Interreg Danube – Seed Money Facility

The Interreg Danube transnational program has currently announced a new Seed Money Facility call aimed at financial support for the development of complex strategic transnational projects contributing to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, which are subsequently to be financed from any funding source available in the region. The aim of the call is to start innovative ideas and facilitate project development.

The call is open from 27. November 2023 to 29. March 2024.

Mandatory outputs are a description and analysis of the current situation, the creation of a project work plan and an analysis of grant opportunities. The maximum duration of implementation is 12 months.

At the same time, the project should be based on a partnership of 2-5 financial partners from at least two different countries of the Interreg Danube programme area.

The maximum budget is set at EUR 50 000. For additional activities beyond the 3 mandatory outputs, up to EUR 100 000 may be requested.

Detailed information can be found on the Interreg Danube programme website or in the attached call document.

Furthermore, on 7 December 2023 (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) it is possible to participate in an information webinar on the call in English, for which you can register here.

Do you already have a project in the works, or just an idea, and you're looking for a place to start? Try applying for the 15th year of the student grant competition at UP, which the Rector of the University announces precisely to ensure that interesting projects do not fail due to lack of funding. Students of the doctoral programme where UP is the training institute or academic staff of UP can be the project's researchers.

Applications are to be submitted only electronically through the UP OBD portal https://obd.upol.cz/ until 16 January 2024 at 16:00. For the terms and conditions of the competition, application instructions and information on funding limits or priority topics, please see this document (in Czech).

L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science

L'Oréal in the Czech Republic opens registrations for the 18th year of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme. Since its inception, the program, which focuses on empowering women in many scientific fields, once again offers a platform to recognize and support promising women scientists. A prize of 600,000 CZK, which can be used for any purpose, will be distributed among three winners. Research projects can be submitted until 31 December 2023 via the platform www.forwomeninscience.com.

International Office

Mrs. Dana Gronychová will be out of office from 11. December 2023 to 7. January 2024. All students and coordinators should make all necessary arrangements well in advance, no later than 7. December. In urgent cases, contact Waleria Słowiková.

Vulcanus in Japan

The "Vulcanus in Japan" programme offers internships in industry-oriented companies in Japan to students of engineering, high-tech or other scientific fields. The applicant must be a student between the 4th year and the penultimate year of his/her PhD studies.

Internship duration: 8 months, from August 2024 to March 2025. The application deadline is 20 January 2024. Details and application form can be found here.

Fulbright Specialist

Fulbright Specialist allows a 2-6 week stay of an American expert. As part of the program, the Visiting Specialist may give lectures, participate in or organize and lead workshops, specialized academic programmes and conferences, help develop and improve curricula and teaching materials or contribute to the training of university teachers, assist with technology adoption, develop soft skills such as academic writing, etc.

This offer applies to the traditional allocation of 5 Specialists in the Czech Republic, with partial co-financing by the host institution. All information, including the online application form and instructions, can be found here. Any uncertainties and questions can be consulted, please write to fulbright@fulbright.cz. Deadline: 15 December 2023.

Student programme for 2024/2025

Visiting Student Researcher is an excellent opportunity for students in Masters and especially PhD programmes to undertake research projects in all disciplines (except clinical medicine) related to diploma or dissertation theses, to complement research etc. Stays are in the duration of 4-9 months at the university of your choice.

All information, including online application form and instructions, are on the website. Questions may be addressed to Andrea Semacova at semancova@fulbright.cz. Deadline: 1 Febreuary 2024.

Proshek-Fulbright programme for 2024/2025

The Proshek-Fulbright program is intended for physicians and researchers in medical and related fields at the University of Minnesota. For the year 2024/25, one place is available for a stay of 6 months.

All information, including online application form and instructions, can be found here. Any uncertainties and questions can be consulted, please write to fulbright@fulbright.cz. Deadline: 1 February 2024.

The regular meeting of the Academic Senate FS UP will take place on Wednesday, 13 December 2023 at 13:00 in the meeting room of the Dean's Office. Detailed information and materials are available on the senate website (in Czech).

