News

Alumni Give Back Campaign Supports First-Year Excellence Fellows

23 June, 2026

We are pleased to share that, thanks to the proceeds from the 2025 Alumni Give Back Campaign, which ran from December 2025 through March 2026, CERGE-EI will once again award up to three first-year Excellence Fellowships. These fellowships give talented incoming students the opportunity to fully focus on their studies from the very beginning.

Now in its seventh year, the campaign reflects the lasting generosity and commitment of the CERGE-EI alumni community. Since its launch in 2019, it has helped award 14 Alumni Excellence Fellowships to talented students at the very beginning of their academic journeys. This lasting support is a strong testament to the alumni community’s commitment to giving back. Alumni support is vital not only through financial contributions, but also through the many ways graduates stay connected with current students, including mentoring, career advice, and professional guidance. 

The CERGE-EI Alumni Program aims to foster a supportive environment in which alumni and students help one another succeed. “Maxim Smirnov, one of the first students supported through the Alumni Give Back Campaign, is now on the international academic job market, underscoring the campaign’s long-term impact on students’ academic and professional journeys,” says CERGE-EI Director Marek Kapička. “We sincerely appreciate everyone who took part and look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come.”

Today, the CERGE-EI alumni community includes more than 650 graduates in over 40 countries. They pursue careers in academia, research, central banks, international organizations, and the private sector. As CERGE-EI marks its 35th anniversary, this continued engagement is a fitting reflection of the community that has grown around the institution — and of its commitment to supporting the next generation of students.