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The Great Works Academy helps everyone become the best version of themselves

The Great Works Academy is a unique extracurricular program where participants engage in discussions with the greatest thinkers who have shaped our civilization. We follow the principles of classical and character education used at the best universities in the world.

 

By discussing great works, we get to know ourselves and the world. We watch great films, read the best books, listen to quality music, and reflect on famous paintings. We seek answers to big questions in great stories.

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"I stopped having so many prejudices, learned to listen better, argue, and see things through. I realized that not everything is as it seems at first glance."

graduate of the Great Works Academy

cultivate

character

In stories and works, participants discover values, reflect on them and build their attitudes.

think

critically

Participants respond to the ideas of the authors and other participants
and formulate their own arguments.

improve

concentration

Although the works are short, independent preparation for seminars requires concentrated work.

enhance reading comprehension

Participants are guided to understand the text, film or picture without interpretation.

This program helps

"It was a very unique experience for me. What you said was very enriching; I have never participated in anything like this before. Hats off to you for leading such an analysis of the work. What I had the opportunity to hear here was very profound, beautiful, and wise, coming from your experiences, making it a truly unique experience for me. Thank you."

Zuzana Čaputová,
former president of Slovakia after participating in one of our seminars

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How does it work?

1. A teacher (lecturer) who is interested in opening and leading the Great Works Academy club signs up for one of the offered trainings. During the training, they get to know the Great Works Academy and learn how to work with the methodology.

 

2. After the training, the teacher (lecturer) decides whether to organize the Great Works Academy club. If so, they will enter into cooperation with the Academy and, with its support, recruit 7-15 participants for their club.

3. After successful recruitment, the teacher (lecturer) organizes their own Great Works Academy club at their primary or secondary school with the support of the Academy.

The program has two parts:

  • an interactive online library with works and preparation

  • discussion seminars in a small group

 

Participants prepare for the seminars using materials from the online library. Each seminar includes 7-15 participants who discuss specific works and the important topics they raise. The teacher (lecturer) facilitates the discussion using the Academy's methodology. At the end of the program, participants are awarded a certificate.

1.

Read, watch, or listen to a work in the online library

2.

Independent reflection on the work and the questions it raises

3.

Discussion with other students at the seminar

Why the Academy was established?

At a time of informational, political, and environmental challenges, learned information alone is not enough for a young person to navigate life - they need to develop skills that will assist them in making life decisions, in relationships, and in their approach to work and their future.

 

Great works, such as Chekhov's short stories, Rembrandt's paintings, and Hitchcock's films, contain narratives that reflect the human experience and explore essential life themes that are universal to every person.

 

We use these works to reflect on our own experiences and inner attitudes. Engaging in discussions with others helps us articulate and refine these reflections. In this way, we shape our minds and character.

VISION

Characterful young people longing for wisdom and beauty.

MISSION

By searching for answers to important life questions and studying the great works of Western civilization, we enable high school students to better understand themselves and the world, thereby becoming the heroes of their own stories.

Who we are

The Great Works Academy builds upon the educational format of the programs offered by the Collegium of Anton Neuwirth, which was established in 2009 in Ivanka near the Danube as a residential training program for university students. The Collegium currently provides various educational programs for children, youth, and adults, accessible throughout Slovakia.

Since 2005, the Collegium has also organized a Summer University for high school students, and over the years, it has expanded to include a range of different educational activities for diverse groups of young people.

The Great Works Academy is, to date, the largest program of the Collegium and extends beyond its original framework. Its goal is to broaden the positive educational experiences of students from the Collegium programs to as many young people as possible across Slovakia and to enrich the educational system with elements of classical and character education.

 

Our team

Our combined experience from various professions and studies at Slovak and foreign universities inspires us to respectfully pass on to young people the best of what we have received. In accordance with the mission and vision of the Academy, we constantly educate ourselves and strive for inner integrity not only in our work but also in our personal lives.

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