Studio
Tuition at UMPRUM Prague is studio-based. Work in the studio is the basis of studies for both local and international students. In other words, it is the main subject/main course. Group and individual consultations and assessments are held usually twice a week - on Mondays and Thursdays (different timing may however occur). International students are integrated among local ones, the instruction is held in Czech and English, parallelly or separately. It is possible to use studios everday as well as workshops after previous agreement with the teacher/technical staff. Once you are accepted to the particular studio, you belong to it and should take part in its classes. Generally, it is not possible to work in more studios.
The fundamental pedagogical principle in all of the studios is student-centred practical project-based work, which takes place in blocks of one semester. Student work very closely with the Studio Head and Assistant and complete one major practical project per semester. The relationship between teacher and student in the studios is central to this process and studios have a low staff student ratio, which facilitates this kind of coaching-influenced pedagogical approach.
Studio Programme
There is usually a specific theme(s) assigned for each semester which students work on. There is no universal structured plan or schedule for studio semestral work. The Studio Head arranges a flexible and highly individualised programme of the semester (no courses within the studio work; although Czech students attend related courses in Czech language in addition to studio work). External tutors are being invited to run specialised workshops.
The briefs for studio projects are generally developed by the Studio Head and Assistants and their selection is varied. In certain circumstances the Studio Head brings a commercial brief from a company or occasionally a visiting curator or theoretician will generate a brief.
The educational philosophy is based on the primacy of the individual Professor led studio supported by an intensive grounding in traditional craft and modern techniques supported by an art historical contextual studies programme.
Final semestral project ("klauzura project")
One month before the end of the semester a theme for the final semestral project (so called klausura) is announced. Students work intensively on their projects during the 3 week-long klauzura period. Students´ works are then exhibited in the studios.
The final project is defended by students in front of a jury of up to 10 people including studio staff, theoretical staff and invited outside expert. The jury mark/assess each student individually according to their own specialist interests and then come together to agree a mark. The marking scale is excellent, very good, good, insufficient.