From 20 to 24 January 2025, the Faculty of Physical Culture at Palacký University Olomouc had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from the University of Cádiz (Spain), accompanied by a representative from the University of Granada. The delegation, led by Carmen Padilla Moledo, included eight academics with expertise across various disciplines—applied physical activity (APA), didactics, sport and health, sailing, individual sports, creative movement, and dance.
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen connections between the institutions, share good practices, and explore concrete opportunities for cooperation in both teaching and research. The programme included presentations of the universities, their study programmes and international initiatives, as well as a guided city tour provided by the Welcome Office of Palacký University. During their stay, the visitors also toured key faculty facilities, including the BALUO Application Centre and the APA department.
The week was marked by a friendly, inspiring atmosphere that fostered open dialogue and mutual understanding. It quickly became evident that both institutions share common goals and face similar challenges, laying the groundwork for meaningful long-term cooperation.
As a result of this connection, our faculty member Kristýna Janečková participated in a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) hosted by the University of Cádiz in April 2025, titled Dance, Cities, Natural Environments and Sustainability. The programme thematically resonated with the first-ever dance-focused edition of our faculty’s International Teaching Week, held earlier that month. Experiences from both events highlighted the strong potential of using dance and movement as powerful tools for international collaboration and education—suggesting that a dance-focused BIP could be organised at our faculty in the near future.
“The programme was an excellent opportunity to establish new international connections, including with colleagues from the AFYEC organisation, with whom we are now exploring potential future collaboration. This experience also laid the foundations for preparing our own BIP programme at the Faculty of Physical Culture. Personally, it helped me strengthen my professional skills, particularly in using art and movement in education and in engaging students through creative methods,” shared Kristýna Janečková.
In addition to newly established contacts between Czech and Spanish academics, both institutions agreed to sign an inter-institutional agreement that will facilitate future student and staff exchanges within the Erasmus+ framework.
This visit clearly demonstrated the value of in-person exchanges and the sharing of good practices as a cornerstone of sustainable and impactful international cooperation.
