Students

Aurora’s European University programme secured continued funding

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 10. 7. 2023. 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 Student Council

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 18. 6. 2023. Posted in Students.

Aurora Student Council

The Aurora Student Council is made up of representatives from across the Aurora Universities, working to support and help advise the Aurora universities’ senior management to help drive its collective ambitions forward. Each university is represented by two students. As a council, the ASC is committed to the social impact of our activities, with a common interest in the SDGs, engaging our student communities in everything we do. You can read more about the the Aurora Student Council here.

The Aurora Student Council is headed by an elected president. The current president of the Aurora Student Council is Hanuš Patera (Hanus.patera@gmail.com). The student council also has a Vice-president, a secretary and a communications officers. All these roles are fulfilled by members of the ASC, and are elected internally on a yearly basis.

Palacký University Olomouc is represented by two students. Our current Aurora Student Council Participants are:

Hanuš Patera – ASC President
Lucie Baďurová – ASC Communications Officer

You can follow the Aurora Student Council on Intagram @aurorastudentcouncil.

Interested in becoming one of Palacky University’s Aurora Representatives, reach out to Niels Hexspoor for more information.

Aurora Student Ambassador Program

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 18. 6. 2023. Posted in Students.

Aurora Student Ambassador Program

Do you want to broaden your horizons? Are you looking to meet students from all over Europe and develop your personal and professional competences? In that case the Aurora Student Ambassador programme is perfect for you.

The Aurora Student Ambassador programme is the easiest way for you to engage with the Aurora project. At the center of the activities are a series of online and in-person workshops that will focus on developing your professional skills and deepening your understanding of Aurora and its topics! Some of the work-shop topics include:

Intercultural Competences
Presenting
Environmental Sustainability
Student Leadership
Social Media Training

Being an Aurora student Ambassador is also a great way to meet students with similar interests, both in Olomouc and abroad!

Task Team Participation

To get the most out of your experience as an Aurora Student Ambassador, we recommend you sign up to join an Aurora Task team. You will join a working group of up international professionals, as well as other students, to give your opinion and contribute to the work done.

If you are able to dedicate between 12-40 hours, and want to develop skills, work in a professional network you should join an Aurora Task Team, as part of your Student Ambassador Experience! This will allow you to help build and directly contribute to Aurora.

For more information on the possibilities for UP Students within Aurora, please contact Niels Hexspoor (niels.hexspoor@upol.cz).

The Aurora Student Conference brought together the Aurora Student Community

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 16. 6. 2023. Posted in Academics, Students.

We are thrilled to share the highlights of the Aurora Student Conference, organized by Palacky University Olomouc on the 26th of May. The conference brought together the diverse layers of Aurora Student representation and was organized to foster connections, building a strong sense of community among students.

Held in conjunction with the Aurora Creative Writing Workshop, the Aurora Student Conference provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage with fellow Aurora students, from across various programs. This integration added an exciting dimension to the conference, allowing students to come together and forge new friendships.

With a total of 32 participants from nine different universities, the Aurora Student Conference was a melting pot of enthusiastic individuals. The group comprised members of the Aurora Student Council, dedicated Student Ambassadors and Champions, as well as members of the general student body.

What made this conference truly special was the pre-existing connections that many of the students had formed through previous Aurora opportunities, such as the Student Schemes, Biannuals, and other events organized across the alliance. These established bonds served as a strong foundation, enhancing the value of the event by deepening connections and fostering a genuine sense of belonging within the Aurora community.

Student mental health took center stage during the conference. Hanus Patera and Lucie Badurova, Student Council representatives for Palacky University Olomouc, led a compelling peer-learning workshop on mental health and mindfulness. Their insightful and practical approach to the topic truly resonated with the attendees. In addition, Niels Hexspoor facilitated an workshop on intercultural communication and competences, empowering students to reflect on and develop their intercultural skills.

Furthermore, the Aurora Student Conference provided a platform for an in-person meeting of the Aurora Student Council. While the council members convened, the session was also open to students who were not part of the council, promoting inclusivity and amplifying the diverse voices within Aurora.

