(This content has been translated automatically.)

 

Dear students,

 

On Monday, we commemorated the The Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy and International Students' Day. We met together at several events (in Czech) organized by UP on this occasion – among them was a discussion with students from 1989, a film screening, a commemorative ceremony, a concert, an exhibition, and a pub quiz.

 

As UP Rector Michael Kohajda reminds us, freedom and democracy are not self-evident and it is important to keep this fact in mind. You can read the full festive text on Žurnál Online.​ (in Czech)

WHAT’S GOING ON AT UP

Official Documents from the University or Faculty Can Be Found Only Electronically in STAG

Dean's decision on awarding a scholarship, a call to supplement an appeal, or the Rector's decision on a student's appeal against an established fee. For these and other university and faculty documents, the delivery method has changed since November. They will not be sent to you by post, but are now only available electronically in STAG. Read the details and set up notifications using the new procedure, which works for all students from Bc. to PhD.

News for UP Students and Employees in a New Section of Žurnál Online

Operational information, opening of nominations for university awards, internal calls, or invitations to courses and training. In addition to the UP Portalstudent website, or UP Newsletter, you can now find essential information from the university's internal environment under a new item in the main menu of Žurnál Online called Internal News. You can read about the new section in the article.

Visit the Student Club: UP Community and Counseling Center

When you enter the courtyard of the Zbrojnice, behind one of the doors you will find the UP Student Club (in Czech) in its new form ! In addition to space for organizations, it is now also a place where you can come for answers, information, and inspiration from the university services offered – every day during its regular opening hours. It offers a service from students for students, a clear overview of ways to enrich your study years, develop your career, and make new contacts. What does the student club offer and when is it open?​ (in Czech)

Check Out UP's PR Annual Report for 2024

What was the year 2024 like at Palacký University? This is answered by the newly published UP PR Annual Report for 2024, which provides a comprehensive overview of events across eight faculties and other university departments. It is full of pictures and infographics and you can view it in Czech and English.

LECTURES AND EDUCATION

We Are Increasing the Capacity of Zuzana Čaputová's Lecture Due to Great Interest

Due to the great interest in this year's Fischer Lecture, which will be delivered by Zuzana Čaputová, UP has decided to move the lecture from the Faculty of Law UP auditorium to the Flora Olomouc Exhibition Grounds, thereby increasing the event's capacity by an additional 200 seats. The registration form will be reopened on Thursday, November 20 at 12:00 and will be accessible until the increased capacity is exhausted. All previous registrations remain valid. The lecture will take place on November 27 from 5 p.m. in Pavilion A at the Flora Olomouc Exhibition Grounds. It will also be streamed, but only after logging into the UP Portal.

New Series of Videos on Responsible Approach to Ourselves, Society, and the Planet 

Living sustainably means thinking about the future – about the world we will leave to future generations. At UP, we are now presenting sustainability principles in a series of five short animated videos. Each of them shows that even small steps can have a big impact – and that the university is a place where change begins. Watch 5 × 90 seconds focused on education, water and energy, well-being, waste, and transportation!

Latin America in the Labyrinth of Donald Trump: Tariffs, Interventions, Friends/Enemies 

Radek Buben, director of the Ibero-American Studies Centre at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, will present what approach new American President Donald Trump is taking toward Latin America at a time when conservative and nativist political currents are growing stronger in many countries there. You will learn how the region is responding to new tariff barriers, changes in trade ties, or renewed tightening of anti-immigration policy, and also why tensions around Venezuela are increasing. The lecture will take place on December 2, 2025 (in Czech) from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Department of History, Faculty of Arts UP, Na Hradě 5, room 3.04.

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

The Rector of UP Will Award a Prize for Popularization of Science for the First Time

This year, for the first time, the Rector of UP will award a prize for the popularization of science. Does your colleague, student, or fellow student live by popularizing science ? Do they appear regularly in the media, where they tirelessly explain their scientific topic? Nominate him or her for the new Rector's Award for Science Popularization and Public Communication (in Czech) for 2025. Read more in the UP Žurnál article.​ (in Czech)

Werner von Siemens Award

There are only two weeks left until the deadline for applications on November 30, 2025 for the 28th edition of the Werner von Siemens Award for students, scientists, and teachers of technical and natural science fields (including medicine, IT, etc.). You can register at www.cenasiemens.cz (in Czech) no later than November 30, 2025.

