INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE Departments Department of economics and management Department of foreign languages Department of engineering and applied sciences Dear students, Welcome to the VSTE - Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice. We are pleased that you have decided to study at our school as an exchange student and we are sure you will enjoy it. This guide book should provide you with all you need to know about the Czech Republic and the school, and thus make your stay in our country the most enjoyable and comfortable. You will find here some useful facts about the Czech Republic and about the town of České Budějovice as well as a detailed description of our school, its study plans and programmes, its structure of study, its credit system ECTS and many other important data. At the end of the guide book, please look at some more information concerning everyday life of the town and the country such as important addresses or telephone numbers. Any remarks and suggestions concerning the guide book will be particularly welcome at the below mentioned address.

Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice The Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice Coordinator: Okružní 517/10, Mgr. Alžběta Troupová 37001 České Budějovice troupova@mail.vstecb.cz 387842131

Dear student, Welcome to the VSTE - Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice. We are pleased that you have decided to study at our school as an exchange student and we are sure you will enjoy it. This guide book should provide you with all you need to know about the Czech Republic and the school, and thus make your stay in our country the most enjoyable and comfortable. You will find here some useful facts about the Czech Republic and about the town of České Budějovice as well as a detailed description of our school. At the end of the guide book, please look at some more information concerning everyday life of the town and the country such as important addresses or telephone numbers. Any remarks and suggestions concerning the guide book will be particularly welcome at the below mentioned address. VŠTE - Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice České Budějovice Okružní 10 České Budějovice 370 01 Erasmus coordinator: Alžběta Troupová Telephone: +420 387 842 131 E-mail: erasmus@mail.vstecb.cz

Some facts about the Czech Republic The Czech Republic is situated in the centre of Europe and sometimes it is called the heart of Europe. It has a population of 10 million people and covers an area of about 80,000 sq. km. The capital city of CR is Prague. Prague is also the largest city in CR. The biggest mountain in the Czech Republic is Sněžka (1612m) in the Giant Mountains and the longest river is the Vltava. On your arrival in the Czech Republic How to get from Prague - Ruzyně airport to the city centre Ruzyně airport is a public civil airport for international as well as national air traffic. It will take you about 50 minutes to get from the airport to the city centre of Prague. Take a bus number 119 bus that will take you to the underground station Dejvická (line A). Then go to the underground station Muzeum, which is located next to Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square). Only one stop from there by line C there is the station Hlavní nádraží (Central Railway Station). How to get from Prague to České Budějovice by train? The central railway station in Prague (Hlavní nádraží) is in the city centre. You will find there all necessary information, exchange offices, cash points, payphones and several booking offices selling international and national travel tickets. Train to České Budějovice leaves every one or two hours and the journey takes three hours. The railway station of České Budějovice is located in the city centre near Lannova Street. There is a stop of bus 8 in front of the station, too; this number goes to the VSTE campus. České Budějovice - public transport There is a well developed transport network in České Budějovice). Buses and trolleybuses go into all parts of the town. The different timetables for weekdays, weekends and holidays can be bought in MHD office (urban public transport office) in Mercury Centre. It is there where you can also get a travel card (one month or three-month one). Students get a 50% discount. To get the discount, you will be asked to present a student certificate with our school stamp that you can get at study department or from Erasmus coordinator. Single tickets can be also bought at bus stops from vending machines but no discounts for students are available. The timetables are displayed at all bus stops. Local bus, bus and railway timetables can be found on www.idos.cz However, bus No. 8, which connects VŠTE with the city of Ceske Budejovice has quite a limited timetable. To solve the problems with connections, you can call a taxi. There is a wide choice of taxi companies. For example, Eurotaxi company has a telephone number +420 800 211 211.