As the conference drew to a close, participants were invited to a joint dinner. It was a delightful conclusion to an eventful and rewarding gathering.Stay tuned for more exciting events and opportunities to engage with fellow Aurora students as we continue to grow our Aurora Student Community.

Report – Aurora Student Conference

Looking back at the inspiring Aurora Creative Writing Workshop

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 16. 6. 2023. Posted in Academics, Students.

From the 22nd to the 26th of May 2023, Palacký University Olomouc and the University of East Anglia joined hands to host the Aurora Creative Writing Workshop.

In a testament to the power of collaboration, the Department of English and American Studies of Palacký University Olomouc, and the esteemed School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing of the University of East Anglia partnered to deliver an exceptional Creative Writing Workshop. This event embodied the spirit of international cooperation, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and nurturing budding writers.

During the workshop, participants embarked on a creative journey, delving into various writing genres and refining their craft. Guided by their instructors Andrea Holland and Logan Scott, this immersive experience kindled participants’ imaginations, allowing them to push the boundaries of their creativity and hone their writing skills.

The workshop’s true essence lay in the invaluable opportunity for writers to engage with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Participants represented 5 different Aurora Universities and hailed from various countries across the globe. The workshop program comprised an array of dynamic sessions, including writing exercises, and workshops. The Aurora Creative Writing Workshop connected to the Aurora Student Conference, allowing for even greater connectivety among Aurora Students.

Throughout the week, participants explored the richness of cross-cultural perspectives, fostering a sense of global awareness and understanding. The week culminated in an inspiring public reading, during which the participants presented the work they produced during the week.

Beyond honing their writing abilities, the workshop fostered connections that extended beyond the workshop’s timeframe. Through collaborative workshops, peer feedback, and social events, participants formed meaningful relationships with fellow Aurora students, laying the foundation for future collaborations and mutual support in their creative journeys.

As we reflect on the Creative Writing Workshop held between the 22nd and 26th of May 2023, organized by Palacký University Olomouc and the University of East Anglia, we celebrate the transformative experiences, cross-cultural connections, and enduring friendships that were forged during this remarkable event. A detailed breakdown of the event can be found below.

Report – Aurora Creative Writing Workshop & Aurora Student Conference

Aurora Three Minute Thesis – Livestream on 08/06 at 15:00 CEST

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 5. 6. 2023. Posted in Academics, Students.

On the 8th of June (15:00-18:00, CEST) doctoral researchers from the Aurora Universities compete against each other in the The Three Minute Thesis competition, as part of PHD Impact. The competition, organized at the University of Iceland, will be livestreamed via Zoom. Join online to follow the 30 participants or to support your colleagues and friends.

Aurora Three Minute Thesis – Flyer

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (Australia). Doctoral researchers have three minutes to give a persuasive speech about their thesis and its significance. The idea is to improve researchers’ academic, presentation and research communication skills required to effectively explain a research topic in three minutes and in language suitable for a non-expert audience.

The competition boasts a wide range of 30 talented doctoral researchers, from a variety of different dicsicplines, fields and backgrounds. Join online to learn more about their research and see which of the selected doctoral researchers will win. More information on the Aurora Three Minute Thesis competition, including a full overview of the participants, can be found here.

If you want to join the life stream, please register here.

Aurora Fall Biannual at Palacky University Olomouc

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 30. 5. 2023. 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!

Connect with us on social media using #AuroraBiannualUP

UP and Aurora moving forward with the European University initiative

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 23. 3. 2023. Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Students.

Palacký University Olomouc is happy to announce that the Aurora Alliance submitted its new proposal under the European Universities Erasmus + Call, for the intensification of prior deep institutional cooperation aiming at the systemic change of European Higher Education.

By setting innovative and diverse models of long-term institutionalized cooperation between higher education institutions across Europe, the European Universities initiative supports higher education institutions to achieve greater quality, performance, attractiveness and international competitiveness. It also promotes European values and a strengthen European identity.

In the next programme phase, from 2024-2028, the Aurora Alliance will be led by the University of Iceland and will welcome the University of Paris-Est Creteil as a full member, replacing the University of East Anglia, who will continue as an associate partner.

The new bid will extend Aurora’s commitment to positively impact society through its main priorities: teaching and learning for societal impact, engaging and collaborating through inclusive communities, being pioneers in sustainable endeavours, and providing excellent challenge-based research and innovation support.

