News from the Department of Project Support
All information can be found on the following website https://www.prf.upol.cz/zamestnanci/projekty/ (in Czech).

Operational Programmes (OP) OP JAK, OP TAK and OP ŽP were approved by the government. On October 4, the Government of the Czech Republic approved program documents prepared for the period 2021 – 2027. These are OP Jan Amos Komenský, OP Environment (ŽP = Životní prostředí) and OP Technology and Applications for Competitiveness (TAK = Technologie a aplikace pro konkurenceschopnost). Negotiations and approval by the European Commission will follow. The parameters of the calls could be published by the end of the year. The first calls will be launched in early 2022.

National RIS3 strategy for TA ČR calls and operational programmes. The National RIS3 Strategy is a long-term strategic vision “A resilient economy based on knowledge and innovation”. It formulates the basic direction of development of the Czech Republic and conditions the drawing of operational programs of EU funds.

TA ČR – Partnership for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection Call 2021 of the EU program Horizon Europe (faculty deadline November 23, 2021). Before submitting the project proposal on behalf of the UP, the consent of the Dean and the Secretary of the Faculty is required for submission through the “zelená košilka” form and brief information on the project. If you have any questions, please contact Mgr. Silvie Šavrňáková (silvie.savrnakova@upol.cz).

MEYS – bilateral projects Czech Republic – Slovak Republic
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has announced a public tender in research, development and innovation LUASK22 – bilateral projects Czech Republic – Slovak Republic. The intention of LUASK22 is to select Czech-Slovak joint research projects in the category of basic research, industrial research and experimental development with a solution period of max. 36 months in the following priority areas of common interest.

• Information and communication technologies
• Biomedicine and medical biotechnology
• Material research and nanotechnology

The bilateral plan of the project assumes the simultaneous submission of the Czech and Slovak parts of the joint project in the Czech and Slovak Republic respectively, in compliance with the specific conditions of the provider. The project proposal must be processed in the information system of the INTER-EXCELLENCE – ISIX program. Those interested in submitting this grant should contact the Department of Project Support employee Miriam Delongová (miriam.delongova@upol.cz). No later than November 29, 2021, a “zelená košilka” form must be submitted together with the project proposal containing at least the name of the project, an abstract, a composition of the research team and a budget. No later than November 30, 2021, after the closing of the project before submission, two documents must be sent to: miriam.delongova@upol.cz:

• PROJECT PROPOSAL part 1. – SIGNATURE PAGE
• PROJECT PROPOSAL part 2. – PROJECT PROPOSAL in PDF

All information on the call can be found on the provider’s website (in Czech). The maximum amount of support for the Czech part of one project is CZK 3.1 million. Faculty deadline: November 30, 2021. Contact person: Miriam Delongová (miriam.delongova@upol.cz).

Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE
During October/November 2021, Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2021-2027 will launch the first call for public and private organizations that want to work together throughout Central Europe. The call will be open in all program priorities and specific objectives of the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE program. Transnational cooperation will address the development and implementation of strategies, action plans, instruments, professional preparation, pilot actions and related solutions. Specific technical information and project requirements, including the program manual and application form, will be available additionally. A community has been created for those interested, where they can search for new partners and develop their project ideas (https://community.interreg-central.eu/).

More information can be found on the Czech version of the faculty website in the section Zaměstnanci/Projekty/Projekty EU. If interested, contact Ing. Tea Pokorná (tea.pokorna@upol.cz).

Werner von Siemens Award
The Czech branch of Siemens will award the best students, scientists and teachers from the fields of technical and natural sciences. Applications for the 24th year of the prestigious competition Werner von Siemens Award can be submitted until November 30, 2021 at www.cenasiemens.cz. The aim of the competition is to reward the authors of the best student and scientific works and university teachers. Works focusing on all technical fields and natural sciences will be evaluated. A total of CZK 900,000 is prepared for this year's winners in eight categories. More information can be found here.

The meeting of the Academic Senate FS UP will take place on October 27, 2021 at 13:00. Detailed information and materials for the senate are published on the website https://www.prf.upol.cz/o-fakulte/fakultni-organy/akademicky-senat/ (in Czech).

Current measures at UP related to Covid-19
Due to the extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, it is mandatory to wear a respirator or similar facial protection, meeting FFP2 or KN 95 standards (at least 94 % efficiency, without exhalation valve) throughout the indoor premises of the university (faculties, dormitories, canteens) from July 31, 2021 until further notice.

During a laboratory teaching, in most cases it is not a teaching where students are siting at a desk or are otherwise seated. In this case, the obligation to use respiratory protection applies. Students should follow the instructions of teachers who know the specifics of the teaching best.

More information here.

Plans of study for academic year 2021/2022
The lists of courses (plans of study) for the academic year 2021/2022 can be found on the faculty websites.

Online confirmation of study
You can print your confirmation of study online directly from your Portal.

Seminars for beginning academics and doctoral students
Within the Institutional Plan 2021 the Department of Teacher Training has prepared a series of seminars intended mainly for beginning academic staff and doctoral students who provide teaching, but also for guarantors of study fields (programmes) and other interested academics. The aim is to increase competencies for teaching at universities. Applications for individual events should be sent to the e-mails listed in the table no later than 3 days before the start of the seminar. More information can be found here.

Meal allowance
On October 1, the Amendment No. 7 to the Dean’s Decision A-14/8/RD – on granting allowances, gifts and returnable loans from social fund of the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc entered into force. This amendment abolishes the provision of meal vouchers at our faculty.

Employees now have the opportunity to use either meal allowance or eating in the canteen (can be combined).

EATING IN THE CANTEEN

• current rules apply
• i. e. the employer contributes CZK 55 to the price of the meal (from the operating resources of the workplace), the other part is paid by the employee. The faculty contributes CZK 30 from the social fund to the employee's share.
• the expenses from the meal in the canteen will be settled in the wae period during which the meal was taken

MEAL ALLOWANCE

• new benefit replacing meal vouchers
• meal allowance (as the meal vouchers before) is worth CZK 100. 55% of this is paid by the employer from the opeating resources of the workplace, 45% is paid by the employee. The faculty contributes CZK 30 from the social fund to the employee's share.
• In practice, this means that the employee will receive a total of CZK 85 from the employer on the payroll from two sources for one meal allowance. The employee's share is CZK 15 and it will not appear on the payroll.
• There is no need to request a meal allowance (nor do the secretaries enter that anywhere), it is automatically loaded with settling the salary for the given month for the days worked, from which are deducted the meals in the canteen and business trips with the claimed meal allowance.
• The meal allowance (or allowance for eating in the canteen) cannot be claimed for days off, incapacity for work, care for a family member etc.

Information on taking vacation
All university (FS UP) employees must take vacation in the year in which the right to it arose. Therefore, each employee should take the 2021 vacation by the end of this calendar year. The balance of the vacation to be taken is indicated on the payroll. The vacation taking is managed by the employer, therefore the application for vacation must always be approved by the head of the workplace, who may also order it.

Fort Science
Fort Science, the Popularization Center of the Faculty of Science UP, in cooperation with the UP Career Center and the UP Endowment Fund, is organizing a scientific-popularization cycle Why and how to talk about science? … with Michael Londesborough.

Basic principles of successful popularization of science (October 14, 2021)
- workshop with emphasis on the development of competencies in the field of communication and popularization of science
- number of participants: 12 (the workshop is primarily intended for academic and scientific staff of Palacký University)
- application HERE: www.bit.ly/FSA_Michael_I (your participation will be confirmed by email)

Michael Londesborough Masterclass (October 15, 2021)
- practical examples of popularization of science, interactive science shows and reflections
- registration HERE: www.bit.ly/FSA_Michael_II