Palacký University, Olomouc

Infobox_University
name=Palacký University of Olomouc
native_name=Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
latin_name=Universitatis Palackianae Olomoucencis


motto=
established=1573
type=Public
campus=Urban
staff=| rector=Professor Lubomír Dvořák
city=Olomouc
country = Czech Republic (EU)
students= approx. 20,000
affiliations =
website=http://www.upol.cz/en/

Palacký University of Olomouc is the second-oldest university in Czech Republic. It was established in 1573 as public university led by Jesuit order in Olomouc, in that time capital of Moravia and the seat of old episcopacy. Among its students were many important personalities, including Wallenstein. After reforms of Bohemian King Joseph II in 1770s university become a state university, which remains until today. During 1848 Revolution university students and professors had played very active role on the side of democratisation movement. Conservative king Francis Joseph I hated the universities and was the main agent of closing most of its faculties during 1860s. All closed faculties were re-opened by the Act of the Interim National Assembly, passed on 21 February, 1946. This Act also extended the name of University of Olomouc to Palacky University of Olomouc after Frantisek Palacky, 19th century historian and politician born in Moravia.At present days the Palacký University in Olomouc poses an example of an old university in smaller town, similar to Yale University in New Haven or University of Tuebingen in Tuebingen. Town of Olomouc has 100,000 inhabitants, with suburb towns circa 200,000 inhabitants, and some 20,000 university students, a highest university students density ratio in Central Europe. Town itself is very old and pictoresque and it is surrounded by sport facilities and nature. University is now formed by seven faculties: Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, Philosophical Faculty (Liberal Arts), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Faculty of Physical Culture, Faculty of Education, St. Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology.

External links

* [http://www.upol.cz/en/ Official website]