This paid internship in Prague prepares students for tech careers

What happens when high school students swap the classroom for the technology center of a leading international bank? They gain real skills and a head start on what comes next.

Successful programs know this means giving young people responsibilities beyond copying emails or sitting in boring meetings. Through #Students4Students, a paid internship program at Commerzbank Digital Technology Center Prague (DTC Prague), participants explore professional roles, develop practical skills and discover what genuinely interests them. It’s open to English-speaking students from partner high schools across the Czech Republic and also fulfils participants’ mandatory work-placement requirements.

Commerzbank, a German bank operating in Prague since 1992, gave us an inside look at how the program works and why the Czech Republic’s capital is well suited to launching international careers. We spoke with students and coordinators about what happens beyond the classroom and how firsthand experience can bring future plans into focus.

Students4Students pairs English-speaking high school students with university students who already work at Commerzbank DTC Prague, to get real-world experience building projects and careers alike.

The internship takes place in two separate stages. During the first two-week stage in May, students work in pairs to design their own products and present their solutions in English to Commerzbank employees and managers. The projects are assessed as part of a competitive showcase, with prizes awarded to the strongest entries.

The second stage is a three-week summer internship. Students join selected Commerzbank DTC Prague teams and support ongoing work through activities such as research, testing, documentation, and concept development. At the end, they present what they learned and how they contributed to our colleagues in the DTC Arena (the central event and meeting space).

Ondrej Podolsky, Software Engineer and program coordinator, explained the benefits of this program:

“[Participants] ask questions, get involved in the team’s work, and reflect on what they learn. On our side, we invest our time and skills so that, based on this real experience in Prague DTC, they can make better decisions about their future careers. By gaining this kind of experience already in high school, they’ll be better prepared to choose their path.”

Podolský said the two-stage format allows students to develop their own ideas before experiencing the everyday rhythms of an established professional team.

Commerzbank DTC Prague already has a community of university students working across the center. Within this Students Pool, students are sharing their knowledge with younger participants while gaining experience in mentoring, leadership, and coordination.

“University students have the opportunity to mentor others, take ownership, and develop valuable leadership skills, while high school students gain firsthand insight into working in an international company and experiencing the IT environment,” adds Eliska Pituchova, another coordinator of the program. “It offers a level of practical exposure that goes far beyond what a school presentation or career fair can provide.”

Pituchová said this existing student network also gives high school participants an early introduction to the opportunities that they can face in the future.

“They can learn how our teams operate, understand what opportunities are available within the company, and gain a realistic picture of student life at Commerzbank,” she explains. “If they later continue their studies at university, they already know our environment and can see a natural path to joining the Student Pool themselves.”

As exciting as the future can often be for students, it can also be frightening: the adult world is full of expectations and experiences that it’s easy to feel unprepared for. #Students4Students offers an opportunity to grow and network, but also to sample the real challenges participants have to face in the world.

Martin joined the program after learning about it through his school. In addition to developing technical knowledge, he said the experience gave him a clearer idea of what he might want to pursue.

For Jakub, a student at Smíchov Secondary Technical School, the placement introduced him to new technologies and gave him his first close look at how a bank and its technology teams operate.

Other participants, like Jaroslav, who specializes in IT at the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering and Grammar School at Úžlabina, said the program helped them to make the prospect of entering the workplace feel less unfamiliar.

The internship also gave Jaroslav a possible route back to the company after high school. He received a letter of recommendation and will use the experience on his resume as well.

Since this program is for English speakers, it gave many students a taste of how international business is conducted in Central Europe, and what it might be like to travel abroad after graduation.

Vít entered the program through his school and brought an existing interest especially in 3D modeling and cybersecurity. He expected the bank to have a highly formal atmosphere, but found the working environment more welcoming and relaxed than he had anticipated.

“Everyone was nice and helpful, and with a relaxed atmosphere in the office,” he shares. “I felt like I could really focus on my work, not having to worry about anything else. I learned the pros and cons of a corporate job, which will be a huge help in future decisions on where I want to take my career.”

But no matter if a student is planning to stay in the Czech Republic or see the wider world, their experience in programs like #Students4Students will help them make the most informed decision possible, and step into their new role prepared for what’s to come.

Prague is a special city in the heart of Europe. From here, the arteries of commerce, technology, and trade allow students to go far, both abroad and at home. With a rapidly growing tech sector and an explosive startup scene, the students in Prague are positioned to be thought leaders and industry pioneers in the economy of tomorrow. And according to Ondrej Podolský, they have the talent and will to make that happen.

“A strength of Prague is the large number of technical high schools with very smart and talented students,” he explains. “They are willing to ‘sacrifice’ part of their summer for some money, but mainly for real experience. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for that.”

After helping organize the program and serving as product owner for one of its projects, Podolský said he was impressed by the students’ engagement and the standard of their final work.

Vít is considering studying or working abroad, based on his latest experience. “I am planning on going abroad,” he explains, “but I haven't decided whether I want to go now for university or later. I find living in a different country very exciting.”