Interview with Dr. Felipe Jaramillo Ruiz from the Pontifical Javeriana University Cali in Colombia

What were your motivations for going to UHK in the Czech Republic? What are some of the things that inspired you to apply for this program?

The first thing that motivated me was the availability of a double degree program at my institution. The Dean and Director of the program were interested in furthering it so that our students could come to the University of Hradec Kralove. I was selected to take part in the program based on my background in researching various areas related to Latin America. This opportunity was a great chance to meet various professors who research the same area and write on similar issues as I do. Through this program, I was able to observe the differences between teaching and learning in Colombia and the Czech Republic.

Could you please start by telling me who you are and what your specialties are?

I am a professor of Political Science at the Department of Law and International Relations. I have a Bachelor's degree in Law and Political Science, as well as two Masters degrees: one in Democracy Global Transformations from the University of Helsinki, and the other in International Law from Los Andes in Bogota. I received my PhD from The Graduate Institute, Geneva (IHEID). Most of my research focuses on gender and intersectionality, specifically on the intersection between gender and disability, which was the topic of my thesis. As a result, I have published most of my work on how different social categories such as gender, disability, and race become mainstream discourses. I have also published articles in well-known journals on Colombia's peace process. Lately, I have become more interested in broader topics related to human rights, especially with a focus on gender, disability, and intersectionality.

How has your experience been in the Czech Republic so far since you arrived?

I arrived last Saturday and spent one night in Prague before traveling to Hradec Kralove on Sunday. Overall, it has been great, although the weather has been quite cold for us as we do not have similar seasons in Colombia. I appreciate that everything has been very well organized, making it easy to navigate. I had the opportunity to visit Olomouc on Friday and Brno on Saturday.

Did you have someone pick you up from Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague?

Although the school offered to arrange transportation, I declined the option since I am familiar with how the transportation system works here, particularly the train system, having lived in both Switzerland and Finland before.

What made it easier for you to navigate through the Czech Republic during your time here?

Tomaš has been there from the beginning, always answering questions extremely quickly. He has been very helpful and made it much easier for me to come here. I am grateful for the work he is doing.

Have you had a chance to learn the Czech language?

No, I do not speak any Czech. Perhaps I am hesitant to learn it since I may not have many opportunities to use it in the future.

Have you participated in a similar kind of program before?

I have not participated in an identical program before, but I have been involved in other types of programs. For example, I completed a two-week internship program in Budapest to receive training on Human Rights.

How would you rate the success of this program? Is it manageable within the 2 weeks allocated for it?

Well, this period has been quite busy. I taught 13 hours in one week. However, I can say that it has been worth it. Not only was I able to teach my courses here, but also those at my home university. I gave different lectures with different professors whom I had already contacted after receiving their emails from Tomaš. Aside from conducting a couple of lectures, I also had a PhD seminar where I discussed my research with students. Therefore, although the program is only for a short period of time, it is definitely worth it.

Are there any future collaborations or plans that you are considering?

Yes, I have plans to collaborate with one of the professors here on writing and conducting research. We share similar interests in Electoral Politics and Democracy.

How was it managing your responsibilities at your home university and taking up this opportunity?

I did not have to put anything on hold as I was able to manage most of my duties remotely. However, my week was quite hectic as I had to teach for 13 hours in a week. Before traveling to Czech Republic, I had makeup classes for some of the courses I teach in Colombia. While I was here, I also had some online courses in between the lectures. This meant that I was teaching almost 20 hours from Monday to Thursday. I believe that with good planning, it is possible to manage all the responsibilities both in the home university and at UHK.

Do you have any suggestions for improving the program?

One suggestion I have is to have more flexibility in the visiting professor's schedule. While the university has a set plan for the professor's activities, it would be beneficial for the professor to have input into what they would like to do during their time here. For example, I would appreciate having one hour out of my 13 hours of teaching where students interested in my research could come and have discussions with me. I think this would be more valuable than a conference. This would allow the professor to decide if they want to have a workshop and who they would like to talk to during the workshop. Alternatively, having open sessions for questions and answers would also be a good addition to the program. However, I do think that the current interview sessions are a great idea and should still be included in the professor's schedule.

How would you describe your classes? Did they include bachelor's, master's, or PhD students?

