Call for Incentive Research Collaboration

Written by Michal Zych on . Posted in Academics, Featured, Students.

The second year of the open call of the Aurora alliance aims to contribute to closer cooperation between European universities. Up to 25,000 euros can be obtained for a joint international projects. The call also supports the organization of thematic summer schools, with an amount of up to 20,000 euros. The third supported activity is short-term mobilities aimed at young scientists. In last year’s call, three projects connected with UP succeeded. This call will be repeated on an annual basis until 2027 at least.

Joint research projects

A project involving researchers from at least three universities that are full members of the Aurora alliance can receive support of up to 25,000 euros for two years. The goal is not only to support the research itself, but also to help the established team prepare a project application for the Horizon Europe framework program or other European grant calls during the given time.

Research teams can be both single-disciplinary and interdisciplinary. An important criterion is the deepening of international cooperation across universities. In order to find suitable partners, among other contacts, existing databases of the Aurora network can be used: Aurora Research Resources, Aurora Connect Gateway or Aurora Doctoral Pool. The budget can be used as needed for travel and networking, sharing information, gaining access to data or conducting preliminary research.

Thematic summer schools

Up to 20,000 euros can be obtained in the appeal for the organization of a summer (or winter) school. Short-term (1-2 weeks) schools that will deal with a specific scientific topic can be supported (so it is not about teaching a language or training communication skills or writing grant calls). The condition is that the lectures, practical exercises or conferences that will be part of them are mainly led by experts from universities that are full members of the Aurora alliance (at least five experts from at least three universities).

Short-term mobility for young scientists

The support is intended for young scientists who can go to one of Aurora’s member universities for research. In this call, Palacký University finances mobilities for a maximum of one month. Students in the final years of their master’s studies, doctoral students or postdocs can apply for it.

Applications and evaluation of applications

The full text of the call and all terms and conditions can be found in this PDF, which also includes links to the entry forms to fill out. Documents are also available below. Applications can be submitted until March 28, after which they will be evaluated by the Aurora Scientific Council, in which all member universities of the Aurora alliance have a representative.

Further questions will be answered by Aurora staff at L’Université Paris-Est Créteil, which administers the call (aurora@u-pec.fr), or you can contact Marie Jadrníčková from the Aurora office at Palacky University (marie.jadrnickova@upol.cz).

Documents to apply
    1. First, fill out a simple online form
    2. Then a detailed application (docx)
      1. Application for Key Action 1 – Exploratory and Collaborative Research Projects
      2. Application for Key Action 2 – Thematic Schools
      3. Application for Key Action 3 – Short-term Research Secondments for Early-stage Researchers
    3. Please send the completed application to aurora.arc.office@gmail.com with the subject [Submission to Aurora Research 2025 Call_NAME Principal Investigator_University of Principal Investigator]
Call for Incentive Research Collaboration 2025

Study abroad with Aurora semester mobility support

Written by Michal Zych on . Posted in Featured, Students.

Discover the science behind the northern lights in Iceland or gain experience in international business at the prestigious Copenhagen Business School. Focus on water resources and their protection at the confluence of the Rhine and Rur rivers in Duisburg-Essen or study biomedical fields near the golden sands of Tarragona. A semester stay at one of the European universities that, together with UP, are part of the Aurora university network will bring you not only academic but also life experience. The duration of the study stay is one semester during the 2025/2026 academic year, you can apply by January 31, 2025.

Where can you study?

There are places available for 2 students at each of the partner schools, the total capacity of the selection process is 16 places. You can get to know the individual universities on their websites.

How to do it?

  1. Choose which university you would like to attend. You can apply to multiple universities, in which case you must specify order of your interest.
  2. Check if your chosen university offers your or a similar field of study / has a similarly focused department, etc. – meaning that you can study relevant subjects there that will be recognized as part of your studies at UP. If this is not the case, your application will probably be rejected.
  3. By January 31, 2025, you will register for the “selection process” in STAG : STAG – ECTS trips – Trips offer – Filters: AR 2025/2026, intended for students: YES, faculty: REK – Palacký University  There you will also find more detailed information and requirements that you must meet.
  4. You must provide the following documents:
    – Motivation letter
    – Recommendation letter from the your UP department
    – Transcript of records (downloaded from STAG)

These documents will then be assessed by the Aurora Mobility Commission. The result of the Aurora Mobility Commission’s assessment will be published in IS STAG for the application within 14 days after the closing of the call (i.e. approximately the second half of February). If you receive support, you will receive further instructions.

