At the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology of the University of South Bohemia, connecting academic studies with practical experience is an essential part of education. Students regularly visit companies and industrial facilities where they can observe modern technologies and production processes in real operating conditions. Thanks to these industry contacts, many students later return to the companies they have visited for internships or even begin their professional careers there.
During the summer semester, the Department of Plant Production and the Department of Food Biotechnologies and Agricultural Product Quality a series of professional field trips for students enrolled in the follow-up Master's degree programmes as part of the courses Processing of Plant Products and Technology for the Processing Products of Plant Production.
The first excursion took students to the Mlýn Veselí mill operated by Pekárna Srnín Ltd., where they learned about the processing of wheat into flour and had the opportunity to apply the knowledge they had gained during their studies in a real industrial environment. This was followed by a visit to Efko CZ Ltd. in Veselí nad Lužnicí, where students became familiar with vegetable preservation technologies and observed the production of sterilized vegetable products.
Further excursions included a visit to Hemp Production CZ Ltd. in Chraštice near Příbram, a company specializing in the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp, and Extrudo Bečice Ltd. in Týn nad Vltavou. There, students explored the use of extrusion technology in the processing of cereals, legumes, and other plant-based raw materials. At the end of the visit, they also had the opportunity to taste selected products directly from the production line.
These excursions provide students with valuable practical experience that cannot be fully replicated in a university laboratory. In addition to observing complete production processes firsthand, students can discuss technologies and current industry practices with company technologists and managers, gaining valuable insight into the operation of modern food-processing companies, industry requirements, and emerging trends. At the same time, these visits strengthen cooperation between the faculty and industry partners while creating opportunities for internships, master's theses, and future career development.