Palacký University Olomouc seeks to be a fair university for which the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all are fundamental, regardless of race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, faith or worldview, social origin, or property status. Palacký University Olomouc is committed to zero tolerance of unwanted behaviour, understood as any form of harassment, discrimination, aggression, or bullying. In 2022, by the Rector’s signature, the University joined the call to end gender-based violence at universities, the text of which can be found here.
Our aim is to create an environment in which employees and students can reconcile their professional or study obligations with their personal lives. We believe that a balance between these areas contributes to overall satisfaction, motivation, and the long-term sustainability of career and academic development.
We have therefore adopted the Declaration of Support for the Reconciliation of Personal and Working Life, which expresses our commitment to supporting flexible working conditions, respecting individual needs, and building an inclusive environment. Our measures include, for example, flexible working arrangements, support for parents and carers, and the development of benefit programmes. The Office of the Government of the Czech Republic cites Palacký University Olomouc as an example of good practice in the area of reconciling personal and working life. More information is available here.
Under the Fair University label, educational seminars and workshops are organised. On the Fair University website, you can find information on equal opportunities, inclusion, diversity, social safety, and the family-friendly environment created by UP. In order to determine the current situation at Palacký University Olomouc, we regularly conduct questionnaire surveys in cooperation with external partners, on the basis of which new measures are then developed.
We have published a brief graphic guide to help people identify whom to contact in the event of inappropriate behaviour. It offers clear and accessible guidance on where to turn in such a situation for support and resolution. We believe it will be a useful tool for anyone encountering this issue. You can view the diagram here. Recommendations for dealing with specific instances of inappropriate behaviour and for communicating sensitive topics can be found in the What to Do If section.
An equal and fair environment is also reflected in communication. For the University to be truly fair, it must speak in language that is free from prejudice, non-harmful, and inclusive. All those seeking to use gender-sensitive language will find support in handbook Gender Sensitive Communication in an institution, published by the National Contact Centre for Gender and Science at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences.