By: Arzu Maharramova

Meet Roman Baláž, an outstanding member of our staff who is well-liked by students for being super friendly and always willing to provide assistance. Aside from his pleasant personality, Roman Baláž has an impressive academic background. He gained valuable experience in his field during his Fullbright stay in the United States and now back in the Czech Republic, he's incorporating the useful ideas he obtained elsewhere into his teaching approaches. He uses a really upbeat teaching approach, one that he hopes would inspire students to read more. Let's learn more about him.

1. What motivated you to specialize in Social Policy and Social Work?

I studied media studies and journalism, but I figured out that it was not for me. My second education was in social policy and social work, and I decided to continue in this field because it was much more attractive. Throughout my academic career, I was a part-time student, but a full-time worker. I worked as a social worker in practice, I volunteered in an organization, assisting disabled people in wheelchairs. It was quite fun because I was a young guy in the middle of Prague, helping other young boys in wheelchairs, and we had much fun together. I think these experiences with disabled people motivated me to be more focused on social work and social policy.

2. Could you share a significant research or teaching achievement that you are proud of?

In social sciences, it's sometimes difficult to describe successful research. We deal with social problems that, sometimes, are too abstract for many members of our society. During my stay in the United States, I understood that social work is pro-democratic force in society. My big achievement was to gain such an experience because it was revolutionary in my thinking of what social work is and why is important for current societies. Therefore, my biggest achievement is not kind of research or application to society but it is about my development in thinking.

3. How do you perceive the importance of academic participation in international exchange programs and collaboration with scholars from different parts of the world?

It is very important because social work was invented during industrialization and it in its basics is intercultural. When we have more international collaborations, we understand there cannot be such things as “Czech social work” or “Slovak social work” because social work was always international. International collaborations help us to reveal the nature of social work.

4. In your academic story, which specific moment or experience has had a big impact on how you see yourself as both a researcher and teacher?

The United States has a different social and cultural context, and it's challenging to understand what's happening without knowing the historical, social, and cultural context that drives policy dynamics. Sometimes, I feel a bit depressed when I see how science is provided in the United States. Visiting universities like Boston University and Harvard University was like entering a fairytale in terms of science and education. It's sometimes depressing when you have a class of 40-50 students, and only one third of them is truly interested. Because, here, it is hard to make students participate actively in lectures unlike in the USA. This experience was impactful on my thinking.

5. If you could describe your teaching philosophy in a single sentence, what would it be?

I am a constructivist teacher who does not provide lectures but pushes students to discuss and critically think about issues they absorb from reading. I know some students hate it because they expect me to talk for an hour but this is not happening, I just explain the topic for 10-15 minutes and then encourage students to discuss this topic with me.

6. Do you have any message for our students?

Don't be afraid to ask questions and be brave to read. Sometimes, students lack enthusiasm, which is essential for critical thinking. Reading widens understanding of things, and asking questions is crucial for developing critical thinking skills. Without questioning and reading, there's no way to be truly critical.

As we wrap up this interview we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for his tireless dedication and the positive vibes Roman Baláž brings to our learning environment and also for time he made for giving this interview to us.