(This content has been translated automatically.)

Dear students,

In today's newsletter we have several invitations for you. We would like to introduce you to an innovative form of the UP Reflection forum, where you can openly discuss the joys and sorrows of life at UP. Among other things, we invite you to the AFO, which is next week, and to the May Festival (Majáles) – the main day will be Wednesday, May 3, but there are also several events planned for Tuesday to warm up.

The election of the new UP Academic Senate is also currently on the agenda. The collection of nominations for candidates is now ending and the lists of candidates will be published by Tuesday 25 April at the latest. The electronic elections will then take place from 3 to 11 May. For up-to-date information follow upol.cz/volby. 

WHAT'S GOING ON AT UP?

At the last management meeting (12 April), the visit of a Nobel laureate to UP or the emphasis on quality monitoring and the development of teaching competences was discussed. A new head of the security department was also introduced. Read the full summary (in Czech) (after logging in to the UP Portal), we will prepare another one for you again in 14 days. More detailed information will subsequently be available in the minutes of the management meeting in UPShare, as well as in the minutes of other bodies, in UP standards and documents, and on other information platforms.

Is there a place where all those who study and work at UP can openly discuss, ask questions, give thanks or make suggestions for improvement? Yes, it is called UP Reflexe (in Czech) and it is accessible by logging in (it is out of reach of the public or internet search engines). In order to make this discussion platform clearer and open to a wider range of topics, the posts on UP Reflection are now divided into thematic categories. So feel free to use it and discuss problems with your colleagues or classmates, come up with ideas or direct suggestions not only to the wider academic community, but also to the management of the university, faculties or units. Read more. (in Czech)

From this year on, you can sign a dormitory accommodation contract without unnecessary travelling or long queues – the UP Dormitory and Canteen Administration is introducing online contract signing. From the same day you can apply for accommodation in the dormitories for the next year. Until Sunday, April 23, students currently accommodated in the dormitory can reserve an existing room on a priority basis, and from Monday, April 24, all other students with a positive application can reserve a free bed until the space is exhausted.

After thirty years, the poor technical condition of the facade of the Rector's Office building at 8 Křížkovského Street required reconstruction. Repairs will begin at the end of April and should be finished in mid-August. Restrictions for workers, students and visitors should be minimal. Read the scope of the repairs (in Czech) and a brief look into the history of the building here.

The first issue of this year's newsletter of the Strategy and Quality Office (in Czech) has been published. Since the new year, the department has been working on the agenda of methodological and coordination activities leading to a sustainable and socially responsible UP (Sustainable University). The theme of the issue is UP's Strategy for International Rankings. It also informs, among other things, that updated data are available on the web in the Statistical Tables (in Czech) section, while most of the analyses being prepared are already available in the Analyses and Graphs (in Czech) section. Read the full newsletter in PDF (in Czech).

The Faculty of Law in cooperation with its student Vasyl Kapustej announced a material collection of humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Donors can bring items until 12 May on weekdays from 8:00 to 18:00 at the reception desk of Building A of the Faculty of Law (17 November 6). This time, the month-long material collection will be complemented by an online auction of interesting items with a connection to Ukraine. Details and a list of items you can donate can be found on the PF website (in Czech).

SURVEYS

What about after school? To a job or the path of your own business? Where are students heading, whether they finish their studies or not? These and other questions are the focus of this year's UP Student Career Plans Survey (in Czech), prepared by the UP Science and Technology Park (in Czech) in cooperation with the Career Centre (in Czech). By filling in the short questionnaire (in Czech) (only until the end of April) you will help us to better prepare the programme of support for young entrepreneurs from your ranks and to understand how we can develop more entrepreneurial competences.

INVITATIONS

In two weeks we will be enjoying good music, (hopefully good weather), but most of all good mood in the courtyard of the Armoury and Konvikt! This year's 11th edition of the Olomouc May Fest (Majáles) UP will take place on May 2–3 and will offer concerts, talks, workshops and lots of other goodies. A special feature of the programme will be a musical majáles tram. Among the big names of this year's edition are the band Tata Bojs or the fresh winners of the Anděl Award, the rap trio 58G, as well as Bert & Friends, Luciana or Milenium – they will perform during the main day on Wednesday. On Tuesday, we will be tuned in to a pub quiz, a performance by the improv group O.LI.V.Y. or a concert by the duo Mutanti hledaj východisko.

Just like an echo, AFO – the international festival of popular science films Academia Film Olomouc will return to Olomouc on 25 April after a year and for six days will once again vibrate the whole city. The theme that links the films and other programme points this year is ECHO. The echo motif underlines the need for cooperation between scientific disciplines and the necessity to link research and its popularisation. Don't forget to get accredited early (basic accreditation is free) and view the programme.

Is there an athletic champion in you? You can test your strength at the traditional Palacký University Athletics Championship, which the Faculty of Physical Culture of UP has prepared for Wednesday 26 April. You will compete in running events, long jump, javelin throw and shot put. The winners can look forward to nice prizes, including the Dean's Award for the best female and male athlete in the form of an extraordinary sports scholarship. What you need to do to participate in the championship and the schedule of individual events can be found here (in Czech).

NEW STANDARDS

• UP Internal Wage Regulation – Amendment No. 3

  On 13 April 2023, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Czech Republic registered Amendment No. 3 to the UP Internal Wage Regulation R-A-18/02-N03 – UP Internal Wage Regulation – Amendment No. 3 – effective from 14 April 2023. This amendment to the UP Internal Wage Regulation is addressed to UP employees; in particular to the UP personnel and payroll departments. The amendment increases the wage rates of other employees, starting from 1 June 2023.

• Statute of the Honorary Recognition of the Rector of UP to Authors of Professional Books – Amendment No. 1  

  The amendment to the internal standard, effective from 19 April 2023, is addressed to UP employees. The amendment specifies the range of authors of professional books who can receive the Honorary Recognition of the Rector of UP; at the same time, the requirements for the content of the cover sheet of the Honorary Recognition of the Rector of UP have been specified.

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

The deadline is approaching for applications to the competition (in Czech) that can kick-start your idea and turn it into a working startup. We are looking for innovative ideas, creative solutions and entrepreneurs who want to develop! Register (in Czech) and compete for prizes worth over 450 000 CZK! Start creating your business plan right away and consult with the UP Science and Technology Park until 7 May. Detailed info and conditions can be found on the competition website (in Czech). Remember: all you need is an idea! Apply by 10 May.

As a long-term partner of the Olomouc 1/2marathon, we have obtained additional registrations for the main race and also the 2Run (for two). If your luck didn't smile on you in the last rounds of the competition, try again! Just email us at soutez@upol.cz with the correct answer to the contest question by April 26 and registration can be yours. Please put "Main Race", "Relay" or "2Run" in the subject line. Question: Who will be the king of this year's Olomouc Majáles UP?

A round, wooden, burnt plaque with the serial number 2786 and a depiction of the historic rector's scepter. This is what the special limited edition of the tourist stamp created for the 450th anniversary of UP looks like, of which only 500 pieces were produced. You can get it for 40 CZK in the university shop UPoint or in the information centre in the arcade of the Olomouc City Hall on Horní náměstí, in the popularisation centre Pevnost poznání or in the village of Hodslavice, the birthplace of František Palacký, after whom the university has been named since 1946.

UPoint, UP's information center and store, has a new operations manager as of April 17. She became PhDr. Ing. Mgr. Renáta Pavlíčková, MBA. For this reason, a handover inventory will take place on Thursday and Friday 20–21 April and UPoint will be closed.