The canteen in the new Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Faculty of Health Sciences building is open

From Monday 5 October, you can come for lunch or a snack to the new canteen in the red building of the UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Faculty of Health Sciences. Lunch is served from 11:00 to 14:30, but the canteen is open from 7:30 to 18:00, when you can purchase selected delicacies from the FreshUP bistro. You can find more information on the SKM website (in Czech), and a short video tour on Instagram.

New issue of the UP Project Service bulletin

Are you planning a project under Horizon Europe? We have prepared new guides that will take UP research and administrative staff through the entire project life cycle. The Czech Science Foundation and a number of European partnerships have announced new international calls – you can find their summary in the overview. Don’t miss the TC Prague information days and practical webinars on the calls for 2027. Read the entire bulletin. (in Czech)

AWARDS

Applications and nominations for the UP Rector’s Awards are open

Have you supervised a successful final thesis, or do you know of students whose scientific or sporting achievements deserve recognition? Draw their attention to the UP Rector’s Awards competition and encourage them to apply in the relevant category. Individuals may also be nominated for their significant contribution to the popularisation of science and communication with the public. The ceremonial presentation in February 2027 will also include special awards for non-academic staff members. The exact conditions, applications, and nominations are available on the separate page.

The awards will be presented in the following categories:

• UP Rector’s Awards for the best student works and sporting achievements
• UP Rector’s Award in the field of sustainability
• UP Rector’s Honorary Recognition for doctoral students for a scholarly article
• UP Rector’s Honorary Recognition for authors of scholarly books
• Rector’s Award for the popularisation of science and communication with the public
• UP Teaching Awards

Last call: Nominate an outstanding personality for the František Palacký Prize

Nominate an outstanding Czech or international personality from any field of science or cultural activity who, in your opinion, should become a laureate of the František Palacký Prize for outstanding achievements in creative work in science or culture that contribute to the prestige of the Czech Republic and UP. Nominations may be submitted by 15 October; further details are available on the website.

Reminder: Rector’s Award for Volunteering

Do you know people who are willing to devote their time, energy, and abilities to others, often beyond their everyday duties? Nominate them for the UP Rector’s Award for Volunteering. The award is presented to UP students, graduates, and employees for an exceptional contribution to volunteering during the given academic year. You can nominate them in the online form by 31 October. (in Czech)

Werner von Siemens Award

Publishing the results of your scientific work and presenting them to the world is extremely important in today’s competitive environment – and those who do not do so might as well hardly be doing research at all. The Werner von Siemens Award (in Czech) can help students, teachers, and researchers in technical, natural-science, and medical fields. Help expand the ranks of UP laureates and nominate yourself or someone else by 30 November. If the nominee wins, the person who recommended them receives CZK 10,000. Financial rewards are, of course, also associated with the awards themselves: this year’s winners will share CZK 1,000,000. You can apply or nominate someone on the award website (in Czech).

COURSES AND LECTURES

Try the Google AI Professional Certificate course for free

Would you like to learn how to use artificial intelligence more effectively in your everyday work or studies? UP students and staff can take the online Google AI Professional Certificate course free of charge, focused on the practical use of AI – from effective prompt writing to research, writing, and working with data, as well as creating content or simple AI tools without programming.

The course is self-paced, takes approximately 9–10 hours, and once the licence has been activated, you have seven weeks to complete it. The course is taught in English, with Czech-language support available for Czech participants. Upon successful completion, you will receive the Google AI Professional Certificate, and the programme also includes three months of access to Google AI Pro. Register for free via the UP form.

Environmental myths: Come to Daniel Kortus’s lecture

Why are the causes of climate change still disputed, and how can you distinguish a scientific argument from a misleading claim? Come to the lecture hall of the UP Faculty of Education on Wednesday, 14 October, from 16:00, for a lecture by chemist and researcher Daniel Kortus, author of the Instagram profile Klimatomluva. You will learn more about the evidence for the anthropogenic origin of current climate change, the most common myths, and the ways in which climate disinformation spreads. The event is free and no registration is required; more information is available on the Sustainable University website (in Czech).

A rebellion of machines? A debate between UP scientists and the public

Will artificial intelligence take control of us? Can genetically modified foods alter human DNA? Are quantum technologies safe? Come to Central on 26 October for a debate with UP scientists about groundbreaking technologies (in Czech) that are changing, or may soon change, humanity. The guests of UP science communicator Vendula Lužná will be Ondřej Kučera, Jaroslav Doležel, and Karel Lemr. Admission is free and no reservation is required.

