01.05.2026
From April 12 to 18, 2026, lecturers of the K. Niemets Department of Human Geography and Regional Studies of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University - Head of the Department Kateryna Sehida and Associate Professor Liudmyla Kliuchko – took part in the Erasmus+ academic mobility program at the Palacky University Olomouc. The host party was the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Sciences and the International Department of the university. The curator of the stay at the university was Petr Šimáček (Associate Professor of Department of Geography).
The visit program was full of meaningful meetings, professional communication and new ideas for further cooperation. Working meetings were held with lecturers of the Department of Geography and the Department of Development and Environmental Studies of Palacký University Olomouc. The discussions focused on the organization of the educational process, modern approaches to teaching geographical disciplines, involving students in scientific activities, mechanisms of academic mobility and features of interuniversity partnership.
The experience exchange with Czech colleagues was particularly valuable. In particular, the possibilities of holding guest lectures, joint educational events and further academic dialogue were discussed during the meeting with Miloslav Šerý.
Special attention was paid to the prospects for the development of scientific cooperation in the fields of human geography, sustainable development, spatial perception, spatial planning and geoinformation technologies. The result of the negotiations was an agreement on the preparation of a new joint project application under the Erasmus+ program, which opens up new opportunities for international initiatives and strengthening institutional ties.
A working meeting on the preparation of a joint application within the LUKE project was also held with the participation of Petr Šimáček (Department of Geography), Lucie Macková (Department of Development and Environmental Studies) and Pavel Bednář (Tomas Báthi University in Zlín). The directions of future international research and the role of partner universities in its implementation were outlined during the discussion.
No less important was the meeting with representatives of the international office, in particular with the coordinator of international cooperation Petra Soldánová. During the meeting the coallegues discussed further prospects for cooperation and opportunities for studying for students of the department in the autumn semester of the 2026/2027 academic year.
As part of the visit, the participants of the mobility presented activities of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University under martial law, the work of the Faculty of Geology, Geography, Recreation and Tourism, as well as the K. Niemets Department of Human Geography and Regional Studies. The presentation aroused sincere interest among Czech colleagues and became an impetus for deepening academic dialogue and new joint initiatives.
In addition to the official part, the mobility program also had a bright cultural and cognitive dimension. The participants got acquainted with the university's educational buildings, the infrastructure of the Department of Geography, the university library, student and teaching spaces. Meaningful excursions were organized around the city of Olomouc. In particular, under the leadership of Petr Šimáček the colleagues acquainted with history of the region and visited the sights of the Czech Republic: Helfštyn Castle, Zbrašovské Aragonite Caves, Hranice Abyss and Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Svatý Kopeček).
The K. Niemets Department of Human Geography and Regional Studies expresses sincere gratitude to colleagues at the Palacký University Olomouc for the high level of organization, warm welcome, constant support and sincere hospitality. Special thanks to Petr Šimáček for professional support, openness to cooperation and inspiration for new joint projects.
Cooperation between our universities continues to actively develop, contributing to improving the quality of education, scientific communication and international interaction. Such meetings prove once again: a true academic partnership is born where there is mutual trust, common values and a desire to create the future together.
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