Aurora Olomouc
Biannual 2023

Tuesday 17th – Wednesday 18th October

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

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.

Can’t attend in person? No problem! The biannual will be live streamed on YouTube!

🎥 17/10/2023 –  https://youtube.com/live/bF8gu3knHII?feature=share

🎥 18/10/2023 –  https://youtube.com/live/t3EtqMqVDiA?feature=share

Download Photos

Connect with us on social media using #AuroraBiannualUP

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To get the most out of your biannual experience, we recommend using our interactive Event App! Simply use the link below on your phone, and add the app to you home screen (more info here).

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  • Welcome Day | Monday 16 October

    Time (CET) Sessions Location
    13:00 – 17:00 Aurora RI – Coodinators and WP-leads
    Closed Door Session    		 Big Meeting Room
    UP Rectorate
    Krizkovskeho 8, Olomouc
    15:00 – 17:00 Student Council Meeting
    Closed Door Session    		 UP Student Club
    Zbrojnice University Library
    Biskupské nám. 842, Olomouc
    19:00 – 22:00 Welcome Reception VKOL – Cerveny Kostel (Red Church)
    Bezručova 3, Olomouc

    Day 1 | Tuesday 17 October

    Time (CET) Sessions Location
    8:30 – 9:00 Registration Aula
    Faculty of Law, Building B
    9:00 – 9:30

    Welcome Words

    Speakers:
    • Martin Procházka, Rector at Palacký University Olomouc, Aurora Board Member
    • Václav Stehlík, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Palacký University Olomouc
    • Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector at the University of Iceland, Aurora President
    • Zuzana Huňková,  Sustainability Manager at Palacký University Olomouc
    • Ivar Maas, Sustainability Manager at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    • Niels Hexspoor, Aurora Executive Assistant at Palacký University Olomouc
      		Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      9:30 – 10:45

      Plenary Session: Aurora Pilot Phase: Aurora Model Alliance?

      Speakers:
      • Sabine Allain Sainte-Rose, Aurora Programme Director
      • Auður Inga Rúnarsdóttir, Aurora Research & Innovation Project Manager
      • Barbara Buchenau, Aurora Work Package 3 Leader
      • Gregor Halff, Dean at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Chair of the Aurora Vice-Rectors for Education
      • Lucie Plíhalová, Vice-Rector for Research at Palacký Univeristy Olomouc, Chair of the Aurora Vice-Rectors for Research. 
      • Tetyana Kaganovska, Rector at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      10:45 – 11:00 Signing Ceremony
      Research Infrastructure Memorandum of Understanding
      MAMA Agreement      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building
      11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break Foyer
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      11:30 – 13:00

      High-level Panel 1: The impact and role of European Universities on future of Higher Education in Europe

      Introduction:

      • Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Head of the Unit in charge of European higher Education policies and programme at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

      Panel Speakers:

      • Thomas Estermann, Director at the European Universities Association in Brussels
      • Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector at the University of Iceland, Aurora President
      • Josef Matoušek, European Degree Expert at Charles University Prague, 4EU+ and ED-Affiche 
      • Hanuš Patera, President Aurora Student Council, Palacký University Olomouc 

      Moderator: Kees Kouwenaar

      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break Foyer
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:00 – 15:30 Presidents’ Strategic Dicussion
      Closed Door Session      		 Big Meeting Room
      UP Rectorate
      Krizkovskeho 8, Olomouc
      14:30 – 15:30

      Plenary Session: “Sustainability Talks”

      Speakers:

