Aurora Spring Biannual a great success for Palacký University

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

The Aurora Spring Biannual which took place in Innsbruck between the 10th and the 12th of May was a great success for Palacký University, looking back on our achievements so far and paving the way for the road ahead.  

Palacký University Olomouc has been elected to become a full member of the Aurora Network, now giving us full access to decision-making within Aurora.  

Palacký University Olomouc was awarded this improved position due to our excellent contribution to the Aurora European University Alliance programme, leading by example in its implementation.

The Aurora Network is focused on fulfilling the global mission of Aurora, stretching beyond the borders of Europe and the European Universities Initiative. Its various tasks include lobbying, international outreach, and collaboration with non-European partners in the field of education and research.    

JUDr. Mag. iur. Michal Malacka, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Regional Affairs and UP’s Aurora Strategic Manager: “We are really pleased with the great success of our entire UP team in paving the way towards becoming a full member of the Aurora Network after one and half year of intense Aurora Alliance collaborations. Network membership guarantees the full potential of our university to accelerate towards becoming global leaders in innovative education, research, and sustainable growth.”

During the biannual special consideration was given to the horrendous aggressions faced by our Ukrainian colleagues at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Tetyana Kaganovska, the president of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University made the perilous journey from Kharkiv to Innsbruck to show appreciation for our support raising a substantial amount of money  and support to Karazin University’s continuing academic mission.

Other important takeaways of the Biannual are UP signing a Letter of Intent with our Aurora Partners to create an innovative European Master’s degree in Digital Society & Global Citizenship. “Palacký University’s contribution to the development of this European Degree is a great opportunity for us to be at the forefront of these cutting-edge developments” according to Vit Zouhar, Vice-rector for Education. This interdisciplinary joint-degree will be developed in the months to come.

Student participation is at the heart of Aurora’s mission and goals through Aurora Student Schemes. Starting this summer, they are being led by Palacký University. A call for application will be published at the end of June.

Sustainable growth and development, one of the main topics of the biannual, remains an important priority for all Aurora Universities.  Zuzana Hunkova, Palacký University’s Coordinator for Sustainable Development: “We have proposed to the Board of Presidents that each university will count their baseline CO2e emissions, implement Aurora travel codex, and set and publish at least three targets from eight areas defined in the Sustainable Campus Action Plan.”

For more information on the excellent work of the Aurora Universities, and our continued collaboration offering opportunities to our students make sure to visit our renewed website aurora-universities.eu or aurora.upol.cz

Press statement – President of V.N Karazin Kharkiv University, Ukraine on the Aurora Biannual in Innsbruck

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

During the Aurora Spring Biannual special consideration was given to the horrendous aggressions faced by our Ukrainian colleagues at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Tetyana Kaganovska, the rector of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University made the perilous journey from Kharkiv to Innsbruck to appeal for our support, below you will find her statement . 

Original PDF Available here.  

“I travelled here to be with you, despite of the dangerous journey through my home country to share my feelings and gratitude. Right now we are going through its hardest survival moments since Ukrainian independence. I come bearing a witness of war, killing and displacement of my staff and students. In these moments, I am especially honored to be able to in-person represent our community of Kharkiv Karazin University from the East of Ukraine.

Our University is a consolidated team of 28,000 employees and students, proud of their educational institution’s 217-year history. According to the QS rating, we are the best Ukrainian university, the country’s powerhhouse of educational and scientific resources. The University is the heart of Kharkiv, and it remains in Kharkiv, despite the city’s being shelled and numerous attempts of siege lasting for 77 days.

We were able to shelter the University’s staff and students as best we could and launched the educational process remotely on the 33rd day of the war. Our teachers give lectures from basements and shelters, and those who have left the country – from different parts of the world. Many students volunteer by day and study by night. Many of our students, teachers, graduates are now among the defenders of Ukraine. The University’s humanitarian headquarters is working to help those who were hit the hardest. We are working on the restoration of the destroyed buildings, the sports complex and dormitories.

