(This content has been translated automatically.)

Dear students,

This edition of the university newsletter is sent out before the Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy and International Students' Day. This is happening at a time when not only the sovereignty of the Ukrainian state is at war near our borders, but also the values that underpin the current democratic establishment in the countries of the European Union and around the world. It turns out that even today, freedom, democracy and the possibility of studying freely and safely are not a given. 

The national holiday will be commemorated on Thursday at 11 a.m. with a commemorative act at the Monument to the Fighters for Freedom and Democracy in front of the Faculty of Law, and also through Mass on Monday, 21 November at 7 p.m. at the Church of Saint Mary of the Snows to honour the sacrifice and courage of all those who resisted totalitarianism.

After almost three years online, a classic Open Day is coming up. On Friday, 2 December from 8 am to 2 pm, not only all eight faculties of Palacký University, but also the dorms, the canteen, the library, the UPoint and our interactive science museum Fort Science will open their doors to those interested. A special bus line will be shuttling between the Olomouc main station and the individual faculties. Invite everyone to Olomouc who you think should join the ranks of the UP academic community, or go and see for yourself which of the 1,000 or so combinations of disciplines you might still try to study. More information will soon be available on univerzitnimesto.cz/dod (in Czech) and on the faculties' websites, you can also invite via Facebook.

Next Thursday and Friday, 24–25 November, will be the biggest PhD event of the year. The long-prepared Interdisciplinary Doctoral Conference of Palacký University will take place at the UP Arts Centre (Konvikt), to which not only current students of doctoral study programmes are invited, but also others interested in this study or in the topics of the conference papers. On Thursday, the conference will be officially opened, with introductory lectures and the presentation of honorary mentions by the Rector. The day will end with a social evening. Friday will be devoted to papers by PhD students. A total of 21 students from not only our university, but also from other national universities will be presenting. The detailed programme can be found on the Doctoral SPace website (in Czech), if you plan to attend the conference, please register here.

Although the number of bins for sorted waste is constantly increasing on the premises of the university, the bins for mixed waste still end up not only with unusable waste – it is not uncommon to find a PET bottle or a can in such a bin. Therefore, at the invitation of the Sustainable University, (in Czech), the Institute of Circular Economy will analyse approximately 350 kg of municipal waste, sort it into categories, weigh their proportion and then prepare an analysis that will reveal the weak points in waste management at UP. The sorting will take place on Tuesday 29 November from 9 am to 3 pm in the courtyard of the Armoury (Zbrojnice) – come and see what ends up in the university's bins most often and hear interesting information from the Institute's staff. More details in the article (in Czech).

The UP Volunteering Centre is asking students to fill in a questionnaire concerning its activities and especially the planned introduction of ambassadors at the faculties who would mediate contact between students and the Centre and promote volunteering. The questionnaire can be filled in here until 27 November. 

English children's literature is not afraid to offer great stories and deep themes. The aim of the literary evening English Books for (not only) children (in Czech), which will take place on Wednesday 23 November at 18:30 in the British Centre of the UP Library on the ground floor of the Armoury, is to introduce them to us. Look forward not only to readings from the books and thematic discussions on the works of Dr Seuss or Roald Dahl – the organisers also promise live music and artistic performances. More information on the UP Library website (in Czech).

What are international sanctions for and how are they applied? And how do they affect contemporary Russia? The Center for International Humanitarian and Operational Law (CIHOL) at the Law School is organizing a roundtable (in Czech) aimed at the general public. Invited experts will explain to the audience what place sanctions have in international law and international relations, what are the conditions for their application, how they are applied in the Czech Republic, what impact they can have on Russia and how to prevent their circumvention. Take the chance to get relevant information from experts – come to the PF UP on 25 November at 4 p.m. (in Czech). Due to the limited capacity of the classroom, reservations are required via the form.

Are you involved in sport at the top level? Do you have Czech citizenship and are no older than 26 years old? A monthly scholarship and support for studies and especially in various areas of sports training, such as stress testing, sports psychology or physiotherapy care, is available to student athletes from UP who become members of the Victoria University Sports Centre. The terms and conditions and application form can be found on the website, and applications are due by November 22.

The last Slovak regional city – Nitra – has been conquered and the roadshow for prospective students, which UP has not yet held, is at its destination. The total attendance of applicants in eight Slovak cities exceeded 25 thousand. Representatives of our university, including 23 ambassadors, travelled 3,000 km and delivered 10 lectures to full halls. Where have they been everywhere? Check out the map on the university FB!