Elect your faculty representatives to the University Senate

Where will Palacký University head in the coming years? Will it remain among the top-quality universities in the Czech Republic? Will it be economically stable? How fast will it develop, digitize, and internationalize? Will its graduates find jobs? All this and much more is co‑decided by the Academic Senate of Palacký University, which will meet in a new composition from May onwards.

Seventy candidates are running for the position of senator in the currently ongoing elections to the Academic Senate of UP. Until 18 March, you can vote online to decide who will represent you and your faculty – you can choose two academic staff members and one student. You can find more information in the article and on the website upol.cz/volby.

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to invite an inspiring personality to UP

Since 1994, the lecture in honour of Prof. PhDr. Josef Ludvík Fischer has usually been held in November; he was the first rector of Palacký University after its restoration in 1946. For the lecture, a university committee appointed for this purpose selects a prominent Czech or foreign personality from various fields of science. The lectures are usually thematically focused on significant research problems of the given scientific field in a social context, and the speaker is usually selected from among notable figures in the scientific or academic sphere.

Any UP student or employee may submit a proposal for a candidate, which must include a brief justification. Please send your proposals to prorektor.veda@upol.cz no later than 15 May 2026. The Rector of UP will then decide on the selection, based on the recommendation of the relevant university committee. Get inspired by the overview of personalities who have given the Fischer lecture at UP in the past.

RESEARCH

We are looking for drivers 50+ for a study on reactions and neurological diseases

Experts from the Department of Psychology at the UP Faculty of Arts and from University Hospital Olomouc need active drivers aged 50–85. They are looking for ways to detect neurological diseases early and, at the same time, for ways to help drivers continue to drive safely for as long as possible. Do you know someone like that? Let him know! You can find more on the poster (in Czech) and in the registration form (in Czech). 

LECTURES AND DEBATES

Can renewable energy sources replace fossil fuels?

The very topical issue of acceleration zones for wind power plants will also be reflected in a debate on 26 March from 4 p.m. at the Fort Science (in Czech). Representing the public will be Dr Josef Kapitán from the Department of Optics of the UP Faculty of Science, and on the other side will stand Jan Rovenský, an expert on renewable energy sources and an energy specialist from the Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (Hnutí duha). The debate, organized by the Sustainable University, is free of charge and open to all without registration.

Element Talks – AI in IT: a tool or an addiction?

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming an everyday part of work in IT. At the next Element Talks meeting, we will look at its practical use – from AI agents in backend testing to a dedicated artificial intelligence model that can predict outages and their impact on railway operations in the Czech Republic. Come on 23 March from 5 p.m. to Element Coworking to hear real‑world experience, meet the IT community, and do not forget to register (in Czech) for the event.

Shall we ban the internet? Debate between researchers and the public

How is a generation growing up that has never known a world without the internet? What challenges and opportunities does the digital environment bring? And what do the data actually say about the impact of social networks, smartphones, and technologies on the mental health and lifestyle of children? Come to an open debate with researchers from UP who have long been researching the behaviour of children and adolescents in the digital age. When and where? 19 March from 5 p.m. at Central (in Czech) (Denisova 47); admission is free and no reservation is required.

Looking back at the lecture by Zuzana Čaputová

In February, we welcomed Zuzana Čaputová, who gave the annual lecture in honour of J. L. Fischer entitled Crisis of Democracy. In the previous newsletter, we brought you a report and photos. Today we are adding a link to the lecture recording (non‑public, available after logging in with university credentials). You can also listen to an episode of the Studio UP podcast series.

VOLUNTEERING

Help where it is needed

The UP Student Volunteer Day is back! Join other students on Friday 10 April 2026 and help where it is needed – in healthcare facilities, social services, nature, or cultural institutions in Olomouc and its surroundings. Volunteers can take part, for example, at University Hospital Olomouc, the Pohoda Senior Home, at Šternberk Castle, or in the Botanical Garden of the UP Faculty of Science. You will spend the day doing a meaningful activity, meet new people, and at the same time do something good for your surroundings. For more information and registration, visit dobrovolnici.upol.cz (in Czech).

Let’s clean up Olomouc with the Sustainable University

The Envelopa campus, the area around the Morava River, or Bezručovy sady – these are places we pass through every day, where we live, or where we go to relax. However, there are corners that could use a bit of care. Join the Sustainable University on Friday 27 March in the nationwide volunteer initiative “Let’s Clean Up the Czech Republic”, lend a hand, and help make Olomouc a more pleasant place. Participation in the event requires the consent of your direct superior, and it is essential to follow safety rules. You can find more information on the website; register via the UP reservation system.

