Masaryk University Annual
Activity Report 2019
2
Chapters of the annual report = priorities of the Strategic Plan
Annual Activity Report of Masaryk University
reflects the fulfillment of the Strategic Plan
1 Degree Programme Diversification and Accesibility
2 Quality in Education
3 Internationalization in Education
4 Individualized Doctoral Programmes
5 Research Excellence and Relevance
6 Research Efficiency and a Stimulating Research Environment
7 Organizational Culture Based on Shared Values
8 Inspiration and Social Responsibility
9 Personnel Management and Employee Development
10 Infrastructure and Institutional Management
11 Information Systems and IT Support
3
Neurologist Martin Bareš became the new rector
of Masaryk University when Mikuláš Bek handed over
the rector's position
New Management of
Masaryk University:
4
Three faculties have
new deans, two
deans continue in
the second term
In 2019, Martin Škop (Faculty of Law), Stanislav Balík (Faculty of
Social Studies) and Martin Repko (Faculty of Medicine) began their
first dean's term. Jiří Zlatuška (Faculty of Informatics) and Jiří
Němec (Faculty of Education) started their second period.
5
The MjUNI pilot year for secondary
school students has forty
successful graduates
Priority of Strategic Plan:
1 DEGREE PROGRAMME
DIVERSIFICATION AND
ACCESIBILITY
In the academic year 2018/2019, secondary school students aged 15-17
could also graduate from the popular Masaryk jUniversity (MjUNI). Within
MjUNI, secondary school students progressively attended all the faculties
and CEITEC, where they could choose from 28 topics of lectures and
workshops.
6
Main topics in 2019
o Admissions procedure 2019/2020: applicants submitted for the first time only one
application for the degree programme. They could choose from up to three variants
of study plans. These include single-subject study, single-subject study with the
chosen specialisation or a combination of the main and secondary plan within so-called
combined study.
o Comprehensive system of university-wide counselling: the network of programme
consultants has been expanded, a total of 943 psychological consultations were
provided. Two campaigns to prevent study failure launched.
o The unique P-PooL programme for talented medics has its first graduates –
seven talented students of general medicine underwent special scientific training and
received a diploma for completing the entire P-PooL programme.
1 DEGREE PROGRAMME
DIVERSIFICATION AND
ACCESIBILITY
7
The ceremonial matriculation
of students commemorated
the centenary of the first lectures
Priority of Strategic Plan:
2 QUALITY IN
EDUCATION
Masaryk University celebrated the centenary of the first Lectures with the
ceremonial enrolment of students of the faculties of law and medicine in the
authentic environment of the historical auditorium. The event took place in
the building of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, which was one of the first
original buildings built for Masaryk University.
8
Main topics in 2019
o Masaryk University holds institutional accreditation in 23 areas of Education, which
confirms the functionality of its internal quality assurance and assessment system.
o Board of Internal Evaluation: in 2019, 10 meetings took place and 145 submitted
proposals from the faculties were discussed.
o University carried out an extraordinary inspection of final theses submitted for
defence in the past two decades.
o A new Board of degree programmes began to operate at Masaryk University. The
programme boards monitor the development of the degree programme and annually
carry out evaluations. In addition to academics, students, graduates and employers
are also represented.
2 QUALITY IN
EDUCATION
9
Studies at MU from the
perspective of the graduates
"Studying at Masaryk University was…" (Survey of the Master's degree
programme graduates)
2 QUALITY IN
EDUCATION
10
Number of MU students
per academic 2 QUALITY IN
EDUCATION
28,1 28,3 27,7 27,1
25,3
23,5
22,3 21,3
20,0 19,2 18,2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Number of studies per academic
11
Masaryk University has joined
forces with five European
universities in the European
Digital UniverCity consortium
Priority of Strategic Plan:
Representatives of the universities signing the EDUC consortium
agreement. Jan Pavlík, director of the Centre for International Cooperation,
participated on behalf of Masaryk University.
3 INTERNATIONALIZATION
IN EDUCATION
Students and teachers of Masaryk University can now benefit from close
international cooperation between six European universities within the
European Digital UniverCity (EDUC) consortium. To implement the joint
plans, the schools received five million euros from the European
Commission for a period of three years.
