From 20 to 24 October 2025, Jana Hoffmannová from the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, and Ondřej Ješina from the Department of Adapted Physical Activities participated in the international training programme LOUIS – Learning Outcomes in University for Impact in Society, held at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. The five-day workshop, organised within the Aurora network as a BIP programme under the auspices of the Vice-Dean of the UP Faculty of Law, focused on developing teaching approaches that foster not only students’ subject-specific knowledge but also their general and personal competencies.
The core of the training centred on the LOUIS methodology, which helps university educators systematically develop students’ soft and transferable skills — such as critical and creative thinking, integrative learning, intercultural competence, teamwork, and lifelong learning (curiosity, initiative, independence, transfer, and reflection). Based on the AAC&U VALUE framework, the tool breaks down sixteen competencies into clearly defined domains and levels of progress, providing instructors with a structured guide for planning, reflection, and assessment.
The programme was characterised by a highly interactive and collaborative atmosphere. The international team of trainers included Icelandic expert in educational feedback Auður Pálsdóttir, Dutch learning outcomes specialist Kees Kouwenaar, German professor Florian Freitag with experience implementing LOUIS in academic programmes, Italian pharmacist and specialist in transferable skills Marco Biondi, and Czech legal scholar Maxim Tomoszek. Together, they created an environment that supported creativity and meaningful exchange.
Participants from Iceland, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Bulgaria, France, and the Czech Republic (representing the Faculty of Physical Culture, Faculty of Education, and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology at Palacký University) worked in mixed groups, shared their teaching experience, analysed real classroom situations, and collaboratively explored ways to effectively integrate LOUIS principles into their courses. Reflection was an essential part of each day — participants compared their approaches, discussed the benefits and challenges of implementation, and developed action plans for further improvement.
The inspiring setting of Reykjavík — a city surrounded by the rugged yet breathtaking Icelandic landscape — fostered creative thinking and mutual learning. Informal discussions continued beyond the classroom, helping to build an open international community united by a shared commitment to innovation in higher education.
Participation in the training deepened understanding of the importance of collaboration and reflection in teaching practice and provided valuable inspiration for the further development of education at the Faculty of Physical Culture, especially in connecting academic knowledge with social responsibility and students’ personal growth.
