Commemorating the notable university event, Masaryk University Rector Martin Bareš recalled the recent passing of Palacký University Rector Emeritus Josef Jařab, an educator, literary scientist, translator and American Studies expert who received Masaryk University’s silver medal in 2021. Bareš also mentioned Jařab’s ideas of democracy and tertiary education. In his speech, he also focused on what the university is and what it should be.
“Josef Jařab championed the reform and renaissance of the tertiary education. He was the legendary first democratically appointed rector after 1989. He stated that the renewal of democracy was still ahead but it needed safeties. He emphasised the importance of liberties and the level of economy and education,” Bareš said, adding to Jařab’s vision that a school can educate, it must be democratic and that democracy is the foundation stone of any school and society. “Universities must demonstrate certain ethos, freedom of expression, freedom to think, freedom of conscience and freedom to search for the truth about the world,” he said. He went on to say that universities shall be autonomous as well as responsible and prepared to defend active citizenship and the freedom of education. He referred to universities as places where conditions are provided for forming opinions, which helps cultivate public discourse. “It is a significant contribution to democracy on the part of universities,” Bareš concluded.
The issues of academic freedoms and responsibility in relation to the funding of colleges and universities was addressed by the Chairman of the Academic Senate Josef Menšík who joked to have asked artificial intelligence about this issue and to have received a reply about it being a complex problem. He also emphasised the importance of academic freedom and responsibility for this freedom.
The ceremony continued with the presentation of awards for extraordinary achievements in sciences and research, sports, teaching, art and community activities. The recipients included employees of the university (scientists, educators and teams) as well as students. Awards were given for long-term excellence in research, extraordinary achievements, results achieved by excellent scientists under 35 years of age, innovations in teaching, or outstanding theses. Volunteering and active development of Civil society were also recognised.
The ceremony continued with the presentation of awards for extraordinary achievements in sciences and research, sports, teaching, art and community activities. The recipients included employees of the university (scientists, educators and teams) as well as students. Awards were given for long-term excellence in research, extraordinary achievements, results achieved by excellent scientists under 35 years of age, innovations in teaching, or outstanding theses. Volunteering and active development of Civil society were also recognised.
Marie Fojtíková and Ludvík Kunz received the MU silver medal for the promotion of Masaryk University’s significance at the national and international level, as well as the cooperation with Czech and foreign institutions and long-term development of fields of study at Masaryk University.
Marie Fojtíková is the Secretary General of the Czech Rectors’ Conference. She focuses on administration, academic matters and protocol for almost thirty years. She holds a degree in Physics and Mathematics from the Faculty of Science. Director Emeritus of the Institute of Physics of Materials of the Czech Academy of Sciences Ludvík Kunz holds a degree in Physics from the Faculty of Science. He started at the Institute of Physics of Materials of the Czech Academy of Sciences as a doctoral programme student and eventually became its director. He is also a member of coordinating committee at CEITEC, a member of the doctoral board and a member of the Scientific Board.
Dies academicus 2023 – overview of award recipients:
Rector’s Award for Outstanding Creative Activity
Zdeněk Adam, Luděk Pour, David Zeman, Faculty of Medicine
For their book entitled Vzácné choroby provázené hypergamaglobulinémií a zánětlivými projevy which presents a unique summary of the issue.
Rector’s Award for Outstanding Sports Performance
Eliška Hamzová, member of women’s national basketball team, Faculty of Education
For the victors in the Czech Cup and the EuroLeague and silver medal in the women’s basketball league.
Rector’s Award for Extraordinary International Grant Competition Results
Pavel Plevka, CEITEC
For winning the ERC Consolidator Grant “BioPhage” from the European Research Council within the Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding programme.
Rector's Award for Outstanding Research Results Achieved by Young Scientists under 35
Natural sciences and medicine: Michaela Fojtů, Faculty of Medicine
Author or co-author of IF publications; member of AZV project team for the Faculty of Medicine Functional nanorobots for guided combined cancer therapy.
Social sciences and humanities: Tomáš Glomb, Faculty of Arts
He specialises in digital research of religion, where he applies methods from natural sciences in quantitative spatial modelling of factors affecting the proliferation of ancient Egyptian cults.
Economics and informatics: Dušan Mladenović, Faculty of Economics and Administration
First and correspondence author of an article in Current Issues in Tourism (first decile according to the Web of Science) which deals with the impacts of free vaccines on tourism.
Rector's Award for Long-term Excellence in Research
Natural sciences and medicine: Aleš Hampl, Faculty of Medicine
Internationally renowned expert in stem cells and their use in biomedicine.
Social sciences and humanities: Anna Ševčíková, Faculty of Social Studies
She specialises in health, sexuality and interpersonal relations in senior population from the point of view of basis and applied research.
Economics and informatics: Juraj Nemec, Faculty of Economics and Administration
Key advisor and creator of capacities in the area of public policy, legal and institutional reforms of the public sector in many transitional countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.
Rector’s Award for Innovations in Teaching
Teaching: Jan Žák, Sylva Žáková, Faculty of Economics and Administration
For innovations in the teaching of project management using the Lego Srum Game.
Teaching support: Jiří Petrželka, CZS
For the creation of the IS OIS system used for the administration of exchange programmes and the support and development of international teaching at Masaryk University.
Rector’s Award for the Best Students in Master’s Programmes
Lucia Hradecká, Faculty of Informatics
For excellent results in the programme Visual informatics with the focus on image analysis and processing.
Michal Kovalčík, Faculty of Law
For excellent results in the Law programme.
Rector’s Award for the Best Students in Doctoral Programmes
Martin Toul, Faculty of Science
For excellent results in the programme Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics.
Vojtěch Mýlek, FSS MU
For excellent results in the programme Psychology and his work in the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society.
Rector’s Award for an Outstanding Doctoral Thesis
Martin Lešák, Faculty of Arts
For his unique thesis focusing on a key topic in Medieval studies: papal stational liturgy in the Medieval Rome.
Marek Chalupa, Faculty of Informatics
For his unique thesis Program Slicing and Symbolic Execution for Verification which summarises the advancement in automatic analysis and programme verification with impacts on cybersecurity.
Barbara Kubíčková, Faculty of Science
For her research in potential harmful effects of bioactive substances produced by algal bloom and the potential health risks associated with it.
Rector’s Award for Active Development of Civil Society
Lenka Svobodová, Faculty of Sports Studies
For the foundation of the JsemSen association, a platform for social educational and research activities in the environment of the elderly population.
Rector’s Award for Volunteering
Students: Karolína Černošková, Faculty of Social Studies
Working with the T-12 humanitarian and medical team she helps the Phoenix organisation which focuses on humanitarian aid and direct support in hospitals in Ukraine and, among other things, helps teach Ukrainian soldiers the much needed battlefield medicine.
Martina Poláková, Adam Hohl, Faculty of Medicine
For their active involvement in the IFMSA associations; they are local coordinators of the section for public health and they are involved in raising awareness among the general public.
Employees: Marie Hladká, Faculty of Economics and Administration
For organising a significant faculty-wide effort in the area of volunteering at Corporate Social Responsibility, as the Giving Day for Ukraine, earning CZK 70,000.