Staff Spotlight: Eva Kavalová

Currently, I am working full time as an International Programs Officer at Charles University, Faculty of Arts. I mostly work with professors that teach for our study abroad programs, take care of administrative affairs in relation to ECES, as well as the economic agenda. I have to say that the reason I am working in this position is because of my own study abroad experience.

I studied abroad in Paris, France during the second year of my Bachelor degree program, and I knew after my stay there that I would like to continue working in the international environment. When I returned, I started to work as an Office Assistant in the International Relations Office at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University.

This experience taught me a lot about Erasmus+ study abroad exchanges, as well as other Charles University exchanges. A year later I was asked to help as Student Assistant and Housing Coordinator with the ECES Summer School, and I’ve been working with ECES ever since.

Working for ECES has given me a lot, and I am still learning and growing every day. Of course I had to learn how to do the job, but I’ve also learned a lot about the university system in USA (which really differs from the Czech one), about other study abroad programs, and I’ve learned more about marketing and organization.

The other very important part of my growth as a person is that I’ve met a lot of very interesting people, some of whom I call friends. Meeting new people, especially students, always influences me because they tell their stories, show you things you’ve known for a long time from a new perspective, and for me, that is ultimately where I get the passion that I have for my job.

I think I have two favorites, but first, I would like to visit the USA. It seems a little ironic that I work with American students on daily basis, but I’ve never been to the country they come from. But that’s not the only reason – New York, Los Angeles or the Grand Canyon and national parks are places I know only from movies and I would like see these places in person.

The other destination I would like to visit is Southeastern Asia, specifically Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and so on. Asia, in general, represents for me a very different world, culture, and values.

These places may sometimes be difficult to understand, but I have always been fascinated, and one day I would like to take a backpack, some friends, and travel through these countries with such great history, gastronomy and culture.

For me, the biggest factor in being successful, in this case providing study abroad opportunities, is the ability for constant growth. This means trying to be better all the time, and continuing to improve, even if you are quite satisfied.

We are constantly inspired by new possibilities for the ECES program, and we use them in our own ways, for example new technologies or communication techniques for our students. I am working with people – students and professors – and their opinions are important, not only for me but for the university as well, because these are the precious ideas we need to consider in order to improve.