Summer opening and operating hours at UP

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

• Canteens and FreshUP bistros: closed from 6 to 12 July + other changes

• Bookshop (Skriptárna) at Zbrojnice: adjusted opening hours, closed 13–17 July (in Czech)

• UPoint: Open on June 20 from 12:00 to 17:00; closed from July 6 to July 19

• UP IT service week: 10–14 August. Trouble-free operation of all UP information systems is not guaranteed. Significant service outages, unavailability of websites, the UP Portal and related applications, STAG, email, single sign-on, storage systems, or internet connectivity in general may occur.

News and changes in canteens and FreshUP

How satisfied are students and staff with dining at UP canteens and bistros? In recent weeks, the UP Accommodation and Dining Services Administration has been seeking answers through a series of focus groups. As a result, some FreshUP bistros now offer matcha latte, chai latte, and batch brew. Nutritional values of meals will soon appear in the ordering system, and chefs will undergo training in Asian cuisine. Starting from the new academic year, you can also look forward to themed days inspired by world cuisine in the canteens. Learn more about the updates on the SKM website (in Czech), and follow their Facebook and Instagram.

VOLUNTEERING

Nominate volunteers for the UP Rector’s Award

Do you know someone who devotes their time and energy to helping others, engages in volunteer activities, and makes the world around them a better place? Recognition also belongs to those who help quietly but consistently or with great dedication. Palacký University Olomouc is once again announcing the Rector’s Award for Volunteering among UP students, alumni, and staff (in Czech). Nominations can be submitted until 31 October 2026. Details and the form are available on the UP Volunteering Centre website (in Czech).

Save the date: UP Employee Volunteer Day

Anyone can help, and sometimes all it takes is a few hours and a willingness to lend a hand. That is the idea behind the UP Employee Volunteering Day (in Czech), which is entering its fourth year. Join your colleagues and employees of the Statutory City of Olomouc and the Olomouc Region Authority on Thursday, 24 September, and take part in volunteer activities supporting organizations, public spaces, and community projects in the region – the list is available on the UP Volunteering Centre website (in Czech). Registration opens on 17 August.

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

Effective Communication in English for Career Restart

Are you preparing to return to an academic or professional environment and want to gain more confidence in a foreign language? The third workshop in the “Return to Science” series will guide you through effective communication in English at the B2+ level. It focuses on professional texts, academic writing, and presenting ideas, including practical examples of how to simplify your work using AI tools. The course will be held in a blended format (19 June in person and 25 June online) and is also open to parents—childcare is provided during the first session. Register here.

Czech for Foreigners: Language Courses for UP Employees

Palacký University Olomouc invites its employees to join the “Czech for Foreigners” language courses offered by the Faculty of Arts in the winter semester 2026/2027. The courses will run from 21 September to 18 December 2026 at the Language Centre (třída Svobody 26) and are open to all levels—from beginners to advanced learners. With small group sizes (10–14 participants), the program ensures an interactive learning environment. The course fee is 2,200 CZK for 13 sessions (90 minutes each), with possible support from departments. Registration is open until 30 June 2026 via email (pavla.polachova@upol.cz). See the PDF flyer.

Discover Aurora Gateway: a research portal for sharing results and collaboration across the Aurora alliance

How can researchers better showcase their results, find new collaboration partners, and more easily explore research across universities in the Aurora alliance? This will be the focus of the online workshop “Diving into the AURORA Gateway: Discovering Research and Fostering Collaboration”, which will take place on 19 June from 9:30. Participants will be introduced to the Aurora Gateway research portal, designed for searching, connecting, and showcasing research outputs of universities involved in the Aurora alliance. Details and registration are available on the Aurora website.

KPZ — Positive Change Course with microcredential for UP employees 

The Lifelong Learning Institute of the Faculty of Arts UP offers the opportunity to enroll in the Positive Change Course (in Czech) with a microcredential, focused on supporting mental resilience, personal integrity, and responsible decision-making in uncertain conditions of today’s world. Participants will acquire basic skills related to mental health care, prevention of toxic influences, and crisis management. The course emphasizes practical competencies for academic and professional growth as well as civic preparedness. It is part of lifelong learning, and the obtained microcredential helps respond better to labor market demands. Classes take place every Wednesday of the winter semester starting 30 September; the fee is 1,500 CZK. You can register via the Lifelong Learning Portal until 27 September.

NEW STANDARDS

• UP Library Rules – Amendment No. 3
  This amendment to an internal UP regulation (in Czech) is intended for UP staff and students. It concerns changes to the fee schedule—registration fees for BC KUP—and the removal of Annex No. 1.
  
  

• Electronic records of students, participants, course progress, and learning outcomes at UP – Amendment No. 4
  This amendment to an internal UP regulation (in Czech) is intended for staff and participants in lifelong learning. It responds to an amendment to the Higher Education Act (No. 52/2025 Coll.), which reclassified internationally recognized courses (“MUK”) as lifelong learning and repealed Section 60a concerning MUK. The change affects Article 14(2) (removal of the MUK concept) and Article 14(5) (removal of the letter M – MUK from the lifelong learning program table and introduction of the letter T – programs whose graduates are awarded an internationally recognized title).
  
  

• Statute of the UP Centre for Information Technology – Amendment No. 1
  This amendment to an internal UP regulation (in Czech) is intended primarily for UP staff and students. It updates and supplements the CIT Statute, specifically establishing the responsibilities and duties of the CIT Director towards the Bursar instead of the relevant Vice-Rector, adjusting the scope of activities of certain CIT departments (Annex No. 1), and updating the CIT organizational structure (Annex No. 2).

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 Lavender Festival

We have prepared a competition for tickets to the Lavender Festival, which will take place on 5–6 July 2026 at the Bezděkov Lavender Farm. The festival will offer concerts, cooking shows, talks with interesting guests, and other program elements in the unique atmosphere of lavender fields. How to enter? Simply send your answer by 24 June to soutez@upol.cz: Which part of this year’s Lavender Festival program are you most looking forward to? Include “Lavender Festival” in the subject line. Winners will be selected from the submitted answers, and each will receive two tickets.

Competition with BOHEMSCA

With our long-term partner BOHEMSCA, we have prepared a competition for 3 gift bags of drinks. BOHEMSCA offers a wide portfolio of drinks, including organic and craft lemonades as well as matcha, which can be a great summer refreshment. How to do it? All you have to do is write to us on soutez@upol.cz by 24/06 the answer to the question: Which of the BOHEMSCA drinks would you like to enjoy the most in the summer and why? On the website you will find, for example, organic lemonades, kombucha and several variants of matcha. Do not forget to include "BOHEMSCA" in the subject line of the e-mail. We will reward the most original answers.