How to get to VŠTE campus? There is a bus stop a few meters from the coach and railway station in České Budějovice. It is a number 8 bus that will take you to our school premises. Some buses go as far as the school grounds but most of them stop by the approach road, at the bus stop Okružní Vysoká škola technická a ekonomická. About VŠTE The Institute of Technology and Business is a public institute, non-university type. It was established on 27th April, 2006. Institute of Technology and Business implements its activities in the area of Okružní10, 370 01 České Budějovice. The Institute of Technology and Business focuses on its activities mainly on the implementation of the vocational bachelor degree programs in the form of full-length study in 3-4 years. Implementation of the vocational bachelor's degree programs are supported by the cooperation of business subjects in the region. Other priorities of the Institute of Technology and Business activity is an applied research, the introduction of innovative technologies and the knowledge transfer to the current areas that are crucial especially for the needs of the region. Campus of the Institute of Technology and Business provides good background and conditions for study. Students have the option of accommodation and alimentation there. The campus has wide sports facilities. VŠTE premises and equipment The school campus is situated on the fringe of České Budějoivce. Lectures and seminars usually take place in pavilions A and B, pavilion D is the biggest and the most utilized one. It consists of nine ordinary classrooms and computer rooms with free internet access. The rest of the pavilion D is used as a student dormitory. Pavilion C is a two-storey building where a cafeteria, a dining hall (called Menza ) and a school canteen can be found. Pavilion E is a gym providing space for body building, athletics and ball games. For students of VŠTE and its Erasmus students, all the sports facilities are free of charge. To the premises of VŠTE belong also a sports field and a car park. Reception / Mailroom Reception / registry can be found in building D on the ground floor lobby. Library VŠTE Library is located in Building D, Room D009. Opening hours, contacts, service offerings, including other useful information can be found on the VSTE website in the Library section. Computer rooms There are two computer rooms available, both are located in Building D, Room D008 (Multimedia room) with 34 computers and D009 (Library) with 16 computers. All of them have an internet connection and you can use them at no charge. Opening hours are from Monday to Thursday 8:00 20:00 and on Friday 8:00 16:00. More information can be found on the VSTE website in the Library section.

Accommodation facilities Students can get accommodation in pavilion D, on its six floors, providing 228 beds in rooms equipped for 2 students. Doors on each side of the corridor on all six floors lead into a small hall. There are wardrobes and shoe cupboards as well as a bathroom with a toilet. The hall with the bathroom is shared by students in two rooms where the doors lead in from the hall. One room is shared by two students whilst the second by three of them. Each room is equipped with a desk, chairs, shelves, beds and blanket chests. Students can have their own radios, televisions and computers in their rooms. There is a kitchen with a fridge, a cooker, a kettle, a microwave oven and some utensils for three floors. The cost per month is 1 800 CZK (70 ). The amount must be paid by the last day of the previous month. Students are obliged to put down a deposit of 1 000 CZK on accommodation. The deposit is returned when students stop renting a room and no damage is found. Catering There is a dinning hall ( Menza ) with a school canteen serving lunch, with a possibility to choose from three options, and a cafeteria, both operating during a school year with the exception of school holidays. The cafeteria and dinning hall is on the first floor of pavilion C with the seating capacity of 160. Special prepaid cards are used to pay for the meals. Each student has to buy a card and then prepay as many meals as he or she wishes for. The meal costs app. 1,5 Euro. Meals and logging into iskam.vstecb.cz Ordering lunch is done in advance, no later than 2 PM previous day. Ordering lunch can be done in two ways. The first is the use of terminal on the ground floor canteen, where there is a need to control the terminal identification attaching ID card. The second way is a web application at http://iskam.vstecb.cz. (Found on the school website - link "Eating").

First week on VŠTE ISIC Card - Student ID Card A student identity card is used for dining, library and has licensed ISIC. How to get your ID card Pay 300CZK (14 ) on reception ( Building D) -> take the proof of payment and go to education center ( room D 003) -> here, employee will take photos and during 5 minutes you recieve your cad Access to computer and information system If you need access to a computer, please contact your network administrator: Log into your network: PC -> Delete CRTL +ATL+ DELETE-> username and password. Hynek Blažek Email: vstecb@koboz.cz tel. +420 775 867 040 If you need access to an informaton system (IS), please contact: Eva Dušková (room D 014) Email: duskova@mail.vstecb.cz tel: +420 387 842 117 Andrea Štěpánková (room D 014) Email:stepařova@mail.vstecb.cz tel: +420 387 842 117