INVITATIONS

Well-Being for University Staff and PhD Students

This online course is intended for both academic and non-academic university staff who wish to strengthen mental health and well-being within the higher education environment. Through interactive workshops, participants will examine the current state of well-being in academic institutions, learn how to assess psychological wellness, and practice practical techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation strategies, and effective micro-pauses. The course will also guide attendees in developing strategic steps to help embed a culture of well-being within their teams and departments. It will take place on December 9, 2025 from 10:00 to 12:15 as part of the lifelong learning programme for early career researchers and PhD students. Register here.

Charity Sale of Poinsettias (Christmas stars) at UP

The UP Volunteer Center invites you to the fourth annual sale of poinsettias for the non-profit organization Šance Olomouc, which will take place at UP from December 1 to 4, 2025. See the sales schedule. (in Czech) The proceeds are donated to the care of hematologically, oncologically, and chronically ill children. In previous years, we managed to raise over 117,000 CZK together, will we raise more this year?

University Science Will Be Presented at the Maker Faire Innovation and Technology Showcase

A space for all enthusiasts of innovation, science and technology, DIYers and makers – that's the Maker Faire (in Czech) festival, which will take place on Saturday, November 29 at the Flora Olomouc Exhibition Grounds. And Palacký University will be there (in Czech). Do you like new tech gadgets ? Do you assemble your own "thingamajigs" at home or are you a science enthusiast ? Visitors will find demonstrations of robotics, 3D printing, programming, and laser technologies in the UP exhibition.

Astronaut Chris Hadfield – Journey to Cosmos

An exceptional guest of world-class caliber is coming to the Czech Republic – Canadian astronaut, author, and musician Chris Hadfield, who will present his multimedia performance Journey to Space. He will be joined by Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda and cadets from the Czech Way to Space program. Thanks to cooperation with AFO, tickets with a 50% discount are prepared for UP through these non-public links: December 1, 2025 – Congress Centre PragueDecember 2, 2025 – Bobycentrum Brno.

NEW STANDARDS

  • Standards for Supervisors of Doctoral Study Program Students at UP
    This internal UP regulation, effective from November 19, 2025, (in Czech) is intended for academic staff, especially supervisors of doctoral study program students. The subject is the establishment of standards for supervisors of doctoral study program students, their rights, duties, and evaluation of their fulfillment.

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.

COMPETITIONS

Compete for Tickets to the Hope Astronaut Concert

The successful Olomouc band Hope Astronaut, which you may know from university events, will christen their new EP at Bluesbar Garch on Friday, November 28. And we have free tickets for two people for you. All you need to do is send us an e-mail to soutez@upol.cz by Wednesday, November 26 with the answer to the competition question: What is the name of the new EP that Hope Astronaut is releasing and christening on November 28?, and the tickets can be yours.

To the Cinema with Premiere Cinemas and Maker Faire

You can hide from the damp weather at Premiere Cinemas – today you can win a free ticket for one person + refreshments. And how to do it? Write to us how many makers will be part of the 2025 edition of the Maker Faire festival in Olomouc. Send your answer, which you can easily find in the catalog of makers, to soutez@upol.cz by Wednesday, November 26.

Learn the Story of Aljo Beran, Creator of the University Coat of Arms 

With his brush and personality, he made an indelible mark on the history of Olomouc. In 1946, he designed the iconic and timeless UP coat of arms and played a significant role in its restoration after World War II. We're talking about Aljo Beran, whose life story is brought to you in a new publication (in Czech) prepared by UP Press in the Memory of UP edition. Today you can win one of them – just correctly answer the question of what person in a helmet is in the original design of Beran's coat of arms. Send your answers by Wednesday, November 26 to vydavatelstvi@upol.cz (!!).