(This content has been translated automatically.)

Dear students,

The pre-spring sun has brought the first snowdrops in the university botanical garden and also caused that the streets of the university town are filled and alive again after a long time of exam time. No wonder our newsletter is also full of invitations, tips and news from the world of UP!

Electronic information resources – get acquainted!

The long lockdown period has finally taught us all – whether we wanted it or not – to make more use of various online resources. Fortunately, the UP Library offers plenty of them, and even in the current situation it would be a shame not to be able to use them sufficiently and effectively. Did you know that in addition to articles and books, there are, for example, extensive databases of musical compositions and scores? Or that thanks to a subscription to the PressReader portal you can read some Czech and foreign newspapers and magazines?

From Monday 28 February to Friday 4 March, the fifth edition of the Week of Electronic Information Resources is therefore being organised. Information booths will be available at all branches of the UP Library every day from 10:00 to 15:00, where librarians will be happy to answer all your questions about e-resources. There will also be webinars, practical workshops, trial access and a competition. For more information, visit the UP Library website (in Czech) or Facebook.

News from dormitories and canteens

The Olomouc university dorms will be safer from March. The General Svoboda Dormitory, J. L. Fischer Dormitory, 17. listopadu Dormitory and B. Vaclavka Dormitory will now be entered using ISIC cards or blue university identification cards. This system is already in its second year in the Neředín campus. More detailed information is available on the SKM website (in Czech).

The catering area is not lagging behind either – last Friday, the culinary team was trained in preparing a varied meat-free menu (in Czech), so you could try Indian dhal with black lentils and meatless balls or porridge of millet. In addition, the Křížkovského canteen is featuring Spanish cuisine this week (in Czech).

How to approach classmates with special needs?

Wondering how to approach your classmates with disabilities and/or what an inclusive university looks like? The Centre for Students with Special Needs has prepared short one-hour courses focusing on the specifics of different types of disabilities. All courses are free of charge. For more information and to sign up, please visit the Centre's website (in Czech).

Read the new UP Magazine – anywhere

On the occasion of the beginning of the summer semester and the UP Academic Week, the editors of the UP Journal have prepared a small gift. It is a new issue (in Czech) of our university magazine, whose unifying theme is overcoming obstacles: real and imaginary ones in our heads. You can find it in printed form at the faculties, in the library in the Armoury, in UPoint and other places, but you can also download and read it in PDF (in Czech) – don't delay and stay up to date.

To go or not to go for a PhD and how to choose well where?

Are you considering a PhD and want a clearer idea of what it involves? The Office of the Vice-Rector for Doctoral Programmes and Projects invites you to a seminar of the Czech Association of Doctoral Students on Tuesday 8 March from 14:00 to 16:00 at the UP Student Club (Armoury). You will have the opportunity to talk with the speakers Šárka Lojda and Maria Pribylova about how to choose the most suitable workplace for your research topic and what to consider when formulating it. You will also hear what to look out for when choosing a supervisor and why this choice is so crucial. Last but not least, attention will be paid to the possibilities of doctoral studies abroad. But the seminar will be all about you - the organisers look forward to hearing from you and your questions! If you are interested, please register here.

Majáles is looking for you!

Are you good at networking, good at copywriting or interested in PR and marketing? Do you want to participate in the organization of the largest student festival in the region, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in May after a forced covid hiatus? Then don't hesitate to contact ondrej.martinek@upol.cz and get practice, contacts and, most importantly, a lot of experience in a team of thirty other students.

Play the university special of the popular online quiz

Didn't manage to participate in the Pub Quiz - UP's special on the anniversary of the university's re-launch? No problem, you can play the interactive knowledge quiz online from the comfort of your home with friends or family until March 20. Just start this link on your computer, smart TV or even your mobile phone, enter the password and three hours of extraordinary fun are yours! And of course, there's also music and picture recognition. The quizzes are traditionally brought to you in cooperation with the Pub Quiz. You can play here, the password is af604f4793.

EXCEL or How to tame MS Excel spreadsheets

Are you eager to tame spreadsheets and numbers with the help of MS Excel? Then the UP Career Centre has prepared a course on Excel basics for beginners. During seven Monday afternoons, you will get acquainted with the most important tools of the program and learn how to use it in your professional and personal life using concrete examples from practice. It begins March 7 at 5 p.m. in the CVT computer lab. For more information, including the agenda and registration, visit the Career Center website, and you can also invite others to join you on Facebook.

Free courses to introduce you to Chinese culture

The Confucius Institute of UP has prepared a wide range of courses for the summer semester. You can stretch your tired body with Tai Chi or table tennis. In addition, you can enrol in Chinese painting and calligraphy, or build on previous courses. For those interested in Chinese medicine, we offer a series of interesting lectures, the first of which will take place on 1 March in the premises of the Confucius Institute on Tr. Last but not least, from 8 March you can come and practice Chinese language with native speakers in our renewed Czech-Chinese Corner club. All activities offered are free of charge for UP employees and students. For more information and registration, please visit the Institute's website (in Czech).

ESN UP Olomouc is looking for new members and buddies

Do you want to experience something other than learning during your studies at the university? Join the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), which operates in 40 countries and has a branch at UP. You will have the opportunity to organize events for international students (National Presentations, Language Exchange, trips around the Czech Republic, etc.), try out cooperation not only in a team but also with other student associations, get involved in the promotion of ESN UP Olomouc and try out marketing and PR in practice, thus diversifying your CV with interesting experiences. More information about ESN UP Olomouc can be found on Facebook or on the website. And if you would like to become a member, get in touch at hr@esn.upol.cz.

Not interested in membership but still want to get involved and get to know students from abroad? Become a buddy and show them what it's like to be a student at Palacký University in Olomouc. Write to buddy@esn.upol.cz and make friends from all over the world.

Do you enjoy esports? Sign up your team and get the support of the university!

Represent our university in three game titles at the 3E:Academic Championships, get merch for your team, and compete for prestige and prizes worth 30,000 crowns! Register for the upcoming esports championship, email us at soutez@upol.cz and we'll outfit and equip your team with plenty of university goodies. For more information, visit www.esportsa.cz. Entries are due by the end of this week!