Important departments and contacts 1) International office Alžběta Troupová Tel.: +420 387 842 108 Zuzana Rowland Tel.: +420 387 842 126 E-mail: erasmus@mail.vstecb.cz Opening hours: Monday 7.30 to 15.30 Tuesday 7.30 to 16.00 Wednesday 10.00 to 18.00 Thursday 7.30 to 16.00 Friday 7.30 to 15.30 2) Study Department Tel.: +420 387 842 108 E-mail: bukovska@mail.vstecb.cz grigova@mail.vstecb.cz Opening hours: Monday 7.30 to 15.30 Tuesday 7.30 to 16.00 Wednesday 7.30 to 18.00 Thursday 7.30 to 16.00 Friday 7.30 to 15.30 3) Department of Library, Reading Room and Copy Centre Library Tel.: +420 387 842 113 E-mail: kostkova@mail.vstecb.cz klokockova@mail.vstecb.cz Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8.00 to 20.00 Friday 8.00 to 16.00

3) Copy centre Tel.: 775867038 E-mail: hrebeckova@mail.vstecb.cz Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:00-10:30 and 13:00-15:00 Prices can be found in the IS: IS Documents Studies Copy Center Prices 4) Reception Tel.: +420 387 842 111 E-mail: dvorakova@mail.vstecb.cz jozova@mail.vstecb.cz pomijova@mail.vstecb.cz Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7.00 to 18.00 5) The Department of Education Tel.: +420 387 842 117 E-mail: Opening hours: Tuesday 7.30 to 16.00 Wednesday 7.30 to 18.00 Thursday 7.30 to 16.00 Friday 7.30 to 15.30 duskova@mail.vstecb.cz stepankova@mail.vstecb.cz

Tips for trips in Czech Republic: Praha Main sights and culture institutions: National Theatre (Národní Divadlo) Estates Theatre (Stavovské or Tyršovo or Nosticovo divadlo), premiere of Mozart's Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito was held there The Rudolfinum (home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra) The Municipal House (home to Prague Symphony Orchestra) The Smetana Theatre (home to the Prague State Opera (Státní opera)) National Museum (Národní muzeum) Museum of the Capital City of Prague Jewish Museum in Prague Alfons Mucha Museum African-Prague Museum Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague Náprstek Museum (Náprstkovo Muzeum) Josef Sudek Gallery National Library National Gallery Prague Castle (Pražský hrad - the largest castle in the world) with St. Vitus cathedral Old Town (Staré Město) with its Old Town Square The Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on Old Town Square The picturesque Charles Bridge (Karlův Most) The vaulted Gothic Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga) of 1270. New Town (Nové město) with its busy and historic Wenceslas Square Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) with its Infant Jesus of Prague Josefov (the old Jewish quarter) with Old Jewish Cemetery and Old New Synagogue Jan Žižka equestrian statue in Vítkov Park, Žižkov - Prague 3. The Lennon Wall Vinohrady, a sightly quarter in the centre Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague - huge collections of glass, furniture, textile, toys, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Art Deco and so on. The museum of the Heydrich assassination in the crypt of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius National Museum Vyšehrad Castle & Cemetery where many famous Czechs are buried including the composers Antonín Dvořák & Bedřich Smetana. Písek Gate, last preserved city gate of Baroque fortification

Petřínská rozhledna, an observation tower on Petřín Hill, which resembles the Eiffel Tower Anděl. Probably the busiest part of the city with a super modern shopping mall and architecture Žižkov Television Tower (Žižkovský vysílač) with observation deck - Prague 3. The New Jewish Cemetery in Olšany, location of Franz Kafka's grave - Prague 3. The Metronome, a giant, functional metronome that looms over the city The Dancing House (Fred and Ginger Building) The Mucha Museum, showcasing the Art Nouveau works of Alfons Mucha The vast cemeteries that are also used for walks by the locals, such as Olšany Cemetery Places connected to writers living in the city, such as Franz Kafka (One popular destination is the Franz Kafka Museum, also his grave at the New Jewish cemetery near the metro station Želivského) The Prague Zoo was selected as the 7th best zoo in the world by Forbes magazine Karlštejn Karlštejn is a large Gothic castle founded 1348 AD by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor-elect and King of Bohemia. The castle served as a place for safekeeping the Imperial Regalia as well as the Bohemian coronation jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures. Located about 30 km southwest of Prague above the village named Karlštejn, it is one of the most famous and most frequently visited castles in the Czech Republic. Konopiště The castle was apparently established in the 1280s by Prague Bishop Tobiaš as a Gothic fortification in the style of a French castle with a rectangular plan and round towers protruding from the corners, making the most effective defence possible. Český Krumlov Krumlov is best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. Construction of the town and castle began in the late 13th century at a ford in the Vltava River, which was important in trade routes in Bohemia. In 1302 the town and castle were owned by the House of Rosenberg. Emperor Rudolf II bought Krumlov in 1602 and gave it to his natural son Julius d Austria. Emperor Ferdinand II gave Krumlov to the House of Eggenberg. From 1719 until 1945 the castle belonged to the House of Schwarzenberg. Most of the architecture of the old town and castle dates from the 14th through 17th centuries; the town's structures are mostly in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. The core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend of the river, with the old Latrán neighborhood and castle on the other side of the Vltava.