Further information

The amount of the financial contribution for mobility is 600 euros per month in the case of Spain, 660 euros per month in other countries. It is necessary to obtain at least 20 ECTS credits per semester. More detailed information and methodology for trips within Aurora can be found here (semester trips are discussed in Chapter II).

For further questions, please contact Aurora mobility coordinator Martina Buráňová (martina.buranova@upol.cz).

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from UP Aurora Office

Written by Michal Zych on . Posted in Featured.

From all of us at the UP Aurora Office, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this time bring you not only pleasant moments with loved ones but also energy and inspiration for the new year.

Ahead of us is another chapter of cooperation within the Aurora universities. The year 2025 will bring us new challenges but also countless opportunities. Look forward to innovative projects that will push the boundaries of scientific knowledge, modern education using the latest technologies, international cooperation that will broaden our horizons, and mobility opportunities that will allow us to experience new cultures and ways of working. Let’s use all the possibilities to the fullest and together create a future that will inspire future generations.

 

UP succeeds in Aurora’s open call and receives support for projects, summer schools, and researcher mobilities

Written by Michal Zych on . Posted in Academics, Featured, Students.

The first open call aimed at fostering international scientific and academic collaboration, research mobilities, and thematic summer schools, was very much welcomed across the Aurora network. UP is the coordinator of one of the seven supported projects and participates in two others as a partner. It will also participate in the organisation of a summer school and will send two students for research mobilities at partner institutions.

The Call for Incentive Research Collaboration was launched earlier this year as part of the Aurora 2030 programme supported by the European Universities Initiative under the auspices of the European Commission. Applications for the next round will be open in early 2025.

Joint scientific research projects

“In the first year of the call, 26 eligible projects were submitted. These were subsequently evaluated by the Aurora Research Council, to which scientists from each of Aurora’s partner universities across the disciplinary spectrum were appointed. The results were then approved by the Aurora’s Vice-Rectors for Research. Based on the evaluation by both bodies, seven projects were awarded support totalling €104,000; Palacký University Olomouc is represented in three of them,” says Marie Jadrníčková, Aurora Research Officer at UP.

As the coordinator, UP was successful with the NUTRIAGE24 project. Its principal investigator, Romana Klášterecká from the UP Faculty of Science, will work with colleagues from Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain and the University of Iceland to address the issue of healthy ageing. They will focus on the relationship between nutrition, health, and environment in adults, taking into account their living situations and the social determinants that influence access to proper foods.

UP is also a partner in two other funded projects. The ETHICAL project, coordinated by the University of Naples, Italy, together with the University of Innsbruck, Austria, also involves Lucie Macková from the UP Faculty of Science. The main objective is to develop a comprehensive model that captures migration flows within the European Union. This study will include the broader dynamics of migration within and towards the EU and take into account the complex factors that contribute to migration trends and patterns.

The use of fertilisers and pesticides in the cultivation of medicinal plants can have adverse impacts on herbal products and extracts. The VALOR-LIGHT project will therefore seek to offer solutions through organic, self-sustaining farming methods and environmentally friendly products that protect the health of consumers. It is led by the University of Innsbruck, and brings together five partner universities, including the affiliated P.J. Šafárik University in Košice, Slovakia. Lukáš Spíchal, Head of CATRIN-CRH, will participate on behalf of UP.

Thematic Summer Schools

In the second key activity, the Department of Chemical Biology at the UP Faculty of Science succeeded as a partner in the CIRAGRO summer school. This is coordinated by the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and together with the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, will focus on circular economy in the agro-industrial sector.

Short-term scientific research mobilities

The best evaluation among the applicants from UP was awarded by the Aurora Research Council to students Tadeáš Volný and Eliška Postavová from the Department of Optics at the UP Faculty of Science. Volný will take part in a researcher mobility in Innsbruck with Prof Tracy Northup, while Postavová will head to the Department of Physics at the University of Naples.

Further information on the results is available on the main Aurora website. New calls and other opportunities for UP students and employees are also regularly published on UP’s Aurora website.

Rector Martin Procházka elected President of the Aurora university network

Written by Michal Zych on . Posted in Featured.

Martin Procházka, Rector of Palacký University Olomouc, will lead the European university network Aurora as of the new academic year. He was elected its president by the Aurora General Council during the Aurora Spring Biannual 2024, which is currently underway in Naples, Italy. More than 170 representatives from 15 participating institutions are attending the meeting to discuss the development of international education, stakeholder engagement, and technology transfer.

The four-day meeting where members of the Aurora European university network are meeting together right now is called Aurora Spring Biannual 2024. Palacký University Olomouc joined the network as an associate member in 2020 and became a full member of the Aurora Network global university consortium in May 2022. After another term of intensive cooperation, UP Rector Martin Procházka was nominated for the position of President-Elect at the beginning of this year.

