university will continue to strive for excellence, building an ever growing community with new programs and degrees.

Congratulations to all of uu色情鈥檚 2026 graduates! Watch the live stream of the 2026 uu色情 Graduation Ceremony for and . Find photos of the Graduation Ceremony on .

Contact the admissions team for more information about current and new programs: admissions@aauni.edu.

Sophia is expected to go on to represent the Czech Republic at the Miss Universe 2026 competition in Puerto Rico, one of the world’s most recognized international pageants.

Born into both Czech and Japanese cultures, Sophia has lived between two countries and cultures throughout her life. In a recent interview with , she shared that she grew up speaking English and Japanese and has been learning Czech for the past four years. Alongside her pageant career, she is currently studying within uu色情’s Visual Art Studies program.

Sophia previously represented the Czech Republic at Miss Grand International and brings prior international competition experience to her new role. Speaking to following her victory, she described the title as a long-held dream and expressed her desire to make the Czech Republic proud on the global stage.

Sophia’s achievement reflects the diverse backgrounds and ambitions of uu色情 students. Through the Visual Art Studies program, she is pursuing her interest in art, culture, and creative expression while balancing opportunities beyond the classroom. Her success highlights the international character of the uu色情 community and the many different paths students take while pursuing their studies. 

uu色情 is thrilled to celebrate Sophia’s achievement and wishes her the very best as she prepares to represent the Czech Republic at Miss Universe 2026.

The question that students and the younger generation have to grapple with today is: what comes next in a Europe without American certainty? This is a global question that involves international politics and impacts far beyond the next election.

This is a moment when Europe could develop a stronger global pull. This will require a change in how security and policy is thought of on the continent and beyond.

Read the full commentary in Czech here.

Klva艌a is the Executive Director of and a senior international consultant specializing in public affairs and strategic communications. Throughout his distinguished career, he has worked at the highest levels of government, diplomacy, and public communication.

He previously served as Spokesman and Senior Adviser to the President of the Czech Republic and as Czech Government Communications Coordinator for the Missile Defense Program, collaborating directly with the White House, U.S. National Security Council, Congress, and the Pentagon. He was also a founding member of Aspen Institute Central Europe, helping establish the organization more than a decade ago.

Klva艌a holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. from Charles University in Prague. He was a Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard University鈥檚 Kennedy School of Government and received the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals in 2012. Having lived and worked across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium, he brings extensive international experience and a global perspective to this year鈥檚 graduating class.

In addition to his work in public affairs and diplomacy, Klva艌a is the author of several books, including Cuba: A Brief History of the End (2024) and The World According to Trump (2024).

As uu色情 celebrates the achievements of the Class of 2026, we look forward to welcoming Tom谩拧 Klva艌a to Commencement and hearing his reflections on leadership, international affairs, communication, and public service.

The 2026 Graduation Ceremony is only a few weeks away, and we look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our students, families, faculty, alumni, and the wider uu色情 community!

Revisit last year’s Commencement here, and view the celebration and graduation addresses below:

Colloredo-Mansfeld, CEO and co-founder of Kollektor and a graduate of uu色情鈥檚 Visual Arts Studies program, moved to Prague to pursue his interest in art, collections, and cultural heritage.

Today, he is building a platform that connects private collectors with museums and galleries around the world, helping cultural institutions discover, exhibit, and study significant works and artifacts. Reflecting on his family history and the responsibility of preserving cultural heritage, Colloredo-Mansfeld said:

Read the full interview in Czech on .

Kodl,聽co-founder and owner of KodlContemporary and a graduate of uu色情鈥檚 International Relations and Diplomacy program, comes from a family with a 150-year tradition in art collecting and the art trade. He later studied gallery management at the University of Westminster and business at UCL School of Management. In September 2025, he opened KodlContemporary, an independent gallery located in the distinctive glass building connected to the Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel.

In the interview, Kodl reflected on his efforts to increase the international visibility of Czech contemporary art, and to position Prague more prominently within the global art world.

Read the full interview in Czech on or in the print edition of the magazine Ekonom.