Unfortunately, there are irreparable losses in the University family. At least 17 people are known to have perished, among them 2 students, 5 professors and 10 alumni’s.

And yet, we are fighting and actively planning the future University activities. We continue to cooperate with partners in Ukraine and abroad as we believe that the values of freedom and justice will prevail. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Aurora Alliance partners who from the very first days of invasion were active in supporting and helping. Partners who encouraged us, gave hope that all the European Academic Community is backing up Ukraine.

The dedicated team of Aurora CDS (Community Development Support program) immediately reacted to our newly faced war-conditions. We worked together to assess the urgent needs. The Action plan was created. The plan where the supporting mission for “right now”, “short-term” and “long term” help was highlighted. First, it was a financial aid to support our on-line education. But, what is more important that Action plan projects the needs into long-term collaborations with all the partner universities. It will help Karazin to overcome the war destruction, and to rebuild our future.

Moreover, half of the staff and student are now displaced, internally or abroad, being hosted by the Aurora universities as well. We are deeply moved and grateful for all European universities providing them opportunity to work and study in these extreme conditions for us. We have a strong wish to be able to join you as academic community and as reliable partner as soon as the war ends. I took a personal risk to both thank you for your support and to tell you that we will resist and prevail in our fight for independence and democracy.”

Tetyana Kaganovska, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv University President

 

 

Exciting Hybrid Workshop about Generation Z and Co-engaging your Student Communities

Written by R N on . Posted in Academics, Events, Students.

Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, refers to the youngest generation born between 1996 and 2010, that will soon after finishing their studies enter the workforce and become a leading and influential part of the society. 
 
Would you like to learn more about the Gen Z while addressing them with different information at your institutions? 
 
Together with Strateggo, a Prague-based Strategic Marketing Agency, Palacký University conducted an extensive survey in November 2021, and would like to share the findings that can be relevant to all Aurora universities, working on the co-engagement of their young student communities.

The workshop on Generation Z with Mr. Císař from Strateggo will be held on May 12 from 10:00-12:00 in a hybrid form at Palacký University @ Tř. Svobody 26, room 4.41.

Participants can register online for both in-person and online participation by using these two links:

Palacký participants University can register via this link: https://czv-up.upol.cz/cs/registration/2353/detail/terms

Aurora Participants and from Associate partners can register via this link: https://czv-up.upol.cz/en/registration/2355/detail/terms

 

Capacity Development Support (CDS) Awareness Raising and Training event at University of Tetova, North Macedonia (30-31 March 2022)

Written by R N on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Events, Students.

The 4th CDS Awareness Raising and Training event was hosted by the University of Tetova (UT) in North Macedonia on 30-31 March 2022. It was organized in collaboration with the Aurora CDS Task Team at Palacky University (UP) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). The central theme of the event was: “Transforming Higher Education with a focus on Social entrepreneurship & Diversity and inclusion”. The two-day training event took place in hybrid format: online via Zoom and face-to-face at UT campus in Tetova. The event was open to academic and non-academic staff of the Associate university partners and members of the broader CDS Network involved in teaching, students’ mobility, internationalization of study programmes and university social engagement.

Training on social entrepreneurship was conducted online by Prof. Kai Hockerts (Copenhagen Business School) and Dr. Ondřej Kročil and Prof. Jaroslava Kubátová (Palacky University Olomouc). Diversity and inclusion was presented in person by Prof. Ruard Ganzevoort (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).

The training sessions were video-recorded and made available together with all training materials through the AURORA-CDS virtual catalogue: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lUMjCSIOUHjvfdhDrl8EWG37ciRvhEV-?usp=sharing.

2022 Aurora Spring School in Transferable Skills – free of charge for UPOL students!

Written by R N on . Posted in Events, Students.