In yesterday’s election, he received full support from the members of the Aurora General Council, and thus will replace the current president, University of Iceland Rector Jón Atli Benediktsson, in September. During the ceremony, Rector Procházka presented him with a vase made of Bohemian glass to thank him for his service. “Jón Atli, this gift is not only a token of our friendship, but also a symbol of your excellent work for Aurora. Bohemian crystal, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship, shines with the combination of tradition and innovation that we strive for at Aurora and reflects our commitment to excellence in education and research,” said Procházka.

In his acceptance speech, he emphasised that in his role as President, he wants to give the universities and all members of the community space for expression and the opportunity to shape the future of both Aurora and European higher education together. “My mission is to build bridges – between cultures, institutions, and even the whole of the world. Our commitment is to grow together within this connection, to develop Aurora, and to expand our ambitions with other global partners.”

A key element of Aurora are students. One of its executive bodies is the Student Council, whose president is Hanuš Patera who studies psychology at the UP Faculty of Arts. “The students’ enthusiasm and their ideas are a great inspiration to us all. As President, I will aim to continue working to create a student-oriented and inclusive environment,” underlined Procházka.

The Aurora Spring Biannual 2024 was commenced Monday evening with a welcome reception in the historic premises of the University of Naples Federico II, which celebrates 800 years of its existence this year. In addition to the election of a new president, Tuesday’s programme included a roundtable discussion on the development of joint international study programmes, and lectures on participatory democracy and citizen science. UP Vice-Rector for Strategy and Regional Affairs Michal Malacka was a guest speaker at the Stakeholder Engagement and Social Entrepreneurship in European Alliances roundtable.

In addition to the handover of the presidency, another festive moment of yesterday’s programme was the signing of the Aurora Sustainable Development Plan, which was designed thanks to the work of the Sustainable Campus team led by Palacký University.

The programme of today and tomorrow will be dedicated to a plenary session led by students. This will be followed by breakout sessions of the vice-rectors, executive committees, and individual working groups. These will focus on education, science, and research, as well as other shared themes such as IT development, health and wellbeing, sustainability, and communication. In addition to the members of the Aurora Student Council, there are other student ambassadors at each university who will be able to get to know each other during a special workshop.

Save the date: International Conference on ‘The Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding’

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Events, Featured.

The Aurora Karazin University Peace Education Hub invites you to a 5-day International Conference on ‘The Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding’ hosted by the Unit for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Innsbruck, from the 17th to 21st of February 2025.

This conference aims to bring together international experts – both academics and practitioners in the peacebuilding sector – with higher education policymakers from the Aurora Universities Alliance and its partners, to discuss how the higher education institutions in Ukraine and elsewhere can become a driver of peace and sustainable development.

More information, including the call for papers will be announced soon! 

 

 

Call for Incentive Research Collaboration

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Featured, Students.

To foster tangible scientific and academic collaboration, this call aims to promote cooperation between researchers, and create new or consolidate existing scientific relationships. Its vision is to build robust scientific communities among the Aurora universities and raise awareness about Aurora on a broader academic level. This call will be repeated on an annual basis for at least four years and supports three key actions: 

Incentive and Collaborative Research Projects

This action supports concrete exploratory research activities by research teams with single or multiple disciplines that put forward the complementarity of competences and approaches.

Thematic Summer Schools

This action supports the organisation of thematic summer schools focused on disciplinary training for early-stage researchers and serves as opportunities for career development, knowledge sharing, and network/community-building.

Short-term Research Secondments for Early-stage Researchers

This action supports short-term mobility in a research laboratory or unit of an Aurora 2030 full-member university.

Submission Process

To submit a proposal for the three key actions, please read the Call for Incentive Research Collaboration and fill out the respective forms listed below: 

Once completed, please e-mail the application to aurora@u-pec.fr with the subject: Submission to Aurora Research 2024 Call_(Name of Principal Investigator)_(University of Principal Investigator). File name: Proposal KA (1,2, or 3)_Name (Principal Investigator)-University (of Principal Investigator)_(project acronym).

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 12 p.m. (CET) on April 30, 2024.

Looking back at the Aurora Fall Biannual 2023

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Events, Featured, Students.

Last month, Palacký University Olomouc hosted the Aurora Fall Biannual 2023 on October 17th and 18th for in Olomouc, Czechia. The event brought together over 200 participants hailing from 18 universities from within the Aurora community and beyond.

Watch the Aurora Fall Biannual aftermovie

The Aurora Fall Biannual focused on taking stock of Aurora’s achievements as part of the European Universities initiative.