Main sights and attractions in Český Krumlov: - Castle -Revolving auditorium -Church of St. Vitus -Church of St. Jošta -Jesuit college -Brewery and brewery s garden -Jewish synagogue Hluboká nad Vltavou Hluboká is a town near České Budějovice. This town was a favourite of Charles IV, who often visited when residing in České Budějovice. It is best known for its famous Windsor style chateau. The original royal castle of Přemysl Otakar II from the second half of the 13th century was rebuilt at the end of the 16th century by the Lords of Hradec. It received its present appearance under Count Jan Adam of Schwarzenberg. According to the English Windsorexample, architects F. Beer and F. Deworetzky built a Romantic Neo-Gothic chateau, surrounded by a 1.9 square kilometres (0.73 sq mi) English park here in the years 1841 to 1871. In 1940, the castle was seized from the last owner, Adolph Schwarzenberg by the Gestapo and confiscated by the government of

Czechoslovakia after the end of WWII. The castle is open to public. There is a winter garden and riding-hall where the Southern Bohemian gallery exhibitions have been housed since 1956. Sights and attractions in Hluboká nad Vltavou: -Castle Hluboká (Zámek Hluboká) -ZOO -Bezdrev pond Bezdrev is located approximately 2 km from Hluboká. Bezdrev is the second largest pond in Czech Republic. There is a lot of things to do for example yachting. -Trail for roller skates From Czech Budweis to Hluboka is leading a trail for roller skates.

Třeboň Třeboň was established around the middle of the 12th century. In 1366 the House of Rožmberk become owner of the estate. The period of greatest growth for the town dates to the second half of the 15th century when Petr IV of Rožmberk (1462-1523) seriously began to take care of the land. The district became famous as a fish pond farming area. From 1611 the Houses of Habsburg and Schwarzenberg were owners of the town and the estate. In the 19th and 20th centuries the city's importance decreased. Area around Třeboň belongs to Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Třeboňsko) which is very famous for beautiful nature and ponds. Brewery: -Třeboň is also famous for brewery which was estabilished in 1379. In the centre of town is old brewery building with a summer terrace. Sights and attractions in Třeboň: -Bicycle path from Třeboň to Jindřichův Hradec -Schwarzenberg Mausoleum in Třeboň (Schwarzenbergská hrobka)

-Třeboň castle (Třeboňský zámek) -Old brewery building (Pivnice) -Masaryk s square (Masarykovo náměstí)

Tábor This town is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language. The town was founded in the spring of 1420 by Petr Hromádka of Jistebnice and Jan Bydlínský of Bydlín from the most radical wing of the Hussites, who soon became known as the Taborites. The town is iconic for the years in which it flourished as an egalitarian peasant commune. This spirit is celebrated in Smetana's "Song of Freedom", made famous in the English-speaking world by Paul Robeson's recording in Czech and English. The historical part of the town is situated on the summit of an isolated hill separated from the surrounding country by the Lužnice river and by an extensive lake, to which the Hussites gave the biblical name of Jordan. This lake, founded 1492, is the oldest reservoir of its kind in Central Europe. The historical importance of the city of Tábor only ceased when it was captured by King George of Poděbrady in 1452. Sights and attractions in Tábor: - Tábor s Medieval underground (Catacombs) - Klokoty pilgrimage church - Chynovská cave - Kotnov - The Hussite museum - Žižka Square - a display of interesting structures http://www.tabor.cz/en/informations/history-and-sights/ Hussite Museum in Tábor