Period: 4-5 May 2022

Training: 2022 Spring School in Transferable Skills

Hosting university: University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Brief description: Are you thinking about the next step in your career? This 2-day online Spring School in Transferable Skills will focus on developing skills in grant and CV writing, and how to get a faculty position. We will give an overview of the breadth of interviews that can be expected on your interview journey and will provide a space to practise interview questions. We will discuss about team management, public engagement, gender equality and communication in academia and research.

Target group: The School is open to all undergraduate, master and PhD students of Unina and the Aurora network from the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) area.

Modality: online on Zoom – a link to the event will be sent to all participants.

Organisers: The School is organized by the Internationalization Committee of the Department of Pharmacy in collaboration with the network Aurora and the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom).

  • Pasquale Maffia, University of Naples Federico II/University of Glasgow (Chair International Committee Department of Pharmacy)
  • Valeria Costantino, University of Naples Federico II (Internationalization Dean for Erasmus)

Tuition fee: no

Flyer: see attachment

Registration: please send an email to internationalfarmacia@unina.it by the 1st of May!

Check the flyer here

Join us at the International Co-creation Learning Lab in Amsterdam!

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

The International Co-creation Learning Lab (April 28th to 30th , 2022) will be held at VU Amsterdam and will provide a platform for Co-creation experts, practitioners, interested researchers and educators, students and community partners to discuss and share knowledge and experiences on co-creation practices aimed towards connecting science and society. This learning lab is for teachers, academic staff and researchers, as well as PhD students (who can obtain 3 ECTS by participating in this training). Come join us to discuss and practice co-creation with international experts from Aurora Universities through interactive, engaging and innovative co-creative sessions.  

Also, a highlight and added motivation to travel might be the Netherlands King’s day celebration that will commence from April 27th – all the way to the weekend! If you have time – we would definitely encourage you to come to Amsterdam by the evening of April 26th – so you can join in some additional celebrations that take place the night before the King’s day!

Register Here

 

The International Co-creation Learning Labis FREE for all Aurora partners/members to participate.

Click here for the full program

The main aim of the event are as follows:

  • Facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences on co-creation (best practices, pitfalls, innovations)
  • Connect co-creation experts, practitioners, students, and community partners from around the world
  • Build an engaged community of co-creation practitioners
  • Foster co-creation practices in research and education within and beyond Aurora

Some of the co-creation experts at the event include:

  • Dr. Marjolein Zweekhorst, VUA, The Netherlands
  • Dr. Jaqueline Broerse, VUA, The Netherlands
  • Dr. Wolfgang Stark, UDE, Germany
  • Dr. Marco Biondi, UNINA, Italy
  • Dr. Barbara Majello, UNINA, Italy
  • Dr. Johan Fuller, UINN, Austria
  • Karsten Altenschmidt, UDE, Germany
  • Maxim Tomoszek, UPOL, The Czech Republic
  • Veronika Tomoszkova, UPOL, The Czech Republic
  • Pavel Veselsky, UPOL, The Czech Republic
  • Anna Maria Segarra, URV, Spain
  • Eleni Papaoikonoumou, URV, Spain
  • … and many more!

Check out the VU Events page here

Soft skills development through video gaming – 5 Day Ph.D. course in Iceland

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Students.

The University of Iceland is offering an great innovative course for Ph.D. students, to develop their soft skill through video games!

Apply here before March 20th! 

You will learn about and enhance three types of own soft skills. These are, first, Cognitive Flexibility, defined as the ability to see patterns and generate different options to analyse and solve problems in new situations. Second, is the Team Management skill, i.e., the ability to motivate, develop and direct people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. Third, the Judgement and Decision-Making skill, i.e., considering relative strengths and weaknesses of the possible actions and to choose the most appropriate one.

At the end of the course you will be able to:

  • possess clear abilities to adapt to new situations and improve their thinking “outside the box”
  • show leadership skills and values
  • analyse how individual and collective actions can be guided
  • argue and issue valid judgments based on the collectionof reliable information
  • take the initiative in actions proactively

Detailed information on the course, its contents and methods can be found here. 

