International Cooperation with the Institut du Thermalisme at the University of Bordeaux

In April of this year we welcomed colleagues from the Institut du Thermalisme, which operates under the University of Bordeaux, here at our institute. This meeting built on a long-standing professional dialogue and mutual interest in cooperation in the field of spa medicine and balneology. This visit has now been followed by a personal visit of our team to the French institution, which allowed us to gain a detailed insight into their research and educational facilities.

The main goal of these mutual meetings is the development of systematic cooperation in the training of professionals in spa medicine, healthcare and related professions. During the presentation of our institute's activities, and in particular the Centre for Spa Research project, the French partners and students expressed strong interest in becoming practically involved in our activities.

Based on these discussions, several students of the Institut du Thermalisme have applied for professional internships, not only directly at the Institute of Spa and Balneology, but also at spa facilities in the Karlovy Vary Region. These internships will focus on various professional fields – from healthcare and rehabilitation disciplines, through the management of spa operations, to technical and balneotechnical specializations.

We greatly appreciate this positive response, which confirms the professional relevance of our work and also represents an important step toward long-term and sustainable international cooperation. We see the cooperation with the University of Bordeaux not only as a benefit for education, but also as a foundation for future joint research projects and the sharing of know-how in the field of modern spa care and balneology.