Historically the Largest Czech Academic Mission to the American Midwest Strengthened Cooperation with the USA in Science and Research
15.05.2026 / 21:03 | Aktualizováno: 15.05.2026 / 22:11
In mid-April, the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, in cooperation with the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) in Cedar Rapids, organized a week-long academic mission for representatives of the leadership of 12 Czech public universities to the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois. This was the largest academic visit from the Czech Republic to the American Midwest to date and significantly contributed to strengthening Czech-American cooperation in higher education, science, and research.
The mission began with a two-day program in Cedar Rapids and then continued in Chicago. During the week, the Czech delegation visited the campuses of four major American universities, including the prestigious University of Chicago, and held a number of meetings with representatives of universities, research institutions, and partner organizations. The program also included two matchmaking events involving representatives from a total of 22 Midwestern universities, as well as several working lunches and intensive networking activities with members of diaspora communities.
As part of the Iowa program, the delegation visited the University of Iowa, where presentations on the Czech higher education system were delivered, followed by discussions on opportunities for expanding cooperation. The program then continued at the NCSML in Cedar Rapids with thematic panels focused on challenges in Czech-American academic collaboration, such as recognition of academic credits, compatibility of education systems, and support for reciprocal exchange programs. The program was complemented by bilateral meetings with American universities from the region and meetings with representatives of local government and the Czech diaspora.
In Chicago, the mission continued with a visit to the University of Chicago, where the Czech delegation met with university leadership and experts in international cooperation. Discussions focused primarily on opportunities for student and academic exchanges, joint research, and the integration of Czech institutions into global academic networks. The delegation also met with representatives of the Department of Slavic Languages and with Czech academics working at American universities, who contributed valuable experience and contacts.
The program further included visits to Northwestern University and the Illinois Institute of Technology, where presentations by both Czech and American universities took place, along with thematic discussions in smaller groups and follow-up bilateral meetings. A large-scale matchmaking event with universities from Illinois and neighboring states was also held in Chicago, enabling the establishment of concrete partnerships and the identification of new project opportunities.
An important part of the mission was cooperation with the Czech diaspora community. The delegation met with Czech academics who have long been based in the United States and visited the T. G. Masaryk Czech School in Cicero, where they discussed support for Czech language teaching and educational activities abroad with teachers, students, and parents. The concluding networking reception at the Consulate General in Chicago, attended by academic partners, alumni, and representatives of diaspora organizations, underscored the importance of personal connections for further developing cooperation.
The mission confirmed the strong interest of American universities in collaborating with Czech partners and brought forward concrete ideas for further development of joint activities, particularly in the areas of student and academic mobility, joint research, organization of summer schools, and support for Czech language education. The discussions also highlighted the need to find effective mechanisms for mutual recognition of academic results and for strengthening institutional cooperation.