Exchange Students

We are pleased you are interested in the study at the Department of Development and Environmental Studies, Palacký University Olomouc. We have long-term experience with teaching students from abroad. 

Palacký University works in a two-semester scheme. The winter (autumn) semester classes begin in the second half of September and end in the middle of December. Exams are usually scheduled throughout January. The summer (spring) semester begins in the middle of February and classes end in the middle of May, with exams continuing usually until the end of June. 

Mobility Administration

Palacký University has a decentralized administrative system for exchange students. It means that  students are in touch with different employees before, during and after their mobility.

Administrative support during the nomination process is provided by Mrs. Iva Kokinopulosová (iva.kokinopulosova@upol.cz) from the Office for the mobility 

Faculty Coordinator at the Faculty of Science: Mrs. Marie Raková (marie.rakova@upol.cz)

For more information contact directly Coordinator at the Department of Development and Environmental Studies – Mr. Jiří Chovaneček (jiri.chovanecek@upol.cz)

Very useful information regarding study and life in Olomouc can be found in the Student Guide UPOL App as well as at the website of International Relations Office (IRO) of Palacký University Olomouc.

List of Courses Taught in English

At this link you will find a list of courses taught in English available for the exchange students at the Faculty of Science. Please note that although the list is regularly updated, some of the course may not be available due to various reasons.

Students are obliged to acquire at least 20 ECTS according to Erasmus Agreement. Please note that students are obliged to acquire at least 50 % of the ECTS at the department to which they have been assigned to (Department of Development and Environmental Studies, abbreviated MRS, in our case).

However, students are allowed to register in courses also taught at other departments, namely at the Department of Geography (KGG), Department of Geoinformatics (KGI), Department of Geology (KGE) and also to register in one or two courses outside the Faculty of Science, e.g. at Faculty of Arts (Department of Political Science). Participation in these courses is determined by the agreement between student and lecturer at the beginning of semester. Teachers are not obliged to accept all demands.

Courses in English Available at our Department for Academic Year 2025/2026 (last update on December 12, 2025)

Summer semester

MRS/GSD2 – Sustainable Development Issues 2 (short-term intensive course of visiting scholars)

The aim of the course is to introduce students to topics presented by foreign academics, primarily those that are not covered by the study plan and on which the lecturer focuses in their research. Academics are invited according to the current situation, typically through the Erasmus program.

The subject does not have a schedule in STAG. Students are notified in advance.

MRS/GESDP – EU Dimension in Sport for Development and Peace

The course includes an analysis of the field of sport for development in the EU and its cooperation with non-governmental organizations and the public sector within the EU. The course will be taught simultaneously at the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Physical Education and will be intended for two different groups of students. During the semester, these groups of students will meet several times to discuss topics covered in class.
The semester will culminate in a joint excursion to Prague, where students will visit various sports organizations and institutions. By engaging in discussions with host organizations (such as the Czech Olympic Committee, Fair Play Point, and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports), students will have the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge gained during the course and witness the real-life implementation of policies and projects in the field. In addition, the course content will be enriched by online contributions from various stakeholders in the field of sport for development in the EU, including universities, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers.

Key topics will include the EU’s perspective on the use of sport as a tool for broader development, the practice of sport for development in different EU countries and their relevant policies, the role of sport in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), migration and its implications for the EU, the potential use of sport to promote inclusion (with real-life examples from the EU context), sport for development within the EU non-governmental sector, EU institutions and their sports-related agendas, social cohesion from an EU perspective, and the use of sport to address disability issues from an EU perspective.

MRS/GGH – Global Health (short-term intensive course)

The course focuses on an overview of available methodologies for studying global health, developing, implementing, and testing interventions on a global scale, or comparing interventions in different contexts. Rather than focusing on different geographical areas (e.g., Africa), determinants (e.g., poverty), or health problems (e.g., maternal mortality), the course will address methods available for assessing the state of global health, developing, planning, implementing, and evaluating interventions on a global, national, regional, and local scale, with a particular focus on the global scale. Recent threats and new trends in global health are generally divided into specific topics covered in the course. We will begin with an introduction to global health issues and an overview of the main data and knowledge sources. Students will gather information on methods used to measure the extent of the impact of global environmental changes on health, methods of managing epidemics/pandemics, and the very specific and highly relevant topic of migration.

MRS/GPGSP – Pro-poor Growth, Societal Progress, and Sustainability: Concepts and Measurements

The course focuses on the theory, methodology, and practical approaches to measuring pro-poor growth, social progress, and sustainable development. Key indicators highlighted include the Poverty Equivalent Growth Rate (PEGR), Rate of Pro-Poor Growth (RPPG), Social Progress Index (SPI), and Just Transition Score (JTS). The course emphasizes the technical construction and calculation of these indicators through the use of real data in the statistical software Stata.