CHALLENGES

Enterprising Head is looking for new business ideas

Do you have a business idea and want to develop it further? Sign up for the 17th year of the Enterprising Head (in Czech) competition organized by the UP Science and Technology Park. Students, employees, and alumni of UP can take part. The winning project will receive support worth a total of CZK 230,000, including a financial reward of CZK 50,000, expert consultations, and a one‑year rental of a workspace in Element Coworking. Submit your applications by 11 May 2026 at www.podnikavahlava.cz. (in Czech)

The university is looking for interns for Europe Direct

Are you interested in European affairs? Do you enjoy working with social media or organizing events? Do you want to gain experience within the Europe Direct (in Czech) project, which focuses on providing information about the EU and communicating European topics? Then write to olomouc@europe-direct.cz and tell us why we should choose you! 

INVITATIONS

Save a life, test your heart, get to know your brain 

Assemble a model of the human brain, get your heart racing during a stress test, learn how to save a life, and find out what actually gives your body energy from a can. The Health Fair at the Fort Science (in Czech) will turn exploring the body and mind into an experience for both young and adult visitors – already this Friday and Saturday (13–14 March). You can also attend lectures for Brain Week (in Czech). 

One World returns to Olomouc

The international human rights documentary film festival Jeden svět (in Czech) (One World) will take place in Olomouc this year from 23 to 29 March. It will offer audiences 31 films and an accompanying programme at six venues across the city. The festival programme also includes discussions with guests, a concert, lectures, and art therapy. Ticket prices for screenings start at CZK 100. You can find the programme and more information on the website jedensvetolomouc.cz (in Czech).

Night of Law invites you to court buildings, talks, and a film screening

Tours of court buildings, presentations of legal professions, a guided walk exploring the sins and vices of the city of Olomouc, or a special film screening. All this is part of this year’s programme of the Night of Law in Olomouc (in Czech). The seventh edition of the event, coordinated in Olomouc by the UP Faculty of Law, will take place on Wednesday 18 March. The programme is intended for the general public and is free of charge. Reservations for individual items on the programme can be made on the Night of Law website (in Czech).

Can you recognize a random place on the planet from Google Street View?

The EGEA association (in Czech ) is looking for a new champion in the game GeoGuessr (in Czech)! The idea is that you are placed at a random location on the planet in Google Street View. Your task is to figure out where you are based on what you see. The winner is the one who guesses closest to the real location. You can compete in three‑member teams on 24 March from 6 p.m. at the Faculty of Science (17. listopadu 12, room 2.005). For more information and registration, write to olomouc@egea.eu.

NEW STANDARDS

• Schedule of the academic year 2026/2027 and schedule of course registration in the IS STAG system in the academic year 2026/2027
  This internal regulation of UP, effective from 6 March 2026, (in Czech) is intended primarily for UP students, academic staff, and other UP employees. It sets out the individual dates during the academic year 2026/2027 and the deadlines for course registration in the IS STAG system in the academic year 2026/2027.
  
  

   

• Principles of the Student Grant Competition at UP – Amendment No. 17
  This amendment to the internal regulation of UP, effective from 2 March 2026, (in Czech) is intended in particular for students of doctoral or master’s study programmes at UP. It amends Annex No. 1 – List of approved projects in 2026, based on which, following the recommendation of the UP Grant Board, the Rector decided on the allocation of support to projects within the Student Grant Competition at UP in 2026.

COMPETITIONS

Win tickets for One World 

Further above, we invited you to the One World Olomouc film festival – and now you can win two tickets for any screening. We will select three winners, each receiving two tickets for any screening. The competition question is: Which film are you most looking forward to? Send your answers by 18 March to soutez@upol.cz and write “Jeden svět” in the subject line. 

Competition for two vouchers from partners

In cooperation with the partners of the UP Representative Ball, we have prepared a competition for a voucher worth CZK 1,000 for Long Story Short Eatery and a voucher worth CZK 2,000 from Depil Concept for the first permanent epilation treatment. All you have to do is write to us by Wednesday 18 March at soutez@upol.cz with an answer to the question: What would you like to see in the programme of next year’s UP Representative Ball?
In the subject line of the email, indicate “Long Story Short” or “Depil Concept”, depending on which prize you want to compete for. Creativity counts – we will reward the most interesting answers.

Win tickets for For Model

In cooperation with Výstaviště Flora Olomouc, we have prepared a competition for 3×2 tickets for the interactive exhibition For Model 2026, which will take place from 27 to 29 March 2026 at Výstaviště Flora Olomouc, Pavilion A. All you have to do is write to us by Wednesday 18 March at soutez@upol.cz with an answer to the question: What is the subtitle of this year’s For Model exhibition?
Do not forget to state “For Model” in the subject line of the email. From the correct answers we will draw three winners; each will receive 2 tickets.