These European developments took center stage in the plenary sessions and panels:

  1. Aurora Pilot Phase: Aurora Model Alliance?
  2. The impact and role of European Universities on future of Higher Education in Europe
  3. Alliance Exchange – Balancing Education, Research Innovation and Social Responsibility
  4. Toward student-centered European University Alliances

Aurora’s commitment to sustainability was also highlighted during the event, with an opening presentation and plenary session dedicated to Aurora’s work on making our community greener and more sustainable.

Collaboration within Aurora was further strengthened by the momentous singing of a Memorandum of understanding on the sharing of research infrastructure, as well as the signing of the second version of the Multilateral Aurora Mobility Agreement (MAMA).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next to the retrospective of Aurora’s remarkable accomplishments, the Aurora community came together to look forward to the exciting prospects that lie ahead.Participants also engaged in thought-provoking Thematic sessions on prominent Aurora topics suchs as COIL, the Aurora Competence Framework, and Technology Transfer.  

Want to relive the biannual or catch up on any sessions you missed? You can watch back the recordings of the plenary sessions below:

🎥 17/10/2023 –  Day 1

🎥 18/10/2023 –  Day 2

You can find a selection of photos below, the full photo gallery of the biannual can be downloaded here.

Aurora’s European University programme secured continued funding

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Featured, Students.

Aurora’s European University programme secured continued funding

Palacký University Olomouc is delighted to announce that the Aurora European University programme has secured a second round of funding under the 2023 European Universities Initiative Call by the European Commission. This ensures that Aurora can deepen its existing cooperation and continue its mission in higher education transformation.

Michal Malacka, Vice-rector for strategy and external relations commented that: “Aurora’s successful continuation to the next phase is a great achievement of the entire Aurora team and community. It is also a great reward to a hard-working Aurora team at UP, and we are excited to continue building our European University with 8 excellent strategic partners.  For UP, Aurora ensures important partaking in the European higher education developments.”

The upcoming Aurora 2030 consortium, led by the University of Iceland, has been granted funding for a four-year period. This programme, which received 90/100 evaluative points from the Commission, builds on the significant progress made during the 2020-2023 pilot phase. Aurora President Jon Atli Benediktsson joyously shares:

“I am delighted that Aurora 2030 has been awarded a four-year continuation grant by the European Commission. This is a strong vote of confidence in Aurora’s mission to equip students with the skills and mindsets needed to address societal challenges. This new grant will allow us to continue working closely with our partners across Europe and beyond.”

The new programme will feature both a continuation of existing, as well as completely new Aurora activities. UP has significantly increased the role it will play in this new programme, with UP Aurora Institutional Coordinator, Selma Porobic commenting:

“I am very pleased to announce that UP has increased its leadership in a number of activities in the next Aurora programme, including Capacity Building and Community Engagement Work focusing on CEE countries and Ukraine, Engaging Regional Ecosystems and Stakeholders, Aurora Sustainable Campus, Aurora Student Community, and overall Sustainability of Aliance 2030+. We have also secured co-leadership in Education for Sustainable Devlopment, Innovative pedagogies, Academic collaboration, Social entrepreneurship and Innovation, Communication and dissemination, as well as Student services.”

More information on Aurora’s goals and priorities for this renewed commitment can be found here.

The Czech National Agency for international education, Dům zahraniční spolupráce, was also happy to congratulate UP being among the select Czech universities awarded continued support by the commission. They provided an overview of continuing and newly funded European University Alliances with Czech members here.  

About Aurora
The Aurora 2030 consortium comprises the University of Iceland (UIce), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA), University of Innsbruck (UIBK), University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Palacký University Olomouc (UP), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Université Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), and the University of Napoli Federico II (UNINA) as well as seven associated academic and non-academic partners including University of East Anglia (UEA), South-West University “Neofit Rilski” (SWUNR), Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJSK), the University of Tetova (UT), Kharkiv National University, European Forum Alpbach, Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence (CIMEA) who together span 13 countries.

 

Aurora Fall Biannual at Palacky University Olomouc

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Events, Featured, Students.

Join us at the Palacký University Olomouc on October 17th and 18th for the highly anticipated Aurora Fall Biannual 2023 in Olomouc, Czechia.

More information on the biannual can be found here.

Experience a retrospective of Aurora’s remarkable accomplishments and delve into the exciting prospects that lie ahead. Engage in thought-provoking high-level panel discussions on the future of European Higher Education and connect with colleagues from across Aurora and much more.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something truly extraordinary. Register now to claim your spot at the Aurora Fall Biannual 2023.

Pre-register Now!

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