Student Affairs Office

The Student Affairs Office is open until 21 December 2023 according to the office hours. The Office will be closed from 22 December 2023 to 1 January 2024. Standard office hours will apply from 2 January.

Registration for courses – summer semester 2023/2024

The registration for courses in the summer semester of the academic year 2023/2024 for all study programmes at the Faculty of Science takes place from 23 January to 19 February 2024. Detailed schedule is available, as usual, on the website.

Study plans

The lists of courses (study plans) for the academic year 2023/2024 can be found on the respective website (Bachelor, Master, Doctoral).

Online confirmation of study

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

State doctoral examination and dissertation defense

The application for your dissertation defense or the state doctoral examination has to be submitted at least 3 months in advance. Follow the requirements and deadlines listed on the website in the section for Doctoral Study.

Foreign prospective students

The English faculty website for prospective student has been updated. If you have a prospective PhD student in English who has already agreed on a topic with the department, you can refer him/her to this website for further information on the application process.

Days off granted by the Dean and Rector:

22. 12. 2023 – day off granted by the Rector
27. a 28. 12. 2023 – days off granted by the Dean
29. 12. 2023 – day off granted by the Rector

Secretariat of the Dean and faculty's Secretary

Requests for legal advice on contracts are accepted by the RUP Legal Department only until 8 December 2023.
The Secretariat of the Dean and the facutly's Secretary accepts documents for signature until 19 December 2023.

File service – end of the year operation

On 21 December 2023 the file service at Envelopa will be open from 9:00 to 10:00, and in Holice from 10:30 to 11:30. Regular and registered mail will be last picked up from the mailboxes at Envelopa at 11:45 and at Holice at 11:15. Mail delivered after this deadline will not be sent until 2 January 2024.

Faculty operation before the end of the year

The main building (Envelopa) and the buildings in the Holice campus will be closed from 22 December 2023 to 1 January 2024. The buildings will be guarded by an external security service. Report any accidents and defects to the service staff, who will then pass them on to the building management emergency service.

The VLD building (17. listopadu 50) and the SLO building (17. listopadu 50a) will be closed from 22 December 2023 to 1 January 2024. During this period, entry will only be allowed on employee cards.

Human Resources and Payroll Department

The faculty’s Human Resources (HR) and Payroll Department notifies that
THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN ON FRIDAY 8 December 2023:

To the HR department (Mrs. Veronika Caletková, Mgr. Veronika Vašková), please, submit:

• proposals for concluding an employment relationship (employment contract) effective from 1 January 2024
• proposals for changes in job and salary classification effective from 1 January 2024 (exceptions may be proposals for employees for whom participation in a project is planned, for which a decision on the allocation of a subsidy is expected to be received later)
• applications for extensions of employment contracts ending in December this year
• ACJ (DPP) and APW (DPČ) effective from 1 January 2024.

To the payroll department (Mrs. Libuše Pěčková, Mrs. Ivona Kristková), please, submit:

• statements for payment of ACJ (DPP) and APW (DPČ) from project funds for December 2023 (except for projects until 15 December 2023)
• the transfer of the data on days off of employees involved in projects will only be possible in SAP on 8 December – i.e. after the system has been opened (except for projects until 15 December 2023).

A group email will be sent out to all employees on requests to transfer untaken days off/vacation to the following year with a statement from the Head of Department on the appropriate form (Portal - Electronic forms - Other forms). The transfers should only happen in exceptional circumstances; days off are taken in the year in which the right to it arose. Requests must be made after the December days off have been entered into the system for proper balance export.

In the event of an employee's illness or treatment of a family member after 8 December, report the changes to the payroll accounting office immediately (to ivona.kristkova@upol.cz), but no later than 31 December 2023.

The proposals for the payment of extraordinary bonuses should be submitted in SAP by 15 December 2023.

Requests for the calculation of project payroll costs should be sent to both payroll accountants simultaneously via e-mail (ivona.kristkova@upol.cz, libuse.peckova@upol.cz). Requests will be processed and submitted back for possible consideration of the latest adjustments no later than 15 December. Additional salary adjustments within the projects will be possible until 19 December 2023.