Students need to organize and pay for own travel, food, and accommodation. If you apply, you are elligible to receive funding through Aurora. Contact aurora.up@upol.cz for more information.

 

Czech for Beginners – Free Online Course

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

Would you like to learn how to say “strč prst skrz krk” , and do you want to start learning a Slavonic language? Than this is the course for you!

Through this online course of Czech for beginners, you will start your discovery of the Czech language, and learn all the necessary basics. This class could be an ideal preparation for a stay in the Czech Republic, for example on an Erasmus Exchange, an Aurora Mobility, or even a holiday.

The Czech for Beginners course will comprise of ten one-hour classes. The weekly classes will be taught by Tereza Koudelíková and will take place on Zoom.

This free online language course is open to all Aurora students and employees. Interested? Register for Czech for Beginners here!

The full program (pdf) of the course can be found here.

The classes take place every week on Wedneday:

    • April 6, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • April 13, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • April 20, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • April 27, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • May 4, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • May 11, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • May 18, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • May 25, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • June 1, 2022 03:00 PM, CET
    • June 8, 2022 03:00 PM, CET

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

After registering, you can join the classes with the zoom link below: 

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 974 8333 4287
Passcode: 378265

 

Organized by Palacký University Olomouc in the framework of the Aurora Multilinguistic Proficiency Plan.

International Mountain Conference at the University of Innsbruck

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

We´d like to call your attention and invite you to take part in the International Mountain Conference International Mountain Conference – #IMC2022.

The IMC2022 will take place from September 11 – 15 2022 in Innsbruck, Austria. It provides an excellent opportunity for experts from different disciplines to discuss mountain-related issues in a cross-disciplinary setting with flexible session formats. The key goals of the conference are to synthesize and enhance our understanding of mountain systems, in particular their response and resilience to global change.

Focus Sessions are offered in the fields of

  • Agriculture
  • Atmosphere
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate (Change)
  • Conservation
  • Cryo- & Hydrosphere
  • Ecosystems
  • ES-Forests
  • (Natural) Hazards
  • Monitoring
  • Policy Making
  • Socio-Ecology
  • Sustainable Development
  • Tourism
  • Water management

Prior to the conference , the S4SSS summer school International Mountain Conference – IMC (imc2022.info) (September 5-9)

is dedicated to PhD-students working in mountainous regions in the fields of Atmosphere, (Paleo-)Climate, Glaciers, Natural Hazards and Tourism. In contrast to classical summer schools, the focus is placed on peer-to-peer interactions to facilitate and encourage networking among the students, helping them build connections they can capitalize on in their future research careers.

 

Call for abstracts is open for both events until Feburary 16, 2022

Conference: Abstract-Submission – International Mountain Conference (imc2022.info)

Summer School: Abstract-Submission – International Mountain Conference (imc2022.info)

 

Please note: students and researchers from AURORA universities might be eligilbe for mobility grants – please check with your local AURORA office.

Aurora Social Entrepreneurship Summer University at Copenhagen Business School, 27th June – 15th  July

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

This summer, Copenhagen Business School will, for the first time, hold the Aurora Social Entrepreneurship Summer University between the 27th of June and the 15th  of July). Sign up now! 

There are six reserved spots for students from UPOL. You can take the course free of cost and can also apply for an Aurora travel grant to cover your travel and hotel cost. 

There are two different courses (both give 7.5 ECTS), one introductory course for bachelor students and one business modeling course for master students. In both cases you will do site visits with interesting social entrepreneurs. Moreover, participants will work on a practical project and you will be able to submit your final product for the #impaktWISE Awards, where you have the chance to win start-up funding of ca. 3000 Euros. 

The links to the course descriptions are here: 

Application is open from 17 February until 15 March. Students can sign up here:   
https://www.cbs.dk/en/study/international-summer-university/application-and-fees.