We're Kicking Off the Spring EDU.Lab Roadshow
Press release: The ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund is hitting the road with EDU.Lab. The educational laboratory has set off on its spring roadshow across the regions to support technical education.
The ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund (NFŠA) is developing the EDU.Lab educational project, a mobile laboratory that gives primary school pupils a hands-on look at modern technology. Under the fund's wing, it is set to become a long-term tool for supporting technical education. With the arrival of spring, it has also kicked off a roadshow across the regions of the Czech Republic, involving around 3,000 pupils and teachers from 80 schools. The next phase of the project will also be backed by cooperation with the Národní pedagogický institut (National Pedagogical Institute, NPI).
The number of students enrolling in technical fields at universities is falling sharply — over the past 15 years it has nearly halved. That is why ŠKODA AUTO launched the EDU.Lab project in 2021 — a mobile educational laboratory built on a truck that introduces pupils, in an engaging way, to the diverse corners of science and technology.
The successful project, which has so far been visited by some 31,000 young people from 350 schools, is entering a new phase of development in 2026. In addition to the spring roadshow, under the NFŠA banner the project will also expand to provide more systematic support for schools and teachers. Teachers play a key new role: they are involved in the programme not only during a visit to the laboratory but before and after it as well. They have access to teaching materials, classroom inspiration and special educational modules.
“In recent years, EDU.Lab has proven a strong tool for bringing technology closer to children and sparking their interest in technical fields. Under the NFŠA banner we want to take it to the next level and make it one of the headline acts of our support for education in the regions. Teachers will play a much bigger role. We believe this is a great platform through which the people educating future generations can spark children's interest not only during a lab visit but, above all, in the long run. Whether it's integrating technology into lessons or finding creative routes through the new curriculum, we want to be a partner to every teacher who understands that sparking enthusiasm in a few girls and boys can one day mean an innovation boom for the regions and for our whole country,” says Ladislav Kučera, Director of the ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund.
A robotic dog teaches the basics of programming
The official launch of this year's activities took place on 22 April 2026 at the Technical University of Liberec. Pupils from Liberec schools could try, for instance, the basics of programming in robotics on a four-legged robotic dog, prototyping with 3D printing or learning about the impact of artificial intelligence and social networks on cybersecurity. The EDU.Lab Spring Roadshow 2026 then heads on to the Central Bohemian, Hradec Králové, Pardubice and Liberec regions. Around 3,000 primary school pupils and their teachers from some 80 schools will take part, and the schedule also includes events for the public to introduce modern technology to a wider audience.
This year EDU.Lab also begins working with the Národní pedagogický institut (NPI), which focuses on methodological support for schools and teachers and the creation of educational programmes. Thanks to this partnership, the work of NFŠA and EDU.Lab is more closely aligned with school practice and the real needs of teachers and pupils. The cooperation with the NPI is also important for transferring innovative approaches from practice into the wider education system.