The HR and Payroll Department will be open for employees until 21 December 2023, after the New Year from 2 January 2024. If personal consultation is not necessary, use internal mail to hand over documents to the department – box no. 6 on the 1st floor in the corridor behind the gatehouse. Thank you for respecting this guideline.

The tax returns will be signed by the employees with the assistance of the payroll accountants from 11 January 2024 on dates selected in the reservation system. Employees will receive detailed instructions in Czech and English at the beginning of December at the latest. The Financial Administration uses forms for tax return exclusively in the Czech language, foreign employees will have an English translation of the form available only for basic orientation. A personal consultation to sign the tax return in English will be provided by the Human Resources and Payroll Department within its own capacity.

Operation of the Economic Department

Please, deliver the tax documents for the advances and the final invoices for the advance invoices to the Economic Department immediately, but no later than Friday, 15 December.

Cash documents, travel orders, payments on account, etc. deliver on an ongoing basis, but no later than 18 December. After this date, proper posting in the calendar year 2023 can no longer be guaranteed. It is also necessary to settle all advances for travel orders executed in 2023.

Return the cash deposit to the Cashier by Friday, 15 December.

Submit the documents for issuing invoices for the month of November (DUZP November) in electronic form by 15 December 2023. After this date, posting in November 2023 cannot be guaranteed.

Libraries operation

Faculty of Science library – Envelopa:
18. 12. – 19. 12. | 08:00 – 15:00
20. 12. | 8:00 – 12:00
Closed: 21. 12. 2023 – 1. 1. 2024

Faculty of Science library – Holice:
18. 12. – 20. 12. | 08:00 – 12:00
Closed: 21. 12. 2023 – 1. 1. 2024

Opening hours of the central library in the Armoury (Zbrojnice) and other faculties branches can be found on this link.

Canteens, bistros, UP Press

University canteen and FreshUP bistros will have shortened opening hours during December. So will the Palacký University Press - follow their website for more information.

Sale of poinsettias

The Palacký University Volunteering Centre in cooperation with the non-profit organization 'Šance Olomouc' offers the sale of poinsettias (in Czech the so-called Christmas stars) to support children with cancer. You can buy a poinsettia at the Faculty of Science on 5 December 2023 from 9:00 to 11:00. The event takes place in various faculties, canteens and dormitories in the presence of two students/volunteers.

The Sustainable Palacký Association – Christmas punch drinking

The year has come and gone and with it brought old friends – cold weather, Christmas atmosphere everywhere, and also the craving for a hot drink. That's why for several years now (and this year will be no exception) Sustainable Palacký has been organising the drinking of the punch in our community garden in the Bedřich Václavek dormitory. Not only will the traditional homemade punch be available this year, but you can also look forward to a new addition this year – hot cider. Come and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere with us on Wednesday, 6 December, from 4 p.m., which will certainly be made more pleasant by our affordable prices for students. We look forward to seeing you!

Christmas collection

Under the auspices of the Dean Martin Kubala the Faculty of Science organizes an annual Christmas collection for the children from Klokánek. The fifteenth year of the collection takes place from 20 November to 15 December 2023. As in the previous year, you can contribute to the transparent account 2501674563/2010 or a QR code. Any contribution is greatly appreciated.

Czech Cup in table hockey

After the University Cup, Olomouc will welcome the Czech Cup in STIGA table hockey after 30 long years. It will be held on Saturday, 16 December 2023 from 8:15 a.m. in the Fort Science. All those interested in the game are invited! You can also learn about table STIGA table hockey at the Open Day on 1 December from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If you are missing ice hockey in the UP sports programs and would like to play it, contact the local FB group or directly message Dr. Jan Tomáštík, who is active in the local hockey scene.

General practitioner on campus

The GP surgery at the J. L. Fischer dormitory is extending its opening hours. It will be open every weekday (Mo – Fri) from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with Thursday hours only from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Details in the article.

The last Newsletter of the year will be published on Monday, 18 December 2023.