The aim of the GoHigher project was to create an attractive and inspiring environment for the development of talent, particularly in the natural sciences and technical fields to secure and develop intellectual potential at universities, research centres and companies in the Pilsen Region. We believe that it has achieved much more than that. The GoHigher project has formed a respectful and friendly environment for active secondary school pupils to meet and share their experience. They were introduced to leading workplaces and companies, particularly in the region’s areas of specialization, through excursions and project days. Pupils from different schools got involved in creating and developing the community, networking with each other across the region and across disciplines. They had the opportunity to collaborate with experts and scientists from research organizations. In addition, they were (and still are) offered a comprehensive range of events. How do people in the field and collaborators evaluate the project, which will continue after the pilot testing as part of the Smart Accelerator of the Pilsen Region III project? We asked them.
- What comes to your mind when you hear GoHigher?
- How would you evaluate the GoHigher project?
- What has involvement in the community brought you?
- Which GoHigher activity has resonated with you the most?
- If you were to recommend participation in the community to your peers, what would you say to them?
David Krajči, graduate of the Secondary Technical School of Mechanical Engineering and Prof. Švejcar Secondary School, Pilsen:
“With GoHigher, I visited several engineering companies. That’s why I’m happy to answer your questions.”
- It is an agency that gives me the opportunity to improve in what I am interested in. It also organizes excursions to places I couldn’t otherwise visit.
- I have only positive things to say about GoHigher.
- Participating has brought me new experiences and introduced me to people of my age who also seek knowledge.
- I found the excursion to ATC Space the most interesting.
- It’s not for those who just want to “coast through” school, but if you want to get deeper insight into the field you’re studying, definitely sign up. It’s non-binding, and you’ll gain lots of new experience — it all depends on how much you want it.
Filip Hrůša, Grammar School and Secondary Vocational School Rokycany
- It’s a group of enthusiasts, people who constantly want to learn new things all the time. It’s also an opportunity to visit different places and try things we would otherwise never get to experience. And last but not least, it’s a safe environment for children who stand out in their class because of their curiosity and passion and might feel left out. In GoHigher, they can find not only inspiration but also understanding.
- It sets big goals and always wants to improve. But all that progress depends on students’ ideas, so it grows in a natural direction. That flexibility is one of the most typical features of the project.
- First and foremost, it offers practical experience and insight into fields outside the classroom. Then there are a number of valuable contacts and opportunities for self-realization—I feel great support from the project when I decide to do something.
- I can’t choose only one specific thing.
- Until you try it, you’ll never know what you’ve been missing out on.
Jan Honner, Secondary School of Information Technologies and Financial Services, Pilsen
- I picture an amazing community of kind people where everyone can find their place.
- I’d rate it 10/10. I think the project is really well done, and I personally like it a lot.
- The project brings lots of opportunities for growth — not just personal, but also social.
- The GoHigher Café is a place where most of the community meets regularly and where really interesting and inspiring talks take place.
- Come join an awesome community of people who’ll help you become a better version of yourself — and where you’ll find yourself!
Daniel Jokl, Masaryk Grammar School, Pilsen
- Opportunity
- If it weren’t for GoHigher, I probably wouldn’t have developed such a positive relationship with science at such an early age. And, I wouldn’t have made such great friends from different schools, both my own and others, whom I had the honour of meeting thanks to the project, mainly because we share a common interest in doing interesting and unusual things.
- Opportunities and friendships.
- With each new one, my favourite changes – that’s an exaggeration, of course, as some activities were certainly more beneficial to me, but they were primarily those activities related to my field of interest.
- If proactive pupils from the Pilsen region are looking for a place for their work, I can’t imagine them not being part of GoHigher.
Jaroslav Kudrna, Masaryk Grammar School, Pilsen
- I imagine an amazing community of people who are not afraid to present their interesting scientific projects and leisure activities to everyone.
- I assess the project very positively. Most of the people I met have remained my good friends, and that is the main reason why the project was designed—to bring people together.
- Being involved in the community constantly broadens my horizons thanks to various excursions and project days. I would say that thanks to GH, I have got a great insight into various fields, which helped me, for example, when choosing a university.
- All events are worthwhile for me, and I enjoy going to every one, but I enjoyed the two-day excursions the most.
- I would say don’t be afraid to come to any event that appeals to you. I can guarantee that you won’t regret it and will come back again.
Ema Žánová, Mikulášské náměstí Grammar School, Pilsen
- I imagine a community of people who support each other and develop together.
- I see the project as very successful. It has created a welcoming community/environment where students can feel safe.
- The project had a huge impact on my career path. I got a lot of interesting opportunities.
- Beyond the professional/academic sphere, the project has also affected my personal life. I have found amazing friends in the community.
- The first GoHigher event I participated in really resonated with me. It was a multidisciplinary excursion on AI in medicine, which helped me figure out what I would like to do in the future.
- I would tell them they will be able to try out the things they read about, which is not so easy in today’s online world. Confronting what real practice in the field looks like can influence an individual’s future direction.
Karolína Stinglová, Secondary Medical School and the College of Higher Medical Education in Pilsen
- I always remember our very first two-day excursion to the Šumava Mountains in September 2023 with nostalgia. Not only did I meet lots of new, really inspiring peers who are on the same wavelength, but I also unexpectedly got a birthday present — my birthday happened to be during the trip. I received socks made of a special material produced in collaboration with FEL ZČU. Every time I see them in my drawer, I feel that it all makes sense.
- GoHigher targets a wide range of fields, so I dare say it has a lot to offer. Personally, it gave me a lot, and I honestly don’t regret a single second.
- It made me realize that there is nothing else I could do except medicine. It would be great if the same thing happened to at least some of the people involved in GoHigher.
- The very first event, the two-day trip to Šumava, still resonates with me the most. It was slightly outside my field, but I still remember thinking how great it was that there was finally someone organizing an event related to education outside of school. At that moment, it was no longer just theory, but we were able to freely explore and see things with our own eyes. In my opinion, that is priceless. I also remember a debate with the Charles University president Milena Králíčková, a project day at the Institute of Biology of the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Pilsen, an excursion focused on biomedicine and technology in healthcare, a project day on archaeobotany and paleoecology at the Faculty of Science at the University of South Bohemia, etc.
- Personally, I do this quite often. I have even managed to get a few of them hooked and involved. I motivate them by telling them that we are open to many possibilities. It may happen that you express a wish out loud and it comes true thanks to the vision of one of the organizers. I had a vision (and I wasn’t alone) of medicine, biomedicine, and clinical sciences getting more space within GoHigher… and my wish (and that of many others) was actually granted. At the same time, there are countless wonderful, very smart people in our community. Not only can new participants gain contacts, but also invaluable experience that will be useful not only at university or graduate education (or on any other educational level) but also in their own lives.
Michal Fišer, Training College and Secondary School of Electrical Engineering
- When I hear GoHigher, I mainly remember the field trips and other events I participated in.
- In my opinion, the project is based on a really interesting idea which has been successfully brought to life.
- Being part of the GoHigher community has brought me new friends with similar interests and lots of new experiences.
- Definitely the excursion to CERN. For me, CERN is a symbol of science advancement, and the excursion itself was super interesting.
- I’d tell them that here they have the chance to meet awesome people and go on great trips.
