International educational initiative

Czech Mint, in partnership with Aga Bullion, is proud to continue its educational initiative "Introduction to Coin and Medal Design" with a new four-part international series. The program, developed in collaboration with the Higher Vocational Medalier College in Jablonec nad Nisou—a long-standing educational partner of Czech Mint—has already seen success in the UAE. Thanks to Aga Bullion’s sponsorship, it is now expanding to include two sessions in Türkiye and two in Dubai.

The first of the four newly launched sessions was held at Balıkesir University, hosted by its Faculty of Fine Arts, and marked a meaningful step in the growing collaboration between Czech Mint and Aga Bullion. Representatives from both organizations—Jitka Stubbington, Area Manager of Czech Mint Middle East, and Denis Petrakov, Head of Investment Products at Aga Bullion—travelled to Balıkesir to personally introduce the initiative and strengthen ties with the academic community.

During the visit, the delegation had the honour of meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Rector of Balıkesir University. The meetings highlighted a shared commitment to promoting creative education and offering students access to new and unexplored areas of applied design. The university representatives expressed their appreciation for being selected as the first partner university in Türkiye, and noted the value of exposing their most talented students to a specialized discipline with real-world career potential.

The course itself was delivered as an intensive, one-day experience, offering an exclusive look into the world of coin and medal design—an art form that blends technical precision with historical and symbolic storytelling. As the field is rarely covered in traditional art and design education, this opportunity was particularly meaningful for the students. Participation was limited to 15 top-performing students from the university’s departments of painting, printmaking, and graphic design, all of whom were carefully selected for their academic and artistic excellence.

The session concluded with a creative brief, in which the students were encouraged to apply what they had learned in a conceptual coin or medal design. The level of focus and originality in their work was outstanding, and reflected a deep engagement with the content presented.

“This course is not just about design—it’s about creating new career opportunities in a very niche but rewarding industry. It’s rewarding to see such enthusiasm for a field that blends design, history, and craftsmanship. The energy in the room made it clear that we’re building something truly impactful,” said Jitka Stubbington.

The next course will take place at Dubai Design Academy in October 2025, continuing the mission of bridging design education and cultural heritage across borders.

Czech Mint Middle East

Balıkesir, Türkiye – 10th July 2025