Over the course of its existence, it has seen four rectors, four vice-rectors, and seven managers. More than 75,000 visitors have passed through its gates, over 2,500 student assistants have participated in its organization, more than 2,200 exhibitors have presented themselves, and over 2,000 exhibition booths have been set up. And one interesting fact to conclude – ten children have been born to the people who have sat in the fair manager’s chair over the years.
The history of kariéra+ began to be written at a time when Rector Prof. Tomáš Čermák led VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. The Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development at the time, Prof. Jaromír Gottvald, along with other universities in the region and partners, established the Kariéra PLUS project. Its goal was to connect the worlds of education and employers, and to create a space for discussion on the labor market, employment, and the employability of graduates, primarily in the Moravian-Silesian Region. A major impetus for the creation of the project was the opening of the representative spaces of the VSB-TUO University Aula. The original concept included a two-day international conference and a one-day job fair designed for university students and graduates. It was here that bridges between students, graduates, and employers began to be built. At the same time, the event created the conditions for the establishment of the VSB-TUO Career Center, today‘s Counseling and Career Center, which systematically addresses the topics of students‘ career development throughout the year.
Over time, kariéra+ transformed into the format we know today – a modern, one-day job fair featuring employer presentations, technical exhibits, and a professional program focused on entering the labor market, career development, consultations, and corporate social responsibility.
The kariéra+ fair also successfully navigated the complicated situation during the pandemic, and in 2021, it introduced its first-ever virtual fair, offer ing students and employers a meeting place in an online environment. Today, the kariéra+ fair is the largest event of its kind in the Moravian-Silesian Region and ranks among the most prominent and highly rated career fairs in the Czech Republic
KARIÉRA+ 2026 CONFIRMED ITS ROLE AS THE LARGEST CAREER FAIR IN THE REGION
The nineteenth year of the fair took place on March 10, 2026, in the VSB-TUO University Aula. It was attended by 112 exhibitors offering jobs, trainee programs, internships, and collaboration on final theses. The fair attracted 3,975 students and graduates, most frequently from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Faculty of Economics. The growing interest on both sides thus reconfirmed the significance of the event for both the university and the region. „Each year, kariéra+ is a place where students can encounter the reality of the job market while still pursuing their studies. We believe that per sonal meetings with companies help young people better clarify their direction and gain greater confidence when entering professional practice,“ stated Marek Pagáč, Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations at VSB-TUO. A
new feature of this edition was the „Good Zone“ (Dobrá zóna), which showcased projects of the Křídlení Endowment Fund, supported by the organizers of the kariéra+ fair. The zone also included student organizations and projects from the k+ studentopolis program, which helps develop students‘ entrepreneurship and supports them in implementing their own projects both within and outside the university. As is traditional, the fair was complemented by a strong accompanying program – ranging from individual employer presentations and the outdoor TECHPARK exposition to practical consultations on CVs, LinkedIn profiles, or simulated interviews. International students could also take advantage of a specialized advisory zone focused on their employment opportunities in the Czech Republic.
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAIR IS APPROACHING
Over nearly two decades, kariéra+ has become an integral part of university life and a key event for connecting students with employers. Each year, it brings new opportunities, contacts, experience, and inspiration to students, while strengthening the university‘s cooperation with businesses and the public sector. In 2027, we will together celebrate the 20th anniversary of the kariéra+ fair, which will take place on March 9, 2027, in the VSB-TUO University Aula. It will offer not only the traditional meetings with employers but also a special program com memorating two decades of this successful and meaningful project.
Text: Alice Šustková, Petr Staffin
Photo: Advisory and Career Center Archive