Content:

Theory, methodology, and practical approaches to the measurements of the following concepts:
* Pro-poor growth
* Societal development
* Sustainable development

The technical construction and calculation of specific indicators for the above concepts (using real data in the statistical software Stata):
* Poverty Equivalent Growth Rate (PEGR), Rate of Pro-Poor Growth (RPPG), etc.
* Social Progress Index (SPI)
* Just Transition Index (JTS), etc.

MRS/MSCD (WSCD) – Security, Conflict and Development

The main aim of the course is to provide the grounding for critical exploration of the range of ways of the possible linkages between development and conflict. In the course of the semester the following topics will be explored: the inherent causes of insecurity as a barrier for the development, the dynamics of the conflict and its changing character, potential tools for working in and on conflict, the „DO NO HARM“ concept, etc. Particular role of development cooperation and the multiple functions it could serve in the field of security will also be also introduced: the course will focus on the current theoretical debate on different challenges for development cooperation as a factor of prevention, early warning or reconstruction

MRS/WDA – Development Assistance

The aim of the course is to provide facilitate an advanced and critical understanding of contemporary issues in international development cooperation. The course analyzes basic concepts in development cooperation with a major focus on current debates. Second part analyzes the development assistance of selected bilateral donors from the recipient perspective, and focuses on issues such as donor harmonization, coordination and complementarity. Furthermore, the course provides an in depth analysis of development assistance of the re-emerging donors of the Visegrad Group. The complexity of multilateral development assistance is illustrated on case of the European Union. The course also analyzes problems of aid effectiveness and discusses new approaches and institutions designed to improve aid. The last part critically assesses the role of NGOs and civil society in development cooperation.

MRS/WHF – History of Future

The aim of this course is to introduce students briefly to evolution in history, principal current global issues and key challenges of the future. These challenges are not just often discussed information technologies, nanotechnologies and biotechnologies, but also potential collapse of Western civilization and following transformation and regeneration.

Main topics of course are:
Cultural evolution
Safety dimensions
Challenges for the near future
West in danger
Collapse, transformation and regeneration
The „super-natural“ world

MRS/WDAS – Development Opportunities of Asia

The main aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of the situation in the field of development in the region of Asia. The course is focused on development in the region of Asia. It focuses mainly on Asian developing regions – Central Asia and the Caucasus, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East. Attention is focused on individual regions and states, their geography and policies, and development problems and opportunities. The aim of the course is to possess complex knowledge and understanding of the situation in region of Asia.

Thematic areas:
1. Historical and geographical overview
2. South Asia – characteristics, development problems and opportunities
3. Southeast Asia – characteristics, development problems and opportunities
4. Central Asia – characteristics, development problems and opportunities
5. Caucasus – characteristics, development problems and opportunities
6. Middle East – characteristics, development problems and opportunities

MRS/WDE – Development Economics

The main aim of the course is to analyse the major economic issues faced by developing countries, especially from the micro-economic perspective. The course analyses issues faced by developing countries, with a special focus on the microeconomic perspective at the graduate level. Following an introduction to the subject, the course focuses on the economic growth, new growth theories and contemporary models of development and underdevelopment. Other discussed topics include: poverty, inequality, population growth, the issues of human capital (education and health), urbanization and rural-urban interaction, land reform, labor markets, credits and insurance issues, roles of markets and states and strategies of economic development.

MRS/WDLA – Development Opportunities of Latin America

The course is aimed at problems of development in Latin America. The course is aimed at problems of development in Latin America. During the course will be presented following topics: regional division of Latin America from the socio-geographic and economic point of view. Historical determination of region development – history, colonialism, ways of decolonization and their impact on development. Postcolonial period and Cold war influence. Situation after the end of the Cold war and main causes of following development. Ethnography, cultures, religion. The most important issues of region, their description and trends. Natural conditions and resources – their influence on development of the countries. Demographic growth in each country, prognosis. Contemporary security risks and future threats. Agriculture and nutrition issue. Development cooperation and its effectiveness. Latin America countries position on global market. Detailed analysis and evaluation of implemented project as a parts of Czech development cooperation in the last decade.

MRS/WMW – Migration in Today´s World

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the various issues concerning migration in today’s world. Migration in today’s world is a one-semester course intended for students with active interest in migration and asylum issues. The course covers the following topics: theory of international migration, multifactor conditionality of migration process, boundaries between voluntary and forced migration (with special emphasis on environmental migration); changing profile of migrants; refugees and asylum; consequences of migration for countries and migrants; ethical dilemmas related to migration and migration policy. Theoretical reasoning is accompanied by examples or case studies taken from various countries.