News
Charles University’s Hall of Patriots was a compelling site for an important conference organised by Microsoft on Thursday, featuring the company’s Vice-Chair and President Brad Smith. The head gave a keynote presentation called Sustaining Trust in the New AI Economy, outlining the challenges as well as potential risks ahead. That was followed by what was labelled a ‘fireside chat’ with European Commission VP Věra Jourová and Microsoft’s General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Michelle Simmons.
The XVth Summer Paralympic Games have begun in Paris, lasting from Wednesday 28 August to 8 September. According to Veronika Macková, an expert at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, the upcoming games are novel for at least one reason, if not more: for the first time, the organising committees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games merged and promoted the Olympics together.
“Realistic expectations are necessary when applying for an ERC grant but there's no point in being overly modest,” says Pavel Veselý from the Institute of Informatics, CU, as advice for future applicants. Veselý himself was awarded a prestigious ERC CZ grant in June. With this grant, he and fellow researchers will study the robustness of small data structures.
As part of the HR Excellence in Research initiative, Charles University is continuously striving to improve working conditions for its employees and foster greater job satisfaction. The university believes that only satisfied employees can deliver the best performance.
Thirteen students from Charles University were among the Czech representatives at this year's Olympic Games in Paris. Although they didn’t finish on the podium, some came close and all made a definate mark! Simply making it to the Olympics is an exceptional feat for any athlete, and they often deliver extraordinary performances in the face of huge competition.
Only the top 20 crews from 20 countries get to compete in sailing events at the Olympics. And Czechia is the only one without direct access to the sea. We were represented by Sára Tkadlecová and Zosia Burska, both students from Charles University. The duo finished 19th and unfortunately did not advance to the medal round; all the same, congratulations on a great run and keep up the great work!
It’s no surprise windsurfing is a big sport in coastal countries, but it enjoys considerable popularity in landlocked Czechia. Kateřina Švíková, representing her country at the Olympic Games in Paris, is proof. “There's a foil under the board that lifts it up at speed, and it makes the board basically fly over the water. It's definitely a much bigger adrenaline rush. I find it faster, more physically demanding, and that's what I like about it. I like speed,” says the twenty-three-year-old student of the Institute of Economic Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
In April 2022, Charles University adopted its first Equal Opportunities Plan, committing itself to implementing measures to cultivate organizational culture and to improve working conditions. With this plan, CU aims to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe and welcome and has the same chances to develop their own potential, regardless of any obstacles they may face.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports announced the results of its public competition in research, development and innovation ie. ERC CZ research on Wednesday, 3 July 2024. The competition, which provides robust financial support for promising and innovative projects was held for the eighth time. For Charles University, this year’s inception proved to be a great success: all four projects put forward by CU researchers received backing.
It had been five years since Charles University received the prestigious award “HR Excellence in Research” (the HR Award) from the European Commission. Accordingly, the award enhances CU’s prestige and attractiveness for recruiting new researchers, including those from abroad, since the award is a guarantee that the university meets European standards in terms of caring for employees, the openness and transparency of selection procedures, and a high-quality working environment.
It was his first stop on his first official visit to the Czech Republic as head-of-state. Slovakia's new President Peter Pellegrini, who took office in mid-June, made his first official visit to the Czech Republic on Wednesday 26 June, starting with an important stop at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. At the newly installed memorial site on Jan Palach Square, he paid tribute to the victims of the December shooting at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, in which 14 people were killed and 25 injured.
Friends and key Charles University representatives this week attended the 20th annual university garden party, traditionally held on 24 June; the well-established festivity, held under the auspices of the Senate of the Czech Republic, took place at none other than the Wallenstein Garden. It would be hard to imagine a more fitting setting for CU to underline and celebrate top accomplishments by staff and students over the last academic year.
A Czech-Bavarian research team is developing an artificial intelligence that specialises in gastroscopy. The new international research project GI-Insight therefore aims to make gastroscopies even more precise and safer: Researchers at Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg and Charles University in Prague want to develop new artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that support doctors directly during a gastroscopy.
Following the tragic event of 21 December 2023, Charles University continues to build a safe environment, preparedness and resilience. As part of the recovery of academic life, we have updated a signpost of useful psychological support contacts, information on safety and other support activities. Support continues to be available for students, faculty and staff from across the university.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Wednesday, 19 June 2023, signed a new Cooperation Agreement with Charles University and the school‘s Faculty of Law. The agreement is intended to further develop existing cooperation to promote academic engagement through teaching and research on forced displacement. The aim is to inspire law practitioners of the future to delve further into this legal area.