Bridging academia and real-world practice is key
At the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of CVUT (FJFI), we are changing that. Since the 2021/2022 academic year, BigHub has been teaching full-semester courses that connect academia with the real world of data. And it’s not just lectures—students get hands-on experience with real technologies in a business-like environment, guided by professionals who deal with such projects every day.
What brought us to FJFI
BigHub has a personal connection to CVUT FJFI. Many of us—including CEO Karel Šimánek, COO Ing. Tomáš Hubínek, and more than ten other colleagues—studied there ourselves. We know the faculty produces top-tier mathematicians, physicists, and engineers. But we also know that these students often lack insight into how data and AI function in business contexts.
That’s why we decided to change it. Not as a recruitment campaign, but as a long-term contribution to Czech education. We want students to see real examples, try modern tools, and be better prepared for their careers.
Two courses, two semesters
18AAD – Applied Data Analysis (summer semester)
The first course launched in the 2021/2022 academic year, led by Ing. Tomáš Hubínek. Its goal is to give students an overview of how large-scale data work looks in practice. Topics include:
- data organization and storage,
- frameworks for big data computation,
- graph analysis,
- cloud services,
- basics of AI and ML.
Strong emphasis is placed on practical exercises. Students work in Microsoft Azure, explore different technologies, and have room for discussion. Selected lectures also feature BigHub experts who share insights from real projects.
18BIG – Data in Business (winter semester)
In 2024, we added a second course that builds on 18AAD. It is taught by doc. Ing. Jan Kučera, CSc. and doc. Ing. Petr Pokorný, Ph.D. The course goes deeper and focuses on:
- data governance and data management in organizations,
- integration architectures,
- data platforms and AI readiness,
- best practices from real-world projects.
While 18AAD shows what can be done with data, 18BIG demonstrates how it actually works inside companies.
Above-average student interest
Elective courses at FJFI usually attract only a few students. Our courses, however, enroll 20–35 students every year—an above-average number for the faculty.
Feedback is consistent: students appreciate the practical focus, open discussions, and the chance to ask professionals about real-world situations. For many, it’s their first encounter with technologies actually used in business.
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Beyond the classroom
Our involvement doesn’t end with teaching. Together with the Department of Software Engineering, we’ve helped revise curricula and graduate profiles, enabling the faculty to respond more flexibly to what companies in the data and AI fields really need. This improves the quality of education across the entire faculty, not just for students who take our electives.
It’s not about recruitment
Sometimes, a student later joins BigHub — but that’s not the goal. The goal is to ensure graduates aren’t surprised by how data work really looks. We want them to have broader, more practical knowledge and hands-on experience with modern tools. It’s our way of giving back to the institution that shaped us and contributing to the Czech tech ecosystem as a whole.
Collaboration with FJFI goes beyond teaching. Since BigHub’s founding, we’ve supported the student union and regularly participated in the faculty’s Dean’s Cup sports event, playing futsal, beach volleyball, and more. This year, we also submitted several grant applications together and hope to soon collaborate on joint technical projects. We believe a strong community and informal connections between students and professionals are just as important as textbook knowledge.
What’s next?
Our cooperation with CVUT FJFI is long-term. Courses 18AAD and 18BIG will continue, and we are exploring ways to expand their scope. We see that students crave practical experience and that bridging academia with real-world practice truly works. If this helps improve the quality of data and AI projects in Czech companies, it will be the best proof that our effort is worthwhile.
Conclusion
The goal of our courses at CVUT FJFI is to give students experience that empowers them to enter the professional world with confidence and become part of a generation that pushes the boundaries of data and AI in the Czech Republic. We see it as an investment in the future of education and in the people who will soon shape the direction of the entire field. We believe shared experience holds the greatest value—that’s why we aim to ensure students leave with the best of what real practice can offer.
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