What you don’t know about the work of a LEGO set designer

Vladimír Kryštof Maliňák, LEGO Product Designer, will take you behind the scenes of developing globally popular building sets. Using the example of LEGO Jurassic World, inspired by the film Jurassic World: Rebirth, you will learn what working on a product created in cooperation with a major film studio involves, from the first idea to the launch of the set on the market. Come to the talk, which will take place on 19 October from 11:30 in the Chapel of Corpus Christi at Konvikt!

INVITATIONS

Visit Erasmus Days and travel abroad

Are you thinking about where and how to go abroad for a practical internship, job shadowing, or staff week? Which country to choose, what needs to be arranged, and what scholarship opportunities are available? You will learn everything during Erasmus Days at UP from 14 to 15 October. You can find more information on the International Cooperation website. (in Czech)

Who will win the cross-country run?

The UP Faculty of Physical Culture invites endurance-running enthusiasts to take part in the 48th UP Cross-Country Running Championship, which will take place on Wednesday, 21 October. The race venue will be the TJ Lokomotiva athletics stadium on 17. listopadu Avenue and Bezruč Park, through which most of the prepared courses will lead. Women will run 3 km, and men will run 5.2 km. In addition to the title of UP Champion and medals, the fastest runners can look forward to material prizes and the UP Faculty of Physical Culture Dean’s Award. Students and staff from across the university may take part; registration is possible online only here, by 19 October. Further information is available on the Faculty of Physical Culture website (in Czech).

UP Together: Game Night

Take a break and join us for a relaxed evening of games, new faces and good company. Whether you love board games or simply want to meet new people, everyone is welcome!

You don't need to bring a team or know anyone beforehand, just come, pick a game and join in. Bring a friend or come on your own and meet other students and colleagues in a friendly international atmosphere. – October 21, 2026, 17:30–20:00 | For international and domestic students. | Free of charge | No registration needed | More information here!

NEW STANDARDS

• Conducting the inventory of assets, materials, and documentation at Palacký University Olomouc in 2026
  This UP internal regulation, effective from 1 October 2026, (in Czech) is intended primarily for members of inventory committees (University Inventory Committee, Faculty Inventory Committee, Departmental Inventory Committee) and persons responsible for keeping records of UP assets and participating in their inventory. It sets out the schedule and conditions for the inventory process at UP in 2026, including further digitalisation of the process.
  
  

   

• Social scholarships at Palacký University Olomouc for the period September–December 2026
  This UP internal regulation, effective from 2 October 2026, (in Czech) concerns primarily students of all UP faculties and authorised staff of the Study Departments. It specifies the amount of the social scholarship for the period from September to December 2026 and sets out the procedure for applying for a social scholarship.
  
  

   

• Housing scholarships at Palacký University Olomouc for the period October–November 2026
  This UP internal regulation, effective from 2 October 2026, (in Czech) concerns primarily students of all UP faculties and authorised staff of the Study Departments. It specifies the amount of the housing scholarship for the period from October to December 2026 and sets out the procedure for applying for a housing scholarship.

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

Competition for tickets to Flora Olomouc – Hortikomplex 2026

Autumn Flora is already knocking on the door! In cooperation with the Flora Olomouc Exhibition Centre, we have prepared a competition for 4 × 2 tickets to the Flora Olomouc – Hortikomplex 2026 exhibition, which will take place from 8 to 11 October. This year’s edition will be themed Gifts of Our Land and will feature a main exhibition by florist Klára Franc Vavříková, gardening markets, floral and gastronomic shows, tastings, and other accompanying programmes.

All you need to do is write to soutez@upol.cz by Thursday, 8 October, with the correct answer to the question: What is the motto of this year’s Flora Olomouc – Hortikomplex exhibition? Don’t forget to include “Flora” in the subject line of your email. We will draw four winners from the correct answers, each of whom will receive 2 tickets.

Are you planning to place an order for goods from UPoint for your department or conference this calendar year? We recommend submitting your e-shop request by 30/10 at the latest so there is enough time to arrange any stock replenishment and delivery of the goods. Restocking additional products in November and December will no longer be possible due to the university shop suppliers’ heavy workload in the pre-Christmas period.