The mission of the Ethics Panel of the Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc (FA PU) is to ensure the protection of the dignity, freedoms, health, quality of life, and safety of all individuals participating in research conducted at the Faculty. An important objective is also to cultivate and promote good practice and established procedures in the preparation of research project proposals, and to contribute to improving the overall quality of research proposals.
Employees of the Faculty and doctoral students are recommended to submit their research projects for assessment by the Ethics Panel in the following cases:
- where required by legal regulations, binding international treaties, or the Helsinki Declaration (particularly in the field of biomedicine and research involving human subjects);
- where approval by the Ethics Panel is required by a grant provider or other funding body;
- where approval by the Ethics Panel is a condition for publication in an academic journal, or where explicitly required by the journal;
- in research involving vulnerable individuals or groups;
- where the research involves the collection, processing, or storage of personal data enabling the identification of specific individuals or groups, including sensitive data as defined by GDPR;
- where the research employs covert research or other methods that may be considered ethically problematic or intrusive.
The Ethics Panel does not assess Bachelor’s or Master’s theses. However, it may assess research involving Master’s students if the output is, for example, a publication authored or co-authored by the student. In such cases, the application for ethical review is submitted by the supervising academic staff member.
In the case of doctoral dissertations, the Ethics Panel will consider accepting an application for ethical review upon the recommendation of the supervisor, in the cases specified above.
If a project has already been approved by another ethics committee, the principal investigator from the Faculty submits this information to the Ethics Panel for acknowledgement only, by sending a completed application along with the approval statement. In such cases, the Ethics Panel takes note of the submission and does not issue further comments.
As a rule, the Ethics Panel does not provide formal assessment or approval of ethical aspects during the implementation phase of a research project. However, in exceptional cases and upon request, the Panel may provide expert consultation on ethical issues arising during the course of the research.
As of 12 March 2026, appointed for a three-year term, the members of the Ethics Panel are:
- Mgr. Martina Benešová, Ph.D.
- PhDr. Ondřej Bláha, Ph.D.
- Mgr. Ondřej Daniel, Ph.D. (External reviewer)
- PhDr. Marek Kolařík, Ph.D.
- doc. PhDr. Lenka Křupková, Ph.D.
- Mgr. Ondřej Kučera, Ph.D. (Chair)
- Mgr. Tereza Schovánková
- doc. PhDr. Daniel Topinka, Ph.D.
- Ing. Mgr. Richard Turcsányi, Ph.D.
Guidelines for Preparing the Application
Applications for project assessment must be submitted using the prescribed form (see Documents below). The form must always be accompanied by detailed and relevant information enabling the assessment of the project’s ethical aspects. Where relevant, a written informed consent form must be included as a mandatory annex. For doctoral research projects, the supervisor’s approval is a required part of the application.
If the applicant follows a specific (discipline-based) code of ethics, this must be indicated along with a reference to the code.
Applications must be submitted sufficiently in advance so that the processing period—two months following the month in which the application was duly submitted—does not jeopardize the project submission deadline.
The Panel meets usually at least once per month, or more frequently if necessary.
When submitting a new application, please address your email to both the Chair and the Panel administrator:
Mgr. Ondřej Kučera, Ph.D. – Chair of the Ethics Panel
Email: ondrej.kucera@upol.cz
Mgr. et Mgr. Tomáš Holešovský – Administrative support of the Ethics Panel
Email: tomas.holesovsky@upol.cz
doc. Mgr. Jan Stejskal M.A., Ph.D.
Mgr. Ondřej Molnár, Ph.D.
Vice-Dean for External Relations
Vice-Dean for International Relations
Vice-Dean for Study Matters
Vice-Dean for Science and Doctoral Studies
Vice-Dean for Accreditation
Ing. Andrea Wagnerová