Together, the 9 Aurora partners will continue to deliver on the joint mission and vision of equipping students with social entrepreneurial skills and mindsets, building on the results achieved in the first phase.

The activities of the new proposal were written over the course of the last six months in a close collaboration with of the experts in the field from across 9 universities, the Institutional Coordinators and the Aurora Central Office in Amsterdam. It has three main objectives:

Equip students and staff with the skills and mindset to become social innovators, changemakers and entrepreneurs;
Foster academic collaboration and community building to establish a long-term Aurora identity; and
Collaborate with external stakeholders and deepen student’s engagement in education, research and outreach.

Mirjam van Praag, President of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, said:

“So far, it has been a pleasure to lead the alliance through the start-up phase of the first bid with various initiatives for Aurora staff and students that we really can be proud of. I am very confident in continuing our collaboration with the University of Iceland as the lead.”

Jón Atli Benediktsson, President of the University of Iceland and newly re-elected President of the Aurora, expressed how pleased he was:

“After seeing the hard work and dedication of the staff and students at our universities, I am confident that the Aurora collaboration will grow and create more opportunities for our students, faculty, and the greater community”.

From 2020-2023, Aurora has been part of the 44 European University Alliances co-funded under the Erasmus+ programme led by VU Amsterdam. The current call, for both new and the continuation of existing alliances, attracted a total of 65 proposals, gathering around 500 higher education institutions as full partners. More information can be found here.

Palacký Summer Law School: Human Rights Policy Legal Clinic

Written by Niels Hexspoor on 22. 2. 2023. Posted in Events, Students.

From 24 July to 4 August 2023, the Palacký University Faculty of Law organizes the Human Rights Policy Clinic within a 2-week-long Summer Law School. This Summer Law School will allow you to experience the Human Rights Policy Legal Clinic, which normally takes a whole semester, condensed in two weeks intensive schedule.

Program Description

A Legal clinic is a special form of legal education, combining theory and practice, designed to teach not only knowledge, but also develop skills and instill values, and promote social justice. Legal clinics exist in many forms. One of them is a Policy Legal Clinic, where students do not help individual clients, but rather focus on existing legal problem from a policy perspective, usually by analysis of legal regulation and its practical application, identifying problems and deficiencies, and suggesting general measures, such as changes to legal regulation or other policy-oriented activities, to address the problem.

The Summer Law School will allow the participants to develop:

knowledge in the area of international, European and comparative human rights law (proportionality, horizontal effect, tension between universalism and particularism, equality, positive and negative obligations) and specific rights (human dignity, freedom of speech, socio-economic rights, environmental rights),
develop wide range of analytical, creative, problem-solving, legal writing and critical thinking skills, increase their sensitivity to human rights issues in general, but specifically in cross-cultural context, and
understand the importance of human rights monitoring, policing and advocacy.

During the two weeks of the Summer Law School, participants will engage in interactive sessions with human rights experts from various fields and backgrounds (attorneys, judges, human rights activists), developing their knowledge and relevant skills, which they will use over the course of the whole summer school when working in teams on analytical human rights policy projects, starting from defining and structuring the analyzed problem, researching and discussing it, presenting to others and writing and receiving feedback to their policy paper.

Students will be able to get enrolled in a formalized course at Palacký University, granting them ECTS credits.

Date and Location

Dates of the academic program: 24 July to 4 August 2023

Venue: Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Law – 17. listopadu 8, Olomouc, Czech Republic

Registration

Full fee: 490 EUR (includes academic program and catering during the academic program – 2 coffee breaks and lunch each day)

Aurora Alliance students can participate in the academic program free of charge. They may pay an optional fee of 180 EUR in order to be provided with catering during the academic program (2 coffee breaks and lunch each day). If not, there are numerous opportunities in walking distance from the summer school venue for coffee, snacks, and meals.

Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation.

This summer school offers 16 places for Aurora Alliance students and 24 places for students from other universities.

Registration is done by email, contacting Radana Kuncova (radana.kuncova@upol.cz).

Contact

To register or for more information, please contact Radana Kuncova (radana.kuncova@upol.cz)

Summer Law School – Flyer