Guidelines No. 2/2022 FSS MU
Professional and Career Development at FSS MU – education of
academic, research, administrative, and technical staff at the
Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University
The Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University (FSS MU) places great emphasis on increasing the
professionalism, efficiency, and quality of work of its employees, and is interested in their further
education and development. It supports the professional education and the development of scientific
and pedagogical competences of academic staff, which eventually lead to habilitation and professor
appointment procedures.
FSS MU senior management also pays attention to developing managerial and leadership
competences. Special emphasis is given to gaining experience abroad on short-term and long-term
internships and stays, on developing language abilities and communication skills, and on further
professional development in specific fields.
Development of pedagogical competences
FSS MU strives for long-term development in the quality of teaching and education. For this purpose,
academics and researchers can make use of the Competence Development Centre (CERPEK), which
offers regular courses and workshops to develop pedagogical competences, as well as other
educational programmes.
Development of research competences
FSS MU has a long-standing commitment to developing the quality of research. This development is
conducted under the aegis of individual faculty departments and institutes, their heads and individual
researchers. They are encouraged to develop their research competences through winter and summer
schools, participation in domestic and foreign professional workshops and conferences, and through
regular self-education, which is an integral part of the FSS MU researcher profile. If it lies within its
financial possibilities, each unit will supports the further scientific education of its researchers.
Development of managerial and leadership competences, especially in the case of new
senior employees
The senior employee is responsible for the management of the unit, including providing regular
feedback for subordinates and their evaluation, for supporting the professional growth of employees
at their unit with regard to ensuring the unit’s continuity, as well as searching for suitable experts for
their unit and cooperating with other units.
The head of the department or research unit is responsible for transforming the goals of the university
and the faculty into the goals of the given unit, for ensuring and increasing the quality of creative and
publication activities at their unit, and for ensuring and improving the quality of educational activities.
New senior employees are supported by the faculty management and are entitled to an onboarding
period, i.e. induction training. They can also be trained in the field of leadership.
The term of a senior employee (leading a department/research unit) is limited in time, and the number
of terms of office of an employee in a given senior position is limited to three consecutive periods.
Gaining experience abroad
The international activities of Masaryk University are coordinated by the Centre for International
Cooperation. Employees have the opportunity to gain knowledge or specific know-how from
experience and examples of good practice abroad through various programmes, e.g. Erasmus+ Europe,
Erasmus+ ICM, and Global Staff Mobility. Information about individual teaching, research, and other
stays is available on the Centre for International Cooperation website. Participation of academics and
researchers in international conferences, panels, and workshops is coordinated by employees
independently within their parent units, including the frequency of international mobility. Nonacademic
staff have the opportunity to travel within the Erasmus+ Europe programme once per
semester.
Development of language competences
Masaryk University offers its employees discounted semester language courses and summer intensive
courses, run by the Language School at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University. If interested,
employees may contact the Language Centre at FSS MU directly.
Habilitation procedure and professorship
In the academic sphere, obtaining the scientific-pedagogical rank of associate professor or professor is
an expected part of professional growth. FSS MU offers a number of fields in which one can obtain the
rank of associate professor and the rank of professor. More information is given in the MU Habilitation
Procedure and Professor Appointment Procedure Regulations and in the MU Directive No. 7/2017 on
Habilitation Procedures and Professor Appointment Procedures.
Professional training of administrative and technical staff
Administrative and technical staff are advised by the faculty’s senior management to actively engage
with and seek out the latest news for their professional training in the field in which they work at the
faculty. At least once a year, every employee should undergo professional training of at least eight
hours, after agreement with their line superior.
Offer of online courses for new employees
The MU Rector’s Office operates the MU Portal, where employees can find instructional videos related
to the immediate performance of the work role (e.g. GDPR – basic terms and processes of the
regulation, Inspection System, University Student Misconduct, Financial Inspections, and INET for new
employees). These videos can be watched at any time, or employees can sign up for scheduled online
training through the Business Centre application.
Contribution for educational activities and the personal development of employees
The faculty offers each employee with a minimum workload of 20 hours per week and a contract of at
least 12 months a contribution in the amount of CZK 4,000 per year for educational activities and
personal development. More information is available in the FSS MU Measure No. 8/2021.
Financial support towards preparation for obtaining and maintaining the HR Excellence in Research Award is provided by the European
Union within the call announced by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Operational Programme Research, Development and
Education (OP RDE) “Development of capacities for research and development II”. The project “Development of Human Resources and other
Strategic Areas for Research Support at MU” (reg. No.: CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_054/0014703).
least 12 months a contribution in the amount of CZK 4,000 per year for educational activities and
personal development. More information is available in the FSS MU Measure No. 8/2021.
Educational needs of academic staff as part of regular evaluation in the EVAK system
FSS MU academic and research employees are evaluated annually by their direct superior. As part of
these interviews, which help in the management and development of employees, the educational and
development needs of employees are collected. These EVAK outcomes are the basis for setting the
work tasks, goals, and plans for the personal and professional development of employees, and aim to
support employees’ expertise and motivation.
Contact person
All questions about development and education should be addressed to the faculty coordinator of
employee education Mgr. Gabriela Vybíralová.
General and final provisions
Throughout these guidelines, an effort has been made to use gender-neutral language to reflect the
gender inclusivity of the faculty.
These guidelines enter into effect on November 3, 2022.
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Dean