Keeping Pace with Tomáš Baťa

UTB I U18, 3rd floor

The Faculty of Humanities of Tomas Bata University in Zlin, specifically the Institute of School Pedagogy, offers a series of interactive activities for the public as part of the accompanying program of ZFF. These activities are organized within the year-round project titled “Keeping Pace with Tomáš Baťa,” which celebrates the 150th anniversary of his birth this year.
What awaits both young and adult visitors? During your visit, you can explore an exhibition in the foyer of the U18 building titled From School Desks to Life in Baťa’s Zlín. Through historical photographs and documents, visitors will discover everyday and school life during the flourishing era of Baťa’s Zlín. The exhibition will be complemented by additional thematic activities located on the 3rd floor of U18/B.

Program on the 3rd floor:

The Life of Tomáš Baťa
How does a boy from a shoemaking family become a person known all over the world? Come and find out for yourself. In this activity, you will follow the footsteps of Tomáš Baťa and explore his life story full of key milestones—from his early days in the family workshop, through founding his own company, seeking new opportunities, and traveling abroad, to building a modern city and leading people. This won’t be just ordinary reading. You’ll search through texts, find the right words, and arrange events in the order they truly happened. Dates will help you navigate through time and understand how individual moments connect. Each correctly completed detail will show that a great story is built on important decisions, courage, and perseverance.

Baťa’s Newspaper
Imagine holding a newspaper straight from Zlín—telling the story of a boy who wanted to shoe the world. That boy was Tomáš Baťa, who grew up in a family of shoemakers where shoes were handmade for generations. But Tomáš had a dream that went beyond the workshop—he wanted people all over the world to wear his shoes. In the newspaper, you will learn how a small business idea grew into an empire—from the first affordable textile shoes, through modern assembly-line production, to building houses for workers and establishing schools and cinemas. You’ll also discover how he became a visionary who used airplanes for business travel and film studios to promote footwear. Although his life ended tragically, his company and ideas live on. Your task is to become a journalist—select the most interesting information and create your own page of Baťa’s newspaper.

Every Crown Counts!
Imagine you are at the beginning of a business—just like the young Tomáš Baťa once was. You have a shoe offer in hand, a limited budget in front of you, and your goal is to make smart purchases so that you still have money left. Anyone who wants to keep pace with Baťa must think carefully about every crown—considering prices, transport, and payment methods. In this activity, you become entrepreneurs who must read between the lines of tables, calculate correctly, and make thoughtful decisions. As Baťa would say: Every human activity must ultimately be reflected in numbers. Detective Investigation with Baťa Who is lying… and who is telling the truth? That’s what you must figure out! In this activity, you’ll find yourself in the middle of a suspenseful case where nothing is as simple as it seems. Several characters, different testimonies, and missing items—can you make sense of it all? Form a detective team with one goal: uncover the culprit. Track where each character was and who they met. Listen carefully, compare answers, and look for inconsistencies—they may lead you to the truth. You may also find lost items during the investigation. Returning them to their owners earns you extra points. But be careful—not everyone is lying on purpose. Sometimes it’s just a mistake, other times a well-hidden lie. Time is against you—you have only 10 minutes to solve the case! Think carefully about every decision. A false accusation without evidence could cost you success. This challenge will test your attention, logical thinking, and teamwork skills. Can you solve the case without a single mistake?

The Cipher of Tomáš Baťa
What message would Tomáš Baťa leave for you today? Perhaps it’s hidden right in front of you—you just need to decipher it! In this activity, you will decode a mysterious message written in a special code. Using a decoding key, you will gradually reveal individual symbols and assemble them into meaningful text. Each correctly deciphered symbol brings you closer to uncovering a message connected to Baťa’s life, work, or legacy. An adventure full of thinking, discovery, and patience awaits you. You can work alone or join forces with friends, siblings, or parents. Together, you might solve it faster and enjoy the joy of discovery. Each step brings you closer to the goal: uncovering the hidden message and understanding the values behind Baťa’s story. Do you dare to decode Baťa’s message? The mystery is waiting for you!

As part of the rich program, there will also be a creative and interactive room, a photo booth, and more. Keep pace with Baťa—come get inspired and learn something new!