12
Main topics in 2019
o Foreign Language Teaching: The Language Centre provided foreign language teaching
for more than 17,000 students. During 2019, 25 foreign lecturers worked there.
o Foreign language programmes are implemented at all faculties, some are carried out in
cooperation with foreign universities. There is the possibility of studying in English from
the bachelor's degree at the FSS, FEdu, FArts, FMed.
o In 2019, MU sent 1,913 students abroad.
o In 2019, 1,331 exchange students from abroad came to Masaryk University, mostly from
Spain, France, Poland, Italy and Portugal.
3 INTERNATIONALIZATION
IN EDUCATION
13
Number of international
students in accredited
degree programmes
3 INTERNATIONALIZATION
IN EDUCATION
782
888
984 1 050
1 150
1 293 1 362
1 481 1 529
1 653
1 780
1,8% 2,0% 2,2% 2,4% 2,8% 3,4% 3,8% 4,3% 4,7% 5,2% 5,7%
0%
4%
8%
12%
16%
20%
0
400
800
1 200
1 600
2 000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Number of enrolled international students
Proportion of international students in all enrolled students
(without the citizens of Slovakia)
14
Number of students from
Slovakia in accredited degree
programmes
3 INTERNATIONALIZATION
IN EDUCATION
4 379
5 182
5 608
5 976 5 878 5 811 5 754 5 648 5 373 5 272 5 263
10,1%
11,7% 12,7%
13,8% 14,4% 15,2% 16,0% 16,4% 16,4% 16,5% 16,8%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Number of students from Slovakia
Proportion of students from Slovakia in all enrolled students
15
Experimental economist writes his
dissertation in Brno and Sydney at
the same time, and his studies bring
him two titles
Priority of Strategic Plan:
Michal Ďuriník, a successful graduate of doctoral studies.
4 INDIVIDUALIZED
DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES
Doctoral student Michal Ďuriník is the first graduate of the cotutelle
programme at the Faculty of Economics and Administration. He completed
a major part of his dissertation in the field of economic experiments at
Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He defended his final work at
the same time in Australia and at Masaryk University.
16
Main topics in 2019
4 INDIVIDUALIZED
DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES
o The transformation of the original doctoral degree programmes and fields into newlyaccredited
programmes was launched.
o University expanded its cooperation in the implementation of doctoral degree programmes
to several new institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences. In addition to the Faculty
of Science and the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Law will also
cooperate.
o CEITEC PhD school: more than 465 applicants from dozens of countries around the
world, 19 new students were admitted, two thirds of them from abroad.
o The fourth meeting of the International Scientific Advisory Board took place: The most
accentuated topic was doctoral studies.
17
One billion from the EU heading to
RECETOX will turn Brno into a
research centre for factors influencing
human health
Priority of Strategic Plan:
5 RESEARCH
EXCELLENCE
AND RELEVANCE
Jana Klánová, director of the Center for Research on Toxic
Substances in the Environment of the Faculty of Science
MU - RECETOX.
The RECETOX research centre has achieved great success – as the first
such organisation in Europe to succeed in all three Horizon 2020 calls for
excellence. Thanks to the project, interdisciplinary cooperation will be
further developed across the university and with leading European
research institutions, such as University College London and ETH Zurich or
the BBMRI network of European biobanks.
18
Main topics in 2019 5 RESEARCH
EXCELLENCE
AND RELEVANCE
o Masaryk University became the most successful Czech institution in H2020 calls
so far: the total number of approved H2020 projects reached 80. Their total budget
exceeded CZK 810 million.
o Significant Scientific Discoveries in 2019:
Virologists have shattered old notions of viruses penetrating cells
Cyber security experts have uncovered vulnerabilities in chips
A long-term study by psychologists focused on motherhood and child care
Chemists have invented a more environmentally-friendly way of producing
the key compound graphene
19
Proportion of 2019
publications in journals
according to their impact
factor by quartile
5 RESEARCH
EXCELLENCE
AND RELEVANCE
Q1
38%
Q2
24%
Q3
12%
Q4
10%
AHCI
2%
CPCI
5%
ESCI
9%
Uncategorised
0%
20
The British historian, an ERC grant
holder, came to Masaryk University
thanks to the MUNI Award
Priority of Strategic Plan:
6 RESEARCH EFFICIENCY
AND A STIMULATING
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
Second MUNI Award winner Matthew Rampley.