The panel included: foreign policy advisor to the President of Czechia and former Ambassador to the United States Michael 沤antovsk媒; political scientist, author, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Dalibor Roh谩膷; Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Blue Star Strategies LLC Sally Painter; Dean of School of International Relations and Diplomacy George Hays, II; and Slovak foreign policy expert, former Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, and moderator Pavol Deme拧.

Two years ago, relations between the US and the EU were very different, very friendly, Deme拧 comments. 沤antovsk媒 speaks more optimistically saying that while there is a lot of 鈥渦npleasant talk鈥� from the US President, we are not in the 鈥渁byss鈥�. Europe and the US share many similarities in culture and history, the relationship is deep. However, there is disbelief, distrust, and concern forming recently.

Roh谩膷 is more skeptical that the talk and decisions made by Trump are a fleeting phenomenon and that we will be able to go back to 鈥渂usiness as usual鈥� after his term. He sees the administration and its foreign policy decisions as 鈥渦nfettered from reality and objective evidence.鈥�

It must be recognized that Europe and the United States are structurally tied together in the most deeply integrated trade investment area in the world. 沤antovsk媒 spoke of an analogy used during the communist era about Czechoslovakia鈥檚 relationship with the Soviet Union that applies in some ways: 鈥渁re we friends or brothers. Brothers because you can choose your friends.鈥�

Hays commented on the unpredictability of what is going to happen now and many students鈥� worries about their freedom of speech and safety in the US. There will be a long-term effect that the Trump administration has on the world which will outlive him.

All the panelists agreed that the allyship between Europe and the US will persist. The US has historically asked Europe to stand up and do more to create an equal partnership, and, while the US might not always like how Europe does this, they are catching up. Europe has the chance now to show that it is an independent actor, said Hays, and they do not have to always appease the US.

This year鈥檚 GLOBSEC FORUM brings together world leaders, innovators, and changemakers, under the auspices of Czech President Czechia Petr Pavel. uu色情 was honoured to host some of the speakers and open the discussion on the future safety of the world.

Photos from the event can be viewed . 

Margins operates a collaborative, student-run editorial and production process, collecting submissions from members across the uu色情 community. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to submit their work, regardless of experience. They meet weekly to plan and create the zine, experiment, get to know each other, and share ideas.

The team launched their zine club and their first print edition this Spring 2026 semester. Each member brought their own experience and knowledge to the table from high school publication and club leadership expertise, writing and artistic prowess, to administration 鈥攏ot to mention all the amazing submissions from the uu色情 community.

Genevieve, co-founder and co-president in Spring 2026 with Ander, emphasized how much support they received from peers, staff, and other clubs, like Lennon Wall and the Art Club. uu色情 provides a track for students to create their own clubs, but it is not easy: students must find five interested members, complete an with information about the club and its administration, and attend a Student Council vote to approve the club.

How can you get involved? Check out Margins鈥� updates on uu色情鈥檚 Weekly Bulletin as well as on where you can also join the WhatsApp group. Look around campus for posters to stay in the loop. Two executive team members are graduating, so reach out by email if you think you have what it takes to help lead and grow this magazine! 

Lastly and most importantly: submit your work for the rewarding chance to see it in print and watch out for the new theme drop at the start of the new semester. Content accepted: Prose, Short Stories, Personal Essays, Poetry, Nonfiction, Commentaries, Recipes; Sketches, Paintings, Ceramics, Photography, Graphic design, Multi-media, Comics.

鈥淐elebrating what鈥檚 created in the margins.鈥�

Martina is a graduate of uu色情鈥檚 2005/06 Humanities, Society, and Culture program. She is an entrepreneur, NGO founder, author, and mother whose work focuses on leadership, philanthropy, and social impact. Over the years, she has received several recognitions for her charitable initiatives, including being awarded European Citizen of the Year.

As Alumni Council President, Martina will help strengthen engagement within uu色情鈥檚 international alumni network and contribute to the continued development of the alumni community. The university looks forward to the new vision and direction she will bring to the role.

The Alumni Office also extends its appreciation to Simone Bertolone for his service as Alumni Council President and for his contributions to the uu色情 community. We wish him continued success in his future endeavors.