Masaryk University has entered the new academic year with a new management team. The roster of vice-rectors for the Rector Martin Bareš’s second term of office was approved by the Academic Senate on 18 September. The management also includes Bursar Marta Valešová, Chancellor Marián Kišš and Strategy Director Šárka Řehořová.
We have asked seven vice-rectors the following question:
In your area of responsibility, where would you like Masaryk University to be in four years?
prof. JUDr. Radim Polčák, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Development, Legislation and Information Technology
We are developing major infrastructure projects: the MUNI BioPharma Hub, a multifunctional sports hall, a science and technology park and new dormitories. But the investment in our people – students and employees – that we are planning to make under various Operational Programme Comenius (OP JAK) projects and other financial instruments are at least as important to me. In the field of IT, where we are European leaders, the challenge for the next period will be the introduction of a new generation of economic information system and the further development of data-based management tools. In my third area of responsibility – legislation – much will depend on the development of the Czech legal environment. I hope that our government will be able to implement an important item in its programme statement, namely the establishment of research universities. In the area of our internal rules and regulations, I would like to continue in the current trend of simplification and clarification, which we call “legislative slimming”.
Mgr. Michal Bulant, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Studies and Quality
We will continue to improve the quality of teaching, in particular by developing a system for the development of teachers’ pedagogical skills, which will be linked to their career progression. It will be necessary to continue to adapt the structure of study programmes and streamline them to allow students to progress more flexibly through their studies. We intend to further improve the system for collecting and using student feedback and programme evaluation. We are already preparing amendments to the Study and Examination Regulations which, in response to the expected amendment to the Higher Education Act, should also include the aforementioned flexibility as well as measures to improve student outcomes. The admissions procedure will also be adapted – we are developing an electronic form of the aptitude test (TSP) and want to take even greater account of applicants’ previous study results. And I intend to further develop inter-faculty cooperation in education, particularly in teacher training programmes and in CORE subjects.
prof. RNDr. Šárka Pospíšilová, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies
In the area of research and doctoral studies, our long-term vision is to move closer to the best European universities and to continue to strongly support the international activities of MU researchers. We intend to remain very active in Horizon Europe grant calls and prestigious national grant schemes, while supporting our existing and new researchers through the MU Grant Agency. We will continue to raise the visibility of MU’s state-of-the-art facilities and research infrastructures to their user community. We will also continue to participate in initiatives and reforms aimed at responsible research evaluation, building on the results of last year's internal evaluation of the quality of research and doctoral studies.
In the area of doctoral studies, we plan to implement supervisor standards and strengthen the international elements of doctoral studies, with a focus on implementing international placements at prestigious institutions. We will expand the opportunities for training and development activities within the MUNI PhD Academia. We believe that these activities will help to further increase the quality of research output and thus strengthen the position of MU in the Czech Republic and abroad.
prof. PhDr. Jiří Hanuš, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Academic and Cultural Affairs
My area of responsibility is very compact, which is a great advantage. Academic matters, apart from the necessary office work, are related to how the university expresses itself internally and externally, to the university culture. Academic ceremonies, which include graduations, the awarding of medals and prizes, various ceremonies and so on, should not only be joyful occasions that bring the university together and present it to the world; they should also be appropriate, dignified and beautiful.
My cultural portfolio is related to this. My goal is to improve the quality of institutions such as the Munipress publishing house, the Mendel Museum, the Telč University Centre and the MU Archives, as well as the cooperation between them, which in the past period manifested itself in the establishment of the MU Cultural Centre, which organises university-wide events such as Masaryk Days in the spring and Mendel Days in the autumn, a concert at the end of the summer and the November 2023 celebrations. I will be satisfied with my work if I can raise awareness of Masaryk University as a role model not only in the field of education and science, but also in the field of culture.
As everyone has heard by now, Masaryk University and Brno's cultural and film scene suffered a severe blow with the closure of the Scala cinema. It is my responsibility not only to monitor the situation, but also to negotiate alternative venues for lectures and other activities. I will be happy if we can avoid this disaster and the Scala Cinema reopens – Masaryk University is aware that its events in this extraordinary space have contributed to fulfilling its social role.
Ing. Monika Jandová, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy, Lifelong Learning and Sustainability
The university stands or falls with its people. I want MU to become synonymous with an attractive and proactive employer that not only attracts top talent, but also actively supports the creativity of its people. At the same time, we should become a leader in societal growth, reflecting the various aspects of sustainable development and integrating them into our study programmes, scholarship and social role. We want to be an institution that actively contributes to solving global challenges, and our students and research teams will play a key role in this effort.
We should be a clear choice for lifelong learning, both for our graduates, who will have the opportunity to continuously develop and maintain their skills relevant to the labour market, and for employers in the South Moravian Region, who will be looking for partners to train their employees. Our university should also be known for its ability to support innovation and the practical application of scientific knowledge. We should become a bridge between academia and industry, where our cooperation leads to practical solutions and creates added value for society.
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Internationalisation
In the area of internationalisation, I would like to see a shift in the perception of student mobility, so that as many students as possible complete their first placement abroad during their Bachelor’s degree. They should also continue to gain international experience in their Master’s and PhD studies, where longer-term international placements are already commonplace. Mobility is not just about students, however, and I would like to see as many academic and non-academic staff as possible taking up the opportunity to work abroad. Especially those who are still reluctant.
It would also be great if some faculties made more progress in developing programmes taught in English at lower levels of study. This is desirable for the University as a whole, but especially for the faculties themselves. I will try to get the faculties to join forces, like the beams in Ghost Busters, to prepare a joint Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
In the area of university sport, we intend to take further steps to develop the university's sports facilities and continue to build modern facilities that will serve the development of the Faculty of Sport and the university's elite athletes, as well as the sporting needs of the whole university community.
Mgr. Jana Fialová, Ph.D.
Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and External Relations
I want to improve the way we support our students. My priorities are various forms of student support, the development of study and careers advice, and ensuring that students have an enjoyable experience at our University, which should lead to a reduction in academic failure rates. I will be looking at the strategy for developing the dormitory and catering facilities for our students. We want to continue to repair and develop new dormitories, although this will be a process that extends well beyond one term of office. I will work with the faculties to ensure that we reach out to applicants and attract bright and motivated young people to Masaryk University. We also need to focus more on building relationships with our alumni, who are our greatest asset. I would like the public to increasingly perceive Masaryk University as an institution where it is prestigious, interesting, but also pleasant to study and work. And to realise that our university makes a significant contribution to improving life in Brno and the entire region. This is a joint effort to which we want to contribute through quality communication and appropriate forms of marketing support.