Well, there were mostly bachelor's students, a few master's students, and I also conducted a PhD seminar which I really enjoyed. Some master's students attended this seminar as well. The class sizes here are not as large as the ones we have in Colombia.

Have you had the opportunity to interact with any Colombian students currently studying at UHK?

Yes, there are two students from my home university currently studying at UHK as part of an exchange program. I had the opportunity to meet them over coffee and it was great to hear their plans for the future after completing their bachelor's degree. As a student who has completed both my PhD and master's program here in Europe, I was able to provide some valuable insights to them. They seemed torn between pursuing their master's degree right after their bachelor's, getting an internship here, or returning home to their families. Overall, I believe our conversation was beneficial to them, and it was a pleasure to interact with fellow Colombians during my time here in Czech Republic

Have the students faced any challenges or difficulties during their time here?

No, in fact, they are quite happy, although they are trying to figure out what to do after completing their studies. They are adjusting to the smaller class sizes, as some of their classes have only two or three students, which is quite different from their university in Colombia. Apart from the weather, especially during the cold season, they generally enjoy being here.

Do you think there are any notable differences between the Latin American Studies taught at UHK and that taught in your home university?

At UHK, Latin American Studies is taught in a broad and general way, which is typical of most European universities. However, in my home university, we tend to focus on specific countries in Latin America, such as Colombia or Brazil, rather than studying Latin America as a whole. It's similar to how we identify ourselves: when you live in Colombia, you consider yourself Colombian, not just Latin American..

What are the language requirements for your students coming to UHK, considering that the language of instruction in your home university is Spanish?

The language requirement for our students who wish to study at UHK is fair. Students from Javeriana University are not required to take a specific test, but we must certify that the student has at least a B2 level of English proficiency. This ensures that students from Latin American countries can easily participate in this program without any language barriers.

Could you compare the level of class participation between UHK and your home Javeriana university?

In Colombia, there is a significant emphasis on student participation, starting as early as the undergraduate level. Students are graded based on their level of engagement in class. On the other hand, I have noticed that the students here at UHK seem to be more reserved or shy. As a result, our Colombian students studying at UHK may feel less pressure as they are not required to participate as actively in their classes here.

Is Javeriana University currently receiving any students from UHK as part of an exchange program?

One thing that concerns us is the lack of students coming to study in Colombia as part of the exchange program, especially from UHK. The double degree program seems to be a challenge as students need to decide from the beginning that they want to pursue a double degree and in which university. Often, students are not aware from the outset that they want to study abroad in Colombia. However, I believe that giving Czech students a chance to come to Colombia would help them practice Spanish, which is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. With a few adjustments, it would be wonderful to see Javeriana and UHK working together to strengthen their ties and promote exchange opportunities for students.

Is there anything outstanding that you have learned here that you would like to share with your students? How would this program benefit your students at Javeriana?

As someone who has studied extensively in Europe, I have already assimilated many of the seminar models used in my classes. However, having visited UHK in the Czech Republic, I believe I would be very helpful in answering our students' questions about what to expect when they visit UHK in the future and how to prepare for the program. The diverse classroom at UHK is also fascinating, although I am not certain that we can replicate this at Javeriana, although we do have students from indigenous communities.

Have you faced any language or cultural obstacles during your stay at UHK, and if so, how have you managed to overcome them?

Despite not speaking any Czech, I haven't faced any major problems while navigating around the city as many people here areeither proficient in English or are just willing to help. The locals are generally very friendly. However, the Czech language is quite difficult to learn and understand, which can be a challenge.

Do you have any recommendations for professors who are planning to visit UHK in the future?

One suggestion I would make is to try and have an open discussion or question and answer session with the master's degree students working on topics related to the visiting professor's area of research. It would be a great opportunity for both parties to share insights and knowledge.

Were there any moments where your expectations did not match reality during this program?

I was expecting the town to be bigger, but it turned out to be quite small. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how peaceful and easy it is to get around. Overall, my experience here has met my expectations.

Did you try any Czech cuisine during your stay?

As a vegetarian, I tried the fried cheese and enjoyed it. I didn't have any trouble with the food overall, as I had been to Europe before and was familiar with the cuisine.