The second year of the MUNI Award in Science and Humanities brought
the British historian Matthew Rampley to Masaryk University. He came to
the Faculty of Arts from the University of Birmingham and brought with him
a prestigious European Research Council grant (ERC grant). The subject
of his interest will be question how the interwar political and social events
of the time affected art and architecture in Central Europe.
21
Main topics in 2019 6 RESEARCH EFFICIENCY
AND A STIMULATING
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
o The Association of Research Universities of the Czech Republic was established
– in addition to Masaryk University, Charles University, Palacký University in Olomouc,
the Czech Technical University and the University of Chemical Technology are also
members.
o For the ninth year in a row, Masaryk University has been supporting excellence in
research through internal projects of the MU Grant Agency (GA MU). In 2019, the
competition for interdisciplinary research projects also took place. Another four
projects were selected for financial support totalling almost CZK 20 million.
22
Total amount of acquired
non-investment R&D
revenues
6 RESEARCH EFFICIENCY
AND A STIMULATING
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
950973
1293653
1465180
1359226
1067740
1255973
1377168
1848403
0
400 000
800 000
1 200 000
1 600 000
2 000 000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
23
The university celebrated the
centenary of its founding
Priority of Strategic Plan:
7 ORGANIZATIONAL
CULTURE BASED
ON SHARED VALUES
Andrej Kiska received the MU Grand Gold Medal from Rector Mikuláš Bek
on the occasion of starting the celebrations of the centenary of the
founding of Masaryk University.
2019 was a year of spectacular celebrations at Masaryk University.
Activities commemorating the centenary of the founding of the university
were spread throughout the year and included ceremonial events and
cultural performances, sports competitions and student activities and
invited not only its students and staff, but also graduates and the public.
24
Main topics in 2019 7 ORGANIZATIONAL
CULTURE BASED
ON SHARED VALUES
o More than 12,000 people took part in the MUNI 100 Festival at the Brno Exhibition
Centre to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Masaryk University.
o Jubilee year 2019 ended with the November Festival 30 Years of Freedom, which took
place at the Scala cinema and prepared for the Brno public a thematic cycle
commemorating 30 years since the Velvet Revolution.
o During 2019, Masaryk University subsequently awarded five honorary doctorates
to Andrej B. Zubov, Josef Jiřičný, Hans Belting, David P. Lane and John P. Giesy.
o Rector’s Awards of Masaryk University: 22 employees, students and graduates
in 11 categories were given awards for their excellent scientific, pedagogical or creative
work and exemplary representation of the university.
25
People donated 273 litres of blood
to hospitals in the name of Masaryk
University
Priority of Strategic Plan:
8 INSPIRATION
AND SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
An example of a unique sense of belonging was shown by students of the
Faculty of Medicine led by Natália Antalová, Chair of the Student Chamber
of the Academic Senate of the Medical Faculty of MU, when they
announced the call for 100 years – 100 litres of blood THANKS TO MUNI.
Event coordinator of 100 litres of blood THANKS TO MUNI
Natália Antalová, a student of the follow-up Intensive Care
programme.
26
Main topics in 2019 8 INSPIRATION
AND SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
o The project Open University (FEdu) continued. Its aim is to build an open environment
at Masaryk University and to create a system of support measures for ethnic minorities.
o The Symbios project, initiated by the FSS, was started. Its part is joint living of young
adults from children's homes and students of Masaryk University.
o The Kafinet café was open at Faculty od Education. The café is a training workplace for
people who return to work after a mental illness.
o The Fakescape student project has been fully launched. Faculty students started
driving to primary and secondary schools with an innovative interactive game
developing competencies in the field of media literacy.
o The Kometa Brno hockey team raised CZK 160,000 through an auction of jerseys
with the MU logo. The money will go to the Centre for Applied Behavioural Analysis.
