Palacký University belongs to the most important Czech universities

Palacký University along with Charles University, Masaryk University, Czech Technical University, and Brno University of Technology appears in the top category used by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. These schools are mainly research-oriented, they attract highest numbers of students, and they are located in traditional centers of education. The proposal to divide universities into four categories is a part of a concept used for discussion on new methodology of financing "VVŠ 2018+". Being ranked in one of the categories will impact university budgets in "K" performance part.

Category 2 is composed by schools with research activities and of regional importance, schools specialized in certain professions. To name a few we can mention Mendel´s University Brno, University in Pardubice, Technical University Liberec, University of Economics in Prague, University of West Bohemia. In category 3we can find non-university institutions for higher education (College of Polytechnics Jihlava, Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice) and category 4 includes artistic universities.

"Whereas the division in categories three and four is quite clear, the first two categories funding is decided based on criteria of scientific and educational results. The size of the school given by the number of students as well as the absolute number of acquired RIV points per university is decisive. Palacký University may therefore benefit from its high research performance which the Faculty of Science is greatly responsible for," clarified Ivo Frébort, the Dean.

Each category has its own criteria of performance and quality, the document from the Ministry also includes suggestions for indicators in each category. Category 1 should value RIV and RUV the most (40 %), 20% is suggested for Mobilities and payers, Graduation rate, External income and Foreign students ratio are valued by 10 % and Employment and Attractivity of university have been valued by 5 % so far.

The new methodology for institutional financing will apart from "K" performance part be composed by a fixed part "A" and social demand "S".

Kateřina Valachová, the Minister of Education, has previously announced that she would ask for an increase in 2018 budget for universities and institutes for higher education by CZK 4.5 billion. The Ministry has indicated the following priorities: the incorporation of social demand consideration in certain areas, system diversity VVŠ and increase in motivational elements in order to enhance quality as well as system approach to doctoral studies

This year universities will be granted CZK 21 billion, which is essentially the same figure as last year.

The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic has announced a public call in Science, Experimental Development and Innovation as a part of the support programme of applied research and experimental development - Epsilon. Project proposals together with all required documentation shall be submitted by May 12 at the Department of Science and Research to Mrs. Kratochvílová at michaela.kratochvilova@upol.cz. For further information please visit the website of Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.

Finish your studies on time if you want to take the state final examination!
The Department of Study reminds students, who want to take their state final exam or defend their final thesis in May or June of the obligation to conclude their studies at least three weeks before the date of their state final examination.

We kindly request our students who will take their state final exams or defend their final thesis this academic year to check whether their learning results are recorded in Stag system. A list of exam dates in Stag will not be available without entering required data.

For students of Doctoral study programs
Due to the absence of Mrs. Karásková from April 19 to May 17, Mrs. Marcela Vykydalová will deal with urgent matters during the period of her absence.

Dissertation defenses and state doctoral exams
We kindly request our Ph.D. students to respect deadlines set for a state doctoral exam registration as well as for dissertation defenses registration. All documents required for a state doctoral exam shall be submitted at least two months before the date of the exam. Documents required for a dissertation defense shall be submitted at least three months before the date of the defense. Students shall have a committee and opponents established at the same time to enable the speedy initiation of administrative procedures and drafting the letters of appointment. Complying with applicable law opponents have six weeks for completing evaluation of dissertation. Only after receiving evaluation, letters of appointment may be sent. Committee members ought to receive them at least 20 days before the date of the defense.

Dean´s Award for student scientific papers
All students of our faculty may compete for an exceptional scholarship and also valuable awards in
the following sections: Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Ecology, Earth sciences and Teaching natural science. In addition, it is possible to register in the poster section this year too. To participate in the competition they shall register here by April 29. The deadline for submitting their scientific papers is May 2, the competition will be held on May 4. For further information please contact Dagmar Petrželová on dagmar.petrzelova@upol.cz.      

Crytur Prize for the best Master thesis
CRYTUR, Ltd. in cooperation with CareerMarket.cz have announced a competition for the best Master thesis in Material Science which has been registered for defense from January 1 to June 30, 2017. The deadline for submitting applications is May 15. Authors and supervisors of the best thesis will be rewarded financially. For more information please contact Mrs. Houžvičková Šolcová, tel: 607 559 129.

• Fulbright Scholarship Programs for the next academic year
  The Fulbright Commission offers scholarships for postgraduate studies and research in the USA. Students and graduates who will have by September 1 completed at least a Bachelor's degree can apply for a government scholarship to continue their studies or research in the United States. Detailed information including registration form can be found here. The deadline for submitting application is September 1.
  
  
• Applications to the Fulbright Core Program shall be submitted by November 1. This scholarship supports visits of Czech scientists and academics in the United States to lecture or carry out research in any field except for clinical medicine. The same deadline applies for submission of applications for the Fulbright-Masaryk Program for postdoctoral and senior category. This scholarship supports outstanding experts in their scientific field who are also active in public life of their institutions or communities.
  
  
• If any Czech university in the Czech Republic is interested in hosting a particular lecturer from the United States for one or two semesters, the American expert should apply for a Fulbright scholarship by August 1. Further information is available here.
  
  
• The Fulbright Specialist Program will enable Czech universities and research centers to invite experts from the US to their workplaces for 2-6 week stay. Please note the change of the online registration system, further information is available here.
  
  
• Thanks to the Inter-Country Travel Grant you can also invite Fulbright scholarship participants operating in Europe including the Czech Republic to your conferences, lectures and workshops in this academic year. The list of candidates is available here.

• Final report from the elections to the university and the faculty academic senates and a list of new senators is available here. The term of office of the Faculty academic senate in current composition ends on May 6. Their last meeting will be held in the Dean´s office board room on April 25 at 1:30 p.m.
  New members of the faculty senate will meet on May 7 for the first time; their decisions will influence development and strategy of our faculty till 2020.

• New website for your department
  The University Computer Center team, which has developer new University and faculty websites, offers an opportunity to create new websites for individual faculty departments. If you are interested in cooperation, please contact the webmaster Mrs.Maroš Gemzický, email: maros.gemzicky@upol.cz.
  
  
• Please be considerate of your colleagues!
  Is your bicycle parked in the parking garage at Envelopa?
  The bicycle shed in the garage has been built for safe storage of bikes used to get to/from work not for permanent parking. The Department of Technical Support will mark all bikes parked in the garage for a long period of time, and they will be removed at the end of May in order  to create parking spaces for those who actually use bikes to get to work.
  
  Do you use the faculty underground parking garage to park your car?
  We kindly request our employees to park their cars on indicated parking spaces only. Parking your car in the open area may block exit of properly parked vehicles. When parking, please display a parking card with identification data in your vehicle. Use the underground garage for temporary parking of your cars to get to/from work only not for permanent parking due to the limited capacity of the place. The Department of Technical Support will carry out a check. Owners of cars parked in the garage for longer period will be called on to move their cars. They might also be banned from further use of the garage.

• Invitation to the Open House in Contipro
  Holding Contipro Ltd. cordially invites our students to the Open House which will be held on Tuesday April 25 from 9:30 a.m. Top researchers will be waiting for you in laboratories and perform experiments. On the day of the event you will also receive a contribution of maximum CZK 250 to your travel expenses and a little refreshment. The number of visitors is limited, therefore please register via email: mysakova@contipro.com by April 21.
  
  
• The next Newsletter will be released on May 5.

• As of April 12, 2017 the following provision of UP came into effect:
  B3-17/4-RR - Determination of fees for operations connected with the habilitation procedure and appointment of professors procedure at UP (after the update)