A graduation ceremony concluded another year of the Children´s University of the FHSS USB

Saying goodbye to this year´s participants of the Children´s University at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences USB was emotional. A special meeting was organised with children from the first year, their parents, and lectors, to plan the upcoming school year. The afternoon also meant saying farewell to the second-year children. The organisers prepared a graduation ceremony for the young students, much like the ceremony for their older colleagues in Metropol cultural house. The event took place in lecture theatre F, where the Choir of the FHSS USB sang for all participants, and teachers dressed in academic gowns presented diplomas and small presents to the children.

The Vice-Dean for academic issues, Mgr. Onřej Doskočil, Th.D., delivered a speech about the infinite process of human learning, and the tiny pieces of knowledge we collect throughout our lives to create a splendid colourful mosaic that follows up on the knowledge of previous generations. He said: “This truth is built up from tiny fragments of human knowledge, it is unable to be assembled by oneself. We are not solo players, we live in human society, side by side, we rely on each other. Sometimes we even carry another person, we lean against them: rescuers carry wounded people, healthcare professionals care for the ill and those in advanced age. This is not applicable only to injuries, illness, or old age. Human learning is a never-ending story.” He pointed out that during CUUSB lessons children realised ­– perhaps more than ever – how much people depend on each other, and how obvious this becomes during illness, old age, or emergency. These are the situations the helping professions focus on, and these are the professions whose graduates our faculty prepares and educates.

The Children´s University acquaints children with the content of the study programmes our faculty offers in a playful way. Perhaps their acquaintance with our school will one day bring them to the helping professions, and they will become doctors, nurses, paramedics, or social workers. Vice-Dean Doskočil expressed this hope: “Perhaps the study has inspired you in such a way that some of you will come back to the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences in the future.”

The ceremony was certainly more pleasant than the last two years which were affected covid-19 measures. This time participants didn´t need to wear face masks, they could shake hands or hug. At the end of the event, Věra Dušková spoke for all the little graduates.  “We have become a nice team,” she said, as she gave thanks to all of the pedagogues, parents, and students of the FHSS USB who had helped with the classes.