27
MU publicity in 2019 according
to the type of media
(1,146 articles analyzed in 15 key media)
8 INSPIRATION
AND SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Top 10 themes related to Masaryk University in
the media
Election of the rector and election of Martin Bareš
Activities in Antarctica
Celebrations of the centenary of the founding of the university
Celebrations of the Velvet Revolution
RECETOX research
Focus of the university on research into the impact of the changing
Czech population demographics
Mass audit of final theses
The Graduate Campaign focused on the prevention of academic
failure
Research on bans on mobiles for schoolchildren
MUNI Award for Matthew Rampley
National
media
42%
Regional
media
54%
Journal or
specialized print
4%
28
Zdeněk Bochníček from the Faculty
of Science was awarded by the
Minister of Education for his
excellent pedagogical work
Priority of Strategic Plan:
9 PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT AND
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
Holder of the Minister of Education’s Award for
the best university teachers, Zdeněk Bochníček.
The popular teacher Zdeněk Bochníček, who works at the Department of
Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, was among the first to receive the
Award of the Minister of Education for outstanding educational activities at the
university. This is a completely new award, intended to draw attention to the
importance of quality educational activities.
29
Main topics in 2019 9 PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT AND
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
o HR Award: The aim of all parts of MU is to fulfil the principles of the European
Charter for Researchers. The Faculty of Science and CEITEC MU had already received
HR Award and devoted the entire year to the implementations of the Action Plan.
o The International Staff Office provided 1,420 consultations to foreign employees
and family members.
o The University Centre for the Development of Pedagogical Competences first time
offered ten narrowly-focused workshops, which were attended by 156 academics
and doctoral students. A new educational programme for MU doctoral students was
also launched.
30
Mean and median wages
of academic staff at MU
9 PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT AND
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT49190
51799
56358
56203
56092
57558
62356
65575
69983
39185
41355
45071
43973
43607
45151
48375
51880
56522
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Academic staff – mean wage in CZK Academic staff – median wage in CZK
31
The university received CZK
660 million for the modernisation
of research centres
Priority of Strategic Plan:
10 INFRASTRUCTURE
AND INSTITUTIONAL
MANAGEMENT
At the end of 2019, six projects of Masaryk University received a subsidy
of almost CZK 660 million for the modernisation and increase in the
capacity of research infrastructures. The largest amount is intended for
the instrumentation for the research institute CEITEC MU, where CZK
565 million will go.
32
Main topics in 2019 10 INFRASTRUCTURE
AND INSTITUTIONAL
MANAGEMENT
o A new system of University Budgeting: the division of institutional support for the longterm
conceptual development of a research organization on the basis of performance
indicators and internal competition.
o As a part of the SIMU+ project the construction of the Simulation Centre of the Medical
Faculty of Masaryk University continued.
o 3rd year of the MUNI 4.0 project realization. Memoranda of cooperation were concluded
with 26 foreign institutions. Since the beginning of the project, over 300 academic staff
have been trained within the activities of CERPEK and the Language Centre.
o The successful completion of the MUNI4students project, which brought the university
equipment and modernisation of teaching spaces for CZK 386 mil.
33
Total non-investment MU
revenues
10 INFRASTRUCTURE
AND INSTITUTIONAL
MANAGEMENT
4297785
4640797
4970801
5421303
6156967
6467071
6460319
6110045
6371305
7076953
7563291
0
1 000 000
2 000 000
3 000 000
4 000 000
5 000 000
6 000 000
7 000 000
8 000 000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Non-investment revenues in thousands CZK
34
20 years of the Masaryk
University Information System
Priority of Strategic Plan:
11 INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
AND IT SUPPORT
For 20 years, the MU Information System has made work easier for students,
teachers and university staff. It allows applicants to submit e-applications in a
modern environment of touch devices, and students now have an electronic
confirmation of study easily available with a qualified e-seal. Qualified signing
and sealing simplifies official processes.
35
Main topics in 2019 11 INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
AND IT SUPPORT
o Information System of Masaryk University: an electronic confirmation of study was
launched.
o Qualified electronic signing of documents: 118,309 documents were signed directly
in the IS MU in 2019.
o The technology for publishing eDiplom has been prepared.
o The coverage of the buildings of the Accommodation and Catering Services by
a wireless network was successfully completed.
o MU became a founding member of the new national research e-infrastructure
e-INFRA CZ, which was established as a consortium of the existing e-infrastructures
CERIT-SC (MU), CESNET and IT4Innovations (TUO).