Christmas opening hours

• Canteens and FreshUPs: Changes from Friday 19 December. Completely closed from 20 December to 4 January. For some outlets, changes will apply until 8 February. More here.​

• UP Student Club: From 15 December to 7 February exam-period opening regime (in Czech): Mon 10:00–14:00, Tue 10:00–14:00, Wed 10:00–14:00. Closed from 18 December to 2 January.​

• UP Library: From 17 December, opening hours at Zbrojnice and the branches will be adjusted, from 20 December to 4 January it will be closed. You can also take advantage of the opportunity to borrow reference-only books to take home on 19 December! More here.​

• UPoint: Exceptionally open also on Saturday 20 December (10:00–14:00). From 21 December to 11 January UPoint will be closed.​

• UP Press Book shop and print shop will be closed from 20 December to 4 January. The e-shop will operate without restrictions. You can find details on the website. (in Czech)​

Read the new issue of the UP Project Service bulletin

The UP Project Service publishes an electronic monthly bulletin with information on news and calls for project submissions. Read it to find suitable funding for your project or to join research and educational programmes. You can find the current issue on the UP Project Service website.​ (in Czech)

News from the Strategy and Quality Office can be found on the website

The UP Strategy and Quality Office has changed how it informs employees about its activities, and the newsletter has been replaced by a new Aktuality (News) (in Czech) section on the office’s website. There you can currently find, for example, information on the published results of several rankings or on the updated file with the development of data series for quality indicators.​

UP Chronicles: A bridge between Tihar and Christmas

How can a vibrant five-day Nepali festival feel surprisingly close to Christmas in Czechia? In the latest UP Chronicles, Moktan Pratap introduces readers to Tihar (Deepawali/Yamapanchak) and highlights the shared “cultural soul” of both celebrations: light, music, sweet treats, generosity and family bonds. Dive in for a warm cultural bridge between the Himalayas and Olomouc.​

CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA

NEkonference – informal meeting of science communicators

Are you interested in science communication? Would you like the world to know what you are working on? On Thursday 15 January from 17:00, Olomouc will host for the third time the UNconference – informal meeting of science communicators (in Czech), a space for sharing experience and networking across disciplines. The meeting is organised by UP science communicator Vendula Lužná in cooperation with the SciComHub association. At the event you can also contribute with a short presentation in which you introduce your communication or research project, a topic that has caught your interest, or questions for which you are currently seeking answers. And to make the meeting truly informal, it will take place in the pub Olomoucká citadela. Registration for the event is required here.​

Sign up for the Aurora Symposium on Global Citizenship in Amsterdam

Are you ready to give your research an international dimension? The Aurora Symposium on Global Citizenship will take place on 27–29 May 2026 in Amsterdam and will bring together researchers, teachers and practitioners who focus on peace, inclusion, social responsibility and civic engagement. Become one of them by sending an abstract of your contribution by 30 January 2026; your contribution may take the form of a lecture, poster or interactive workshop. More on the Aurora at UP website.​

PhD Existence: A conference (not only) about doctoral students and for doctoral students

Every generation speaks its own language, looks up to different role models and takes for granted what was once a revolutionary novelty for another. Come and build bridges between generations and get inspired at the 16th year of the Czech-Slovak psychological conference (not only) about doctoral students and for doctoral students PhD Existence, which will take place on 26–27 January 2026 at the UP Arts Centre (Konvikt). The theme Clash of Generations will open a space for dialogue between experience and new perspectives, offering expert contributions, workshops, a poster section and a social evening. You can take part either actively or as a member of the audience. More information and registration at www.phdexistence.cz.​

INVITATIONS

Give university ball tickets as a Christmas present

The best gift is a shared experience. Tickets for the UP Representative Ball (in Czech) are already on sale, so you can treat your loved ones to a trip back to the 1920s and 1930s in the rhythm of swing. The ball will take place on Friday 20 February 2026 from 19:00 at the NH Collection Congress Olomouc hotel. Further information is available at ples.upol.cz (in Czech), tickets are sold via SMS Ticket. Discounted admission is available for students again this year.​

Take the Peace Light of Bethlehem at UP away from UP

A flame taken from the eternal light burning in the grotto beneath the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is a symbol of peace, love, hope and friendship. You can freely take the Bethlehem Light from the lantern placed in the passage of Zbrojnice on the book drop box opposite the porter’s lodge and the entrance to the Coffee Library. The flame burns continuously and is accessible at least during the hours listed here.​

The Three Kings are coming to UP

The Three Kings (Magi / Wise Men) on horseback will, during their journey through Olomouc on Tuesday 6 January, make a short stop at UP (in Czech). Come and meet them at about 10:05 in the courtyard of the Rector’s Office (Křížkovského 8). You can sing carols with them and listen to the message they bring. There will also be an opportunity to contribute to the Three Kings charity collection boxes.​

NEW STANDARDS

• Carrying out the annual financial statements for 2025 at UP
  This internal UP regulation, effective from 16 December 2025, (in Czech) is intended for UP employees. It sets out the method for conducting the physical inventory of stock and the inventory of assets and liabilities, the method of documentation-based inventory, the method of posting accruals and deferrals of costs and revenues, and other obligations related to the preparation of the 2025 financial statements.
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• Flexible education at UP
  This internal UP regulation, effective from 19 December 2025, (in Czech) is intended for teachers and learners (i.e. students and participants of lifelong learning) at UP. It lays down procedures and rules for the implementation of flexible education within degree programmes and lifelong learning programmes at UP.
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• Procedures and methods of quality assurance at UP – Amendment No. 6
  This amendment to the internal UP regulation, effective from 23 December 2025, (in Czech) is intended in particular for academic staff, students and other UP employees. It adjusts the calculation and standard of selected quality indicators based on the evaluation of data that these indicators achieve in the long term, and it clarifies the definitions of the indicators.​

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

Win free tickets for Colours of Ostrava!

A Christmas newsletter deserves a proper gift in the form of a competition. In 2026, UP will again be a partner of the Colours of Ostrava festival, which currently offers four-day tickets for students up to 21 years of age at a special price. However, for two winners there will be a ticket completely free of charge. Just send an answer to the competition question by 24 December to soutez@upol.cz, be lucky in the draw and you may find a four-day ticket for one person as if under the Christmas tree. Question: What is the name of the New Zealand singer who became famous in 2013 with the hit Royals and who will perform at Colours of Ostrava in 2026?​