      • Lorenzo Rieg, Sustainablity Coordinator at the Universität Innsbruck
      • Zuzana Huňková, Sustainability Manager at Palacký University Olomouc
      • Aurora Sustainable Campus Guests
      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 Break Out Sessions See Tab: “Break Out Sessions”
      15:30 – 16:00 Coffee Break Foyer
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      15:00 – 16:30 General Council Meeting
      Closed Door Session      		 Big Meeting Room
      UP Rectorate
      Krizkovskeho 8, Olomouc
      16:00 – 17:00 Break Out Sessions See Tab: “Break Out Sessions”
      16:00 – 17:00 Thematic Session:
      ‘COIL: Innovating at the Intersection of Virtual Exchange and Sustainability Education with Aurora and Beyond’      		 Maly Sal I.
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 Thematic Session:
      Aurora Competence Framework Roundtable      		 Maly Sal II.
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:30 – 18:30 IC Meeting
      Closed Door Session      		 Big Meeting Room
      UP Rectorate
      Krizkovskeho 8, Olomouc
      17:00 – 19:00 Free Time
      19:00 – 20:00 Guided Tour of Olomouc Faculty of Law, Building B
      20:00 – 22:00 Regional Museum Visit and Networking Hour Olomouc Regional Museum
      nám. Republiky 5, Olomouc

      Day 2 | Wednesday 18 October

      Time (CET) Sessions Location
      9:00 – 9:30 Registration Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      9:30 – 11:00

      High-level Panel II: Alliance Exchange – Balancing Education, Research Innovation and Social Responsibility

      Speakers:
      • Lenka Rovná, Management Board 4EU+ Alliance, and Charles University Prague
      • Ignasi Salvado-Estivill, Director for Research Promotion at Alianza 4 Universidades
      • Werner Wutscher, founder and managing director of New Venture Scouting
      • Marjolein Zweekhorst, professor Innovation and education at the Athena Institute at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
      • Lucie Kotková, PhD Candidate at Palacký University Olomouc, winner of Aurora PhD Impact Symposium

      Moderator: Selma Porobic

      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break Foyer
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      11:30 – 13:00

      Panel III: Toward student-centered European University Alliances

      Speakers:
      • Hanuš Patera, Aurora Student Council President, Palacký University Olomouc
      • Ivo Garnham, Aurora Student Council Vice-President, University of East Anglia
      • Nana-Kirstine Bruhn Rasmussen, Aurora Student Council Secretary, University of Iceland
      • Lucie Baďurová, Aurora Student Council Communication Officer, Palacký University Olomouc
      • Damir Solak, European Student Union, EDUC Alliance Student Representative , Masaryk University Brno

      Moderator: Hanuš Patera, Niels Hexspoor 
      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      11:30 – 13:00 Vice-Rectors for Education Meeting
      Closed Door Session      		 Room K21
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      11:30 – 13:00 Vice-Rectors for Research Meeting
      Closed Door Session      		 Big Meeting Room
      UP Rectorate
      Krizkovskeho 8, Olomouc
      13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break Foyer
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 16:00 Thematic Session:
      ‘From science to Entrepreneurship’      		 Maly Sal II.
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 16:00

      Thematic Session:
      LOUIS Competence Framework

      https://uni-due.zoom.us/j/63182273137?pwd=b2xhakNQTlVmaFZ3b2c4WGZ6amNzQT09

      		Room K21
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 16:00

      World Cafe
      Topics:
      1. Sustainable Campus
      2. Popularisation of Science
      3. Diversity and Inclusion
      4. Capacity Building and Outreach

      		 Maly Sal I.
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 16:30 Closing Ceremony

      Speakers:
      • Michal Malacka, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Regional Affairs at Palacký University Olomouc
      • Selma Porobić, Aurora Institutional Coordinator at Palacký University Olomouc
      • Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector at the University of Iceland, Aurora President
      		 Aula
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:30 – 19:00 Free Time
      19:00 – 22:00

      Farewell Reception

      		 Archbishop’s Palace
      Wurmova 562/9, Olomouc

       Event App: For more information, locations and more we recommend our event app.

    • Accomodation

      There are many hotels in and around Olomouc’s beautiful city centre. The centre is compact, and well-served by various tram lines. Below, please find a selection of recommended hotels:

      Hotel Flora Olomouc

      Situated next to one of the cities main parks, the Flora Hotel, offers georgeos views of the city. It is a 20 minute walk, or 8 minute tram-ride away from the Biannual venue.

