An engaging combination of a prestigious conference and hands-on teaching in an international setting marked Hana Pernicová’s October work trip to Canada. Representing the Department of Social Sciences in Kinanthropology, Pernicová gained fresh insights at the annual SCAPPS conference—organized by the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology—and shared her expertise with students and colleagues at the partner institution, the University of Alberta (UoA) in Edmonton. The mobility was supported by the Erasmus+ programme and the PROPOST project for internationalization at the Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc.
Before beginning her teaching block at UoA, Pernicová attended the SCAPPS conference in Winnipeg, which offered stimulating and professionally enriching discussions on current issues in sport psychology. The event served as a valuable introduction to the mobility and provided inspiration for her subsequent teaching.
At the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Dr. Hana Pernicová delivered a total of four thematically focused workshops and lectures. The first workshop, titled "Coaching Principles Applied to Sports Training", was held for a group of twenty participants, including Master’s students from the Coaching in Sport program, coaches, and other faculty staff. Dr. Pernicová greatly appreciated the participants’ active engagement and their interest in the topic. More than 30 participants took part in her second workshop, Psychological Skills in Individual Sports, where they actively shared their own experiences with mental preparation in sport. As part of the Sport Psychology course, Pernicová also delivered two lectures on Burnout and one on Coaching Psychology to an audience of over 200 undergraduate students. These sessions were conducted in collaboration with Dr. Amber Mosewich, who took part in the 23rd edition of the International Teaching Week hosted by FTK in spring 2024.
The program also included a visit to The Steadward Centre, which focuses on and actively supports the inclusion and independence of children, youth, and adults with disabilities through adapted physical activity programs. Discussions with the Centre’s director, Dr. Jen Leo, built upon previous contacts from 2023 and confirmed mutual interest in deepening collaboration, including the potential participation of Dr. Leo in the International Teaching Week in Olomouc.
Dr. Pernicová also actively engaged with the Sport Psychology Lab, where she exchanged research experiences on mental health, psychological support for athletes, and mindfulness with local colleagues. During these meetings, she presented the activities of the Department of Social Sciences in Kinanthropology at the Faculty of Physical Culture and discussed possibilities for linking teaching and research efforts between the two institutions.
“As a psychologist, I was deeply moved by how profoundly Canadian society respects Indigenous peoples and how natural it is to publicly express gratitude for the opportunity to live and work on their traditional lands,” Hana Pernicová shared. “This sense of respect—along with the strong emphasis on inclusion and equality across races and nationalities—forms a key part of Canada’s social fabric. It also shapes the psychological climate in both sport and education. In many ways, the Canadian approach can be a powerful source of inspiration for us back home.”
The stay also included a unique cultural experience in the form of an NHL game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes. “It was a wonderful way to round off the mobility—and seeing Czech player Martin Nečas involved in the scoring action made it even more special for me,” she added with a smile.
This mobility is one of several successful exchanges in recent years that underscore the long-term, strategic nature of the partnership between FTK and the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. It is a collaboration highly valued by FTK—one that we continue to cultivate and deepen through teaching, research, and the exchange of students and staff.
