September at Palacký University will belong to alumni

Are you a UP graduate? The entire month of September will be dedicated to you. A varied program awaits you not only at individual faculties but also in the historic center of Olomouc. The symbolic highlight will take place on Friday and Saturday, 11–12 September 2026 (in Czech) during the European Heritage Days, when we will meet at Horní Square and the Konvikt. The Konvikt will offer space for alumni gatherings, the O.li.v.y improvisation show, the UPportunities talk, screenings of winning films from this year’s AFO, and an all-day chill zone. The music program at Horní Square will feature the Olomouc-based New Street Band and singer and UP graduate Marcell. You can find the detailed Alumni September program on a dedicated website. (in Czech) Bring your classmates and come enjoy it just like in your student days.

AI at the university: new recommendations will help use it safely and meaningfully

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a common part of teaching, science, research, and administration, which is why Palacký University has prepared updated Recommendations for the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools at UP (in Czech). They provide students, teachers, and other staff with practical guidance on when and how to use AI, what data should not be entered into tools, when it is necessary to acknowledge AI use, and why humans are always responsible for the final output. The recommendations are part of the comprehensive portal ai.upol.cz (in Czech), where additional related materials are also available. You can read more in the UP Journal article. (in Czech)

The Semester Through the Eyes of Academics: Share Your Experience

How did you experience the past semester, how did you feel about your workload, and what would help you better manage demanding periods of the academic year? The end of the semester and exam period offers an opportunity to reflect on the past months, during which academics and researchers, alongside teaching and evaluating students, also fulfill research and administrative duties—placing high demands on organization, resilience, and overall mental well-being.
Palacký University is aware of this situation and aims to support its academic and research staff as much as possible, which is why it is launching an anonymous survey. Read more.

Set out on a journey to mental well-being with a new Hedepy benefit 

Excessive psychological stress, personal or professional concerns, self-doubt, lack of joy in life, mental fatigue, or uncertainty—situations like these can affect anyone. A new employee benefit now allows you to use psychotherapeutic consultations via the Hedepy platform, which offers anonymous online sessions with a selected therapist, self-tests, and other materials for mental health care. The service will be introduced on 8 June in an introductory webinar focused on stress management. Read more on the web.

Students can once again nominate their teachers for the Teaching Awards UP

The third edition of the university-wide Teaching Awards UP competition (in Czech) has been launched at Palacký University, recognizing inspiring and high-quality teachers across faculties. From May to October, students can nominate teachers through the university teaching evaluation system who best fulfill the principles of quality higher education and contribute to students’ long-term development.

Summer opening hours and operations at UP

• UP Library – Zbrojnice and faculty branches: changes from 15 June

• FreshUP canteens and bistros: closed 6–12 July + other changes

• You can still do sports with the UP Academic Sports Center until 12 June

Holiday hotel accommodation in UP dormitories

If you are planning to welcome friends or family to Olomouc during the summer, dormitories also have available capacity in July for hotel accommodation. Simply contact hotel@upol.cz to arrange your stay. Note: each visitor will receive a voucher for a 20% discount on a main meal at the FreshUP+ bistro, so they can enjoy refreshments directly on campus.

RESEARCH

Eye tracking & funeral card evaluation

Can you estimate which parts of an funeral card people look at first? Come try modern scientific research that connects psychology, visual communication, and eye-tracking technology, and help experts uncover how human attention works when evaluating the visual layout of funeral card. It takes about 15 minutes, and you will receive a small reward. Where? The CO-LAB cognitive laboratory, Faculty of Arts, UP, tř. Svobody 26 (3rd floor, room 3.61). Dates and registration are available in the calendar.

EDUCATION & COURSES

Copilot Chat & Assistants: how to create an AI assistant for presentations

Do you repeatedly prepare presentations and want to simplify the process using AI? Join the UP IT Services webinar (in Czech) and learn how to create your own AI assistant/agent for presentations in Microsoft Copilot Chat tailored to your needs and preferences. You will learn what an AI agent is, how it can support presentation preparation, and how to configure it to handle recurring scenarios. The webinar will take place on 12 June from 10:00 to 11:00; details and the link are available in the UP Events Calendar.

INVITATIONS

AI Day: AI in university education

How will artificial intelligence change universities, teaching, and thinking itself? Where does AI help, and where does it pose risks? And how should rules be set for its meaningful and responsible use? These questions will be addressed at the university-wide conference AI Day: AI in University Education (in Czech), which will take place on 16 June 2026 from 9:00 to 15:00 in the Faculty of Arts auditorium (Křížkovského 10). Speakers will include experts from five UP faculties and Igor Ivan, Professor of Geoinformatics and Rector of VŠB-TUO, who formulated a vision of a modern university connected with AI, quantum technologies, and a supercomputer in Ostrava. More information is available on the website (in Czech) and in the Facebook event.

Crisis resolved! Can we preserve nature for the future?

How does science help us care for the landscape in times of change? How can we ensure enough water and food for future generations? And what do data really say about the state of the environment—from insects to water and soil quality? Come to an open debate with UP scientists on 17 June at 17:00 at Central (in Czech), who focus on sustainability, landscape, agriculture, and the environment. Free entry, no reservation required.

Come meet people who care about sustainability

Are you interested in the direction of sustainable development at Palacký University? Do you have ideas or experience that could help move the university forward? Join the next meeting of the UP Sustainable Development Community, organized by the Sustainable University. It will take place on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 at 16:00 in the Václavka Community Garden. Light refreshments, including a barbecue, will be provided. Please confirm your attendance at miroslava.zavadil@upol.cz.

Strawberry Picking Trip (Olomouc–Nedvězí, 9–12 June)

Join our Welcome Office team for a seasonal strawberry picking trip just outside Olomouc and enjoy a traditional Czech early-summer experience at a local farm in Olomouc–Nedvězí. The event is open to all international and domestic students and staff. Participants will travel together by bus, pick fresh strawberries, and pay only for what they collect. The exact date (9–12 June) will be confirmed shortly before the trip depending on weather and harvest conditions. Practical details will be sent to registered participants about two days in advance. Registration here.

NEW STANDARDS

• Provision of personal protective equipment at UP – Amendment No. 1
  This amendment to an internal UP regulation, effective from 10 June 2026, is intended primarily for UP employees and students. The amendment updates and supplements the prescribed personal protective equipment for selected professions at certain UP units (VTP, Faculty of Science – Department of Chemical Biology, VUP).

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

Win tickets to the Olomouc (o)žije festival afterparty

Another edition of the Olomouc (o)žije festival is coming—three days full of music, with over 200 bands, musicians, and street performers in the historic center of Olomouc. We are offering a chance to win a free ticket to the official Friday afterparty featuring KJ SAX & MALALATA DJs (Friday, 19 June, from 23:00, Varna club). Send your answer by Wednesday, 10 June to soutez@upol.cz: What is the name of the founder of the GAME OF LIFE project, with whom you will enjoy the biggest karaoke party Olomouc has ever seen as part of Thursday’s festival program? Include “Olomouc (o)žije” in the subject line.

Ram Inline competition: skating course

In cooperation with the Olomouc Majáles UP partner Ram Inline, we have prepared a competition for a voucher with a 50% discount on an individual inline skating course for children or adults. How to participate? Simply send your answer by Wednesday, 10 June to soutez@upol.cz: Which band would you like to hear at next year’s Olomouc Majáles UP and why? Program and information about Majáles can be found on its official website. Do not forget to include “RAM Inline” in the subject line.