The University celebrated its 60th anniversary and commemorated the Velvet Revolution

The 12^th Social Evening commemorated more than one anniversary. The first anniversary celebrated the Institute of Education. It was founded 60 years ago in Hradec Králové and is the predecessor of the University of Hradec Králové, which opened in 1959. Sixty guests were given a book titled Pedagogická fakulta v Hradci Králové v roce 1968 a na počátku normalizace by Mgr. Sylva Sklenářová, Ph.D., the Head of the UHK Archives. Fifteen prominent people made a video and in it they congratulated the University on its anniversary. These included city leaders, regional leaders, people from abroad, people from affiliated institutions and even the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Robert Plaga.

Each guest received a special limited edition postcard, which the University had made on the occasion of its 60^th anniversary. Also commemorated was the 80^th anniversary of the dramatic events of 1939; they affected many Czech institutions of higher education. The year 1989 was also commemorated, that is the 30^th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, not only in Hradec Králové.

“I would like to thank everyone who over the past 60 years has helped to build the University. Thanks to you the University is a dignified institution of higher education, it is internationally renowned on a scientific level and it is student-friendly,” said the Rector, Kamil Kuča, in a video and extended his welcome to everyone in the assembly hall. He also introduced the second significant event: “I am looking forward to our next 30 years of freedom. A hard fought for freedom, without which the University would not be as we know it today. I pray for freedom always and I trust our University will always guarantee and protect our freedom.”

Awards were given to 12 prominent people associated with the University of Hradec Králové. The Rector's fifth and thirteenth medals were awarded to the University of Pardubice. As the Rector, Jiří Málek, of the University of Pardubice was unable to attend the event, Andrea Koblížková, Vice-Rector, accepted the awards. “I would like to thank you on behalf of the University of Pardubice. I trust that by extending my appreciation I express my respect and goodwill in our on-going cooperation. We can play rivals for the media, but everyone here knows that we like each other,” she said.

“The University of Hradec Králové very much values the partnership between our two institutions. Our bond strategically guarantees the protection of academic freedoms in the East Bohemian Region. And just like thirty years ago, in December 1989, when our university students made a human chain and set out from their regional capitals to meet, we symbolically recreate this chain on the occasion of this anniversary by awarding the UHK Rector’s Medal to the University of Pardubice,” concludes Kamil Kuča, UHK Rector, in explanation of why the fifth medal was awarded to the University of Pardubice.

The second half of the evening belonged to actress and singer Bára Poláková. She was initially wary of her seated audience. But her concert was very lively and her fears were unfounded as her songs got the audience out of their seats and dancing, Kamil Kuča included. People could also go to an art exhibition organised by the students of the Department of Art, Visual Culture and Textile Studies (Faculty of Education, UHK).

AWARDS

Faculty of Informatics and Management

Ing. Michal Zacpal
Award for long-term cooperation in organising the Faculty's social events and supervising the Student Union of the University of Hradec Králové

prof. RNDr. Martin Gavalec, CSc.
Award for publishing many excellent articles in magazines, for being cited many times, for being hailed a recognised scientist and scholar by the scientific community and for participating in a great number of external projects

doc. RNDr. Jaroslava Mikulecká, CSc.
UHK Rector’s Medal of Merit for developing the Faculty of Informatics and Management and for developing the University of Hradec Králové

Philosophical Faculty

Mgr. Hynek Kaplan
Award for outstanding academic achievement, representing the University of Hradec Králové and engaging in public life on its behalf

Mgr. Tomáš Mangel, Ph.D.
Award for publications, supervising archaeological research projects at the Department of Archaeology (Philosophical Faculty, UHK), research related to projects supported by the Czech Science Foundation

Mgr. et Mgr. Pavlína Springerová, Ph.D.
UHK Rector’s Medal of Merit for the unprecedented development of the Philosophical Faculty in the areas of internationalisation, research and publishing, and the third role of the University

Faculty of Education

Mgr. Jan Bílek, Ph.D.
Award for successful scholarly activities and for popularising science (also through a programme on Czech Television)

doc. PhDr. Jan Hábl, Ph.D.
Award for prestigious publications, authorship of the Komenský 2020 project, and an international scientific reputation

prof. PhDr. Oldřich Richterek, CSc.
UHK Rector’s Medal of Merit for developing the Faculty of Education and for the actual foundation of the University of Hradec Králové

Faculty of Science

Mgr. Damián Bušovský
Award for outstanding academic achievement and active participation in the popularisation activities of the Faculty of Science

RNDr. Lenka Plavcová, Ph.D.
Award for exceptional publications under prestigious publishers, research work in a junior project supported by the Czech Science Foundation and a departmental project overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture

prof. Ing. Antonín Lyčka, DrSc.
UHK Rector’s Medal of Merit for important publications and high citation count, holder of the Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry title awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry