The first year of the Parťák: Students Help Students project achieved its goal—a number of new friendships were formed across grades, older students provided practical and psychological support, and the program proved to be a useful social bubble for most participants. A new member has joined the organizing team who wants to prepare the same opportunity for students of General Medicine in English.
The results of the first year of the Parťák project show that the initiative has been very well received at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine. In the fall semester of 2024, 73 partners were actively involved in the program, supporting 218 younger students. In the spring semester of 2025, 53 partners were active, and 167 younger students participated; many of them remained with their partner from the previous semester. The interest in peer‑to‑peer support demonstrates the sustainability of the format: the number of active partners was practically comparable in both semesters, and some groups remained unfilled in both semesters. Even with this normal fluctuation in capacity, the project effectively covered the needs of participating students and maintained a continuous offer of support.
The program is organised practically: each older student (from the third year onwards) is assigned a maximum of four younger students (from first-years to second-years). The minimum duration of the collaboration is one semester, and the maximum is one academic year. The selection process runs via the Masaryk University Information System, where senior students upload a short video and basic information about themselves and indicate their meeting preference (once a month, in person or online). A new feature of recruitment is that older students can indicate whether they are open to a mix of Czech and international students. This information will be visible in their profile so that younger students can decide with the knowledge that their group may include international members. There are also plans to pilot an expansion of the program to include foreign students (VL) to increase the integration of international students into the Czech study environment. It is considered a logical step to involve other members of the senate in this expansion and to pilot admitting international students primarily in the spring semester, when groups are already established and new members can more easily fit in. The possibility of purely international groups or international older partners requires further consideration.
The project brought a number of specific benefits, which participants themselves confirmed. Younger students appreciated the practical academic support, access to concrete tips and advice, but above all the feeling of having someone readily available for guidance. One respondent wrote: “Support with my studies, sharing of experience, and knowing that I have someone I can turn to at any time.” Another student described the psychological dimension of the support: “Having someone who knows exactly what I need to hear. It helped me a lot at school. Thank you.” For many, reassurance that their problems were not isolated was crucial: “Reassurance that what seems like a huge problem to me is also experienced by others and that we can handle it.” Some participants also highlighted the friendly side of the relationships: “Getting to know an older friend who is more experienced in studying, who can give advice and at the same time bring us together as peers who are just starting their studies in a great group.” One student described how the program helped her not only academically but also personally: “Thanks to our Partner, I don't feel alone. It's very nice to know that I have someone 'in my corner' who can advise and help me... That's why I have a Partner who helps me keep my head above water.” Similarly, older students expressed satisfaction with a role that allowed them to share their experience and be helpful to younger students. One of them wrote: “Being a Partner meant being there for my younger colleagues at any time, being their crutch in case of a possible problem.”
Reflections after the first year are generally positive, although natural fluctuations are expected. The project team anticipates a possible slight decline in the number of active older mentors in the coming semester (the novelty effect), followed by a further increase as cohorts that formed the core of the younger students grow older and move to the mentor side. Demand for the program is expected to remain stable or grow slightly, particularly among second‑year students who are already familiar with the program and may continue participating either as mentees or as future partners. In conclusion, the first year of Parťák confirmed the value of this initiative: students showed interest in mutual support, older students effectively passed on practical advice and emotional support, and the program created an environment that eased many participants’ transition to university life. Recommendations for the next year include continuing the project with an emphasis on integrating international students, clear and visible communication of partners’ profiles in the information system, and highlighting the program’s benefits to expand the pool of available partners and increase group diversity.
Parťák was founded by Karolína Holíková, Barbora Neterdová, and Samuel Kecer, students of General Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University. Veronika Kašová, who — together with Karolína Holíková — is a member of the Student Chamber of the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine, recently joined the team. She has already familiarised herself with the project’s processes (including those at the start of the semester) and aims to promote integration of the project into the English‑language General Medicine programme.
At the start of the new semester, 33 Partners have registered so far, offering capacity for around 120 places. All of them are already registered in the interactive syllabus, and it is still possible to sign up for the program. Training for older partners will take place during the first week of the semester; those who register at the start of the semester will receive training during the week of 22 September so that everyone can begin supporting their mentees as soon as possible.
The charity collection "Christmas Baking in the Campus," which took place on Monday, December 8, 2025, in the southern corridors of the Campus of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science at Masaryk University, successfully attracted students and staff. A pleasant Advent atmosphere prevailed throughout the day, complemented by the aroma of Christmas cookies and homemade sweet treats.
