Palacký University in Olomouc offers scholarships to Belarusian students and academics

Olomouc, Central Moravia, Sept 15 (CTK) – Palacký University in Olomouc (UP) has offered exceptional scholarships valued at almost 900,000 crowns to selected students and academics from Belarus, UP spokesperson Gabriela Sýkorová Dvorníková told CTK today.

UP announced the financial aid in mid-August in support of the Belarusian people who have been striving for a liberal and democratic development in their country.

The first scholarship holders will be able to arrive in Olomouc at the beginning of the academic term in February 2021, the spokesperson told CTK.

“I have been watching the disturbing events in Belarus since the very beginning and I believe that the Belarusian society will eventually set out on the journey of freedom and democracy. In these challenging times we should show our solidarity to the Belarusians and offer any help,” UP Rector Jaroslav Miller said.

“UP has been engaged in the Scholars at Risk organisation that seeks to help academics across the globe. Belarusian scholars fit exactly into this category,” he added.

The scholarships have been prepared for five students and three or four academics from the Belarusian State University (BSU) in Minsk and Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno.

The students will get a four month scholarship of 800 euros, (an equivalent of 21,318 crowns) per month. The academics can come to Olomouc for a month stay valued at 3,500 euros (93,268 crowns). Both groups of scholars will be allocated a contribution to travel expenses of 275 euros (7,328 crowns), the UP spokeswoman said.

UP has repeatedly helped students and academics from countries facing political issues.

In 2016, it employed two prosecuted Turkish scholars.

In 2014, the university offered scholarships to seven Ukrainian PhD students in reaction to the gloomy political situation in Ukraine. For a year, the scholarship enabled the students to attend courses at the UP faculties of arts, medicine and law.

Charles University in Prague also joined UP to help Ukrainian scholars back in 2014.