      Hotel Flora Olomouc

      Long Story Short 

      Less then a 10 minute walk from the main venue, Long Story Short offer both stylish private hotel rooms and modern dorm style rooms, at affordable rates.

      Long Story Short

      OREA Hotel Arigone

      Located in the heart of Olomouc’s historic city centre, to get to the main venue from the Orea Hotel Arigone takes about 5 minutes by foot.

      Orea Hotel Arigone

      Clarion Congress Hotel Olomouc

      The Clarion Congress Hotel Olomouc, is conveniently situated next to the Olomouc Train Station, at walking distance from the biannual venues. 

      Clarion Congress Hotel Olomouc

      Theresian Hotel Olomouc

      This beautiful hotel in the centre of Olomouc is situated a stylishly renovated historic building. It is a 20 minute walk, or 8 minute tram-ride away from the Biannual venue.

      Theresian Hotel Olomouc

      Getting to Olomouc

      If you travel by air, we recommend Prague, Brno or Vienna airports as a destination. Due to its location right in the middle of Moravia, Olomouc is easily accessible by road and train. Trains and buses operate on a frequent and regular basis.

      For detailed instructions on how to get to Olomouc easily, visit our dedicate arirval page.

      Arrival to Palacky University

    • Break-out Sessions

      During the biannual, we encourage workpackages and task teams to meet to collaborate and work together. We offer two dedicated slots for break out sessions. In the table below you can see where and when your TT is scheduled to meet.
      For those who have not booked a session, a flexible workspace is available right upstairs.

      Break-out Slot 1 – Tue 17 October 14:30 – 15:30
      Time (CET) Task Team Location
      14:30 – 15:30 3.3 Borderless Learning Room 1.51
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 3.4.4 Culture: Diversity & Identity Room 3.33
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 3.5 Teaching For Societal Impact Room 3.22
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 4.2 Aurora Research Platforms Room K22
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 4.4 Capacity Development Support Room 1.27
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 6.2 Communication & Dissemination Room 2.19
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      14:30 – 15:30 EURIDICE Room K21
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      Break-out Slot 2 – Tue 17 October 16:00 – 17:00
      Time (CET) Task Team Location
      16:00 – 17:00 2.1 Quality Room K22
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 3.1 Aurora Competence Framework Room 2.19
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 3.4.1 Sustainability & Climate Change Room 1.51
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 4.3 Social Entrepreneurship Room 3.22
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 5.2 SDG Education Dashboard Room 2.11
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 5.3 Sustainable Campus Room 3.33
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 6.2 Communication & Dissemination Room K21
      Faculty of Law, Building B
      16:00 – 17:00 Aurora RI WP2 Science & Technology Park
      Envelopa
      16:00 – 17:00 Aurora RI WP4 Science & Technology Park
      Envelopa
      16:00 – 17:00 Aurora RI WP5 Science & Technology Park
      Envelopa
    Programme

    450 years of Palacký University

    Palacký University Olomouc is an internationally respected, top-rated academic and scientific university in Central Europe. It is the oldest university in Moravia and the second oldest in the Czech Republic. Its eight faculties now number 23,000 students, and its research centres employ internationally-renowned teams.

    For 449 years, it has contributed to the intellectual wealth of society, to scientific, cultural, and social development. The development of Palacký University over four centuries has reflected important historical milestones: the Thirty Years’ War, the revolutionary year 1848, the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the German Occupation, and the student demonstrations of 1939 and 1989.

    The university has overcome repeated adversity with strength of spirit and faith in the purpose of academia and the immense value of education. Values near and dear to the legacy of František Palacký, in whose honour the university was renamed in the 20th century.

    Now, on the threshold of its 450th jubilee year, the university invites you to look back at its history and look forward to the future.

    www.450.upol.cz