At the UP management meetings on Tuesday, July 15 and 29, and August 12, 2025, topics such as the increase in the number of students with specific needs and work on updating the UP Strategic Plan were discussed. A meeting between the rector and the academic community is also planned. Read the full summary (after logging in to the UP Portal). More detailed information will subsequently be available in the minutes of the management meeting in UPShare, as well as in the minutes of meetings of other bodies, in UP standards and documents, and on other information platforms.

Discounts for the theatre and philharmonic

The Moravian Theatre and the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc, which are long-term partners of UP, offer university employees special monthly discounts, which you can find on the benefits website. For September, there is a 50% discount on almost everything in the theatre programme and a 30% discount on concerts at the Olomouc Organ Festival.

New issue of the UP Strategy and Quality Office newsletter

The new issue of the UP Strategy and Quality Office newsletter (in Czech) provides an overview of the current development and subsidy programmes of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. It also provides information on international evaluations. The theme of this issue (in Czech) is the preparation of Palacký University's Strategic Plan for the period 2026+.

CALLS

Last call: Register and help where it matters

You have until next Friday (5 September) to register for the UP Employee Volunteer Day (in Czech). On Tuesday, 16 September, you will be able to get involved in many volunteer opportunities: from the Olomouc Zoo to the Academic Garden in Slatinka, the Olomouc cemeteries, and Šternberk Castle. Each participant will receive the necessary equipment, and shared transport outside Olomouc will also be provided.

To encourage participation in volunteer activities as part of UP Employee Volunteer Day, the rector has granted a day off (in Czech). For more information and to register, visit the website. (in Czech)

UniON Civic University is looking for lecturers

After the summer break, the UP Civic University, or UniON (in Czech), project continues in September. Volunteers from among UP teachers and students give free lectures to audiences throughout the region. Interest in the lectures is growing every year, whether among students at grammar schools and secondary vocational schools or clients of retirement homes. The project coordinators from the UP Marketing and University Events Department are therefore constantly looking for new lecturers across the university.

Would you like to give a lecture on a topic you are interested in? Please send your lecture proposals to union@upol.cz. For more information, see the article in Žurnál (in Czech) or visit the Open University website (in Czech).

Nominate active students who are changing their communities for the Jan Opletal Awards

The purpose of the Jan Opletal Awards (in Czech) is to recognise and support students who are involved in social events, active in building civil society, and engaged in volunteering or other public benefit activities. The highest domestic student award, which has been won by UP representatives in previous years, will be presented in November, but anyone can nominate students using the form on the website until 24 October 2025. More information can be found in the UP Journal (in Czech) article and on the award website. (in Czech)

Bring your unwanted books, clothes or household items to the university swap

Before the start of the semester, tidy up your home and bring us any clothing, books, study materials, dishes, and household items that you no longer use but are still functional and undamaged. You can find out when and where to bring them on the Sustainable University website. The marketplace/swap itself will take place on 23 September as part of European Sustainable Development Week and the MEET UP (in Czech) festival – you can come and choose what you need, or bring something for others.

Olomouc offers 10,000 CZK for registering for permanent residence

Do you live in Olomouc but do not have permanent residence here? The city is now launching a campaign to encourage people to apply for it. Anyone who registers for permanent residence in Olomouc between the end of August and December 2025 will receive a financial contribution of 10,000 CZK from the city. Find out more on the city's website. (in Czech)

SURVEYS

Take part in a survey on transport to the university by the end of September

Do you ride your own or a shared bike to UP, take public transport, or get in your car and drop your children off at school on the way? Do you live far away, or just a few streets away, so you walk? A questionnaire survey is seeking answers to these questions among students and employees at UP and ten other universities in the Czech Republic until the end of September. Fill out the questionnaire and get involved! (in Czech) You can read the details in the article on the Sustainable University website. (in Czech)

INVITATIONS

Fair UP: giving, health, wellbeing, international culture and inclusion

Caring for the physical and mental health of our students and staff, as well as their personal and professional development, is not something UP takes lightly. That is why we have prepared Fair UP – a week packed with lectures, workshops, consultations, performances and other activities. Come and recharge your batteries, meet others and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the university community, which is exceptional not only for its size, but also for its diversity and open approach. Choose from a rich programme and mark the dates 6–10 October in your calendar now.

AFOkino on the eve of Researchers' Night

The AFO Festival will kick off this winter semester in grand style! A screening of the film about artificial intelligence Snad to přijde vhod (Hopefully It Will Come in Handy) and a short documentary on the 60th anniversary of AFO will be complemented by a Prompt podcast debate, drinks and tacos from Pikola, and an open-air Orinoko live set. All this awaits you on the eve of Researchers' Night on 25 September at the Malá kulturní scéna Sedmička (Sokolská 7). Admission is free, this time without reservation. Details can be found on the AFO website. (in Czech)

NEW STANDARDS

• Criteria, requirements and formalities for habilitation proceedings and proceedings for appointment as a professor at UP – Amendment No. 2 
  

  This internal UP standard, effective from 27 August 2025, (in Czech) is intended for UP employees working in organisational units that perform activities in the field of science and research, candidates in habilitation and professorship appointment procedures, members of habilitation committees and professorship appointment committees, and members of the UP Scientific Council and the scientific councils of UP faculties. The amendment updates the recommended criteria for assessing the qualifications of candidates in habilitation and professorship appointment procedures and further updates and supplements internal standards, particularly in the area of ethics, good research practice and creative activity in the procedures in question.

  
  All UP standards, including the ineffective ones, divided by UP units, with the possibility of filtering and searching in them can be found by students and employees of UP after logging in to files.upol.cz.

COMPETITION

Compete for a UP academic diary

The new academic year is approaching, and we have a competition for you to win one of 10 Palacký University academic diaries – so 10 of you can win! How does it work? Just send us your answer to this question by Wednesday, 3 September, to soutez@upol.cz: What is your favourite restaurant in Olomouc and why do you like it? Don't forget to include "Academic Diary" in the subject line. Good luck!

Update to the UPoint internal ordering system

As of 1 July 2025, it is mandatory to place internal pre-orders when purchasing UP components. After submitting an order in the internal e-shop, it is necessary to create a pre-order (POBJ) in SAP – the systems are not connected. We have summarised everything for you on our website (in Czech), so please take a look before placing your next order.