Lancaster University welcomed David Frous, Consul General of the Czech Republic based in Manchester, to celebrate the strong connections between Lancaster and the Czech Republic.

The visit was hosted by Professor Radka Newton, Director of the Centre for Scholarship and Innovation in Management Education (SIME) at Lancaster University Management School, and a prominent member of the Czech community in the Northwest. Alongside her colleague and fellow Czech national, Professor Vaclav Brezina—academic lead at the ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science (CASS)—the two showcased the vibrant contributions of Czech academics in Lancaster’s teaching and research excellence.

A highlight of the day was Mr Frous’s visit to SIME, where Professor Newton introduced the centre’s pioneering work in transforming management education through evidence-based pedagogy, innovation, and collaboration with industry and international partners. “It was a proud moment to present the our educational research and teaching practices we are developing at SIME,” said Professor Newton.

Mr Frous also met with Lancaster University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rebecca Lingwood, and members of the senior management team to explore the civic role of universities. Topics of discussion included regional economic development, cybersecurity, and nuclear energy—areas of mutual interest. His itinerary included discussions with the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy about the local innovation ecosystem, followed by a meeting with the leader of Lancaster City Council.

The visit concluded with an informal conversation between Mr Frous and Matt Jackson, founder of Lancaster Brewery and Entrepreneur in Residence at LUMS. Despite being originally from Plzeň—home of the world-famous Pilsner—Mr Frous expressed his support for strengthening connections with Budějovický Budvar, noting its thriving business collaborations with Lancaster’s brewing community.

Official news: Lancaster University hosts VIP visit to celebrate city’s connections to Czech Republic - Lancaster University