The exposition of the Hussite Museum, called The Hussites, is situated in the impressive interior of the late Gothic building of the Tábor Town Hall. Visitors to the museum learn where the Hussite movement originated from, what the reformer of the Catholic Church, Master Jan Hus, was like, how Tábor was established, why Jan Žižka of Trocnov was unbeatable, and how the Hussites waged wars and what weapons they used. October to March Wednesday Saturday 9:00 AM 17:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM 5:00 PM; April to September daily 9:00 AM 5:00 PM, December 24 and December 31 closed, January 1 open 1:00 PM - 5:00 October-March Wednesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. April-September daily 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. *December 24 and December 31 closed, January 1 open: 1 p.n. - 5 p.m. Contact: 381 254 286 The Underground Tunnels The Town Hall

Kotnov Tower and Bechyně Gate The Dean Church of Lord s Conversion on Mount Tabor Pálava Pálava is a landscape protected area and UNESCO biosphere reserve (since 1986) in the Czech Republic, South Moravian Region, on the border with Austria, next to another site registered by UNESCO - Lednice Valtice Cultural Landscape. Its area belongs to the Outer Western Carpathians. This region is also famous for beautiful vineyard and fabulous vine. Liberec Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisseand surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic. Settled by German and Flemish migrants since the 14th century, Liberec was once home to a thriving textile industry and hence nicknamed the "Manchester of Bohemia". For many Czechs, Liberec is mostly associated with the city dominant Ještěd Tower. Since the end of 19th century the city poses a conurbation with the towns Vratislavice which is its suburb and neighboring Jablonec nad Nisou. Sights and attractions in Liberec:

-Ještěd mountain Ještěd is the highest mountain peak (1,012 meter) of the Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge near Liberec in the north of the Czech Republic. From the summit there are views into Germany and Poland. The Horní Hanychov region of Liberec is just under the mountain. On the summit is Ještěd Tower restaurant, hotel and television tower, reachable by road or cable car (Ještěd Cable car). The mountain also has a ski resort. -Theatre F.X.Šaldy in Liberec -Liberec Town Hall -Aquapark Babylon -Botanic garden -ZOO Dvůr Králové -ZOO Taking an African safari could make a visit to Dvůr Králové Zoo that extra bit special. This is a truly authentic experience, the closest thing to driving through an African wilderness without actually going to Africa. http://www.zoodvurkralove.cz/en/ Hradec Králové The city is situated in the centre of a very fertile region called the Golden Road on the confluence of Elbe and Orlice and contains many buildings of historical and architectural interest. The cathedral was founded in 1303 by Elizabeth, and the church of St. John, built in 1710, stands on the ruins of the old castle. During the 1920s and 1930s the city grew rapidly and due to many buildings of modern architecture Hradec Králové became known as the Salon of the Republic. This was a nickname given to it by citizens who were spellbound by the unique architecture of Josef Gočár. Sights and attractions in Hradec Králové: -Giant Aquarium The fresh-water aquarium with artificial rainforest and an underwater tunnel that leads you to the world of tropical nature

-Hradec Kralove Synagogue -White Tower -Old City Hall and Mary s Plague Pillar -Holy of the Holy Spirit Cathedral -Church of Assumption of the Virgin Mary -Bishop s residence -Klicpera Theatre

Telč Telč is a town in southern Moravia, near Jihlava, in the Czech Republic. The town was founded in 13th century as a royal water fort on the crossroads of busy merchant routes between Bohemia, Moravia and Austria. Besides the monumental 17th century Renaissance chateau with an English-style park (a rebuilding of original Gothic castle), the most significant sight is the town square, a unique complex of long urban plaza with well-conserved Renaissance and Baroque houses with high gables and arcades; since 1992 all of this has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Blansko -Moravian karst (Moravský kras) The Moravian Karst is the largest and most noteworthy karst region in Czech Republic. You can find unique flora and fauna and many archaeological, paleontological and cultural sights here. Castles which are open all year: -Karlštejn -Rožmberk -Litomyšl -Loučeň -Hořovice -Loket -Hluboká nad Vltavou -Červený hrádek -Vildštejn -Dobříš -Staré hrady -Stránov -Sychrov

Where you can find a useful information: http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni/ Complete information about trains, buses and public transport in different cities and towns. http://jizdenky.studentagency.cz/ International low-cost buses. http://www.kudyznudy.cz/ Tips for trips around Czech Republic. You can also find here an information about the opening hours and costs. http://www.dosomethingdifferent.com/destinations/czech_republic A website with many tips how to spend your free time in our country.