MASARYK UNIVERSITY ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 MASARYK UNIVERSITY ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 © MASARYK UNIVERSITY, 2009 I I I I I I I I I Foreword . 5 About the University 1 The University in 2008 . 9 The University in Numbers in 2008 . 10 Key Events in 2008 . 11 2 Studies . 21 Educational Activities Quality. 22 The Quality of Academic Life . 27 Progress in University Education as a Public Service . 31 3 Research . 35 A Research University . 36 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT Doctoral Studies. 39 Academic Staff Qualification Advancement . 41 4 The University and Links to Society. 43 Public Relations and Marketing . 44 Institutional Partnerships . 46 Knowledge and Research Results Transfer . 47 5 Development Activities and Support Processes . 49 Infrastructure Management . 50 Investment in Human Resources and Employee Support . 52 Accounting and Financial Management . 53 Financial Control Data . 55 MU Development Projects . 55 6 Information Infrastructure . 57 MU Libraries . 58 MU Archives . 59 Information and Communication Technology. 59 MU Information System. 60 Provision of Information pursuant to Act No. 106/1999 Coll. on Free Access to Information . 61 7 MU Faculties in 2008 . 63 Basic Facts MU Organizational Structure . 74 and Figures Names and Addresses . 75 1 University Structure, Officers and Official Bodies. 76 2 Studies . 80 3 Research . 87 4 The University and Links to the Society . 93 5 Development Activities and Support Processes . 93 6 Information Infrastructure . 98 MASARYK UNIVERSITY MASARYK INDEX 3 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Foreword 2008 was in many respects both a significant and with international best practices aimed at support- demanding year for Masaryk University; among ing career advancement as well as both academic other matters, the university was confronted with and non-academic staff remuneration and offering crucial public policy developments in higher edu- academic careers to experts who had proved their cation as well as in research. Reforms in research, abilities in other professions. development and innovation commenced on a national level, while an intensive debate regard- ing possible changes to the Higher Education Act was initiated and the university was forced to contradict some of the proposals presented by the Ministry of Health regarding the transforma- tion of existing faculty hospitals. Looking back on ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT the past year, it may be said that in dealing with the above mentioned key issues as well as other – perhaps less noticeable – challenges, Masaryk University was always able to rely on a clearly de- fined strategy, well-maintained academic activities and a substantial financial and administrative base. The university presented itself as a self-confident public institution with a clearly delimited mission and set of values, ready to support, influence, and take active part in implementing reforms which are deemed necessary and justified. Keen interest in studies at Masaryk University as well as a growing international student population, accounting for a full 11 % of all students, is ample evidence of the fact that the public increasingly ap- preciates the study environment the university has to offer. Integrated and lucid study regulations as well as a great degree of openness, clarity and ac- cessibility all characterize the university’s approach to its students. The university is in the process of developing a quality monitoring and management system, supplementing the existing infrastructure The state of the university on the eve of its with e.g. a pilot quality assessment mechanism 90th year of existence may fill us with pride, and evaluating individual fields of study. Continuous rightly so. However, it is essential to realize that self-improvement is an inherent part of the the results published in this annual report were Masaryk University ethos: it is one of the most influenced by many different factors. Apart from prominent Czech institutions as far as implement- a great deal of enthusiasm and diligence on the ing novel concepts developed in the European part of university employees and students, a num- higher education area is concerned. ber of other elements were required: an appropri- In terms of strengthening its research profile, ate strategy, effective management and administra- the university achieved significant progress in tion and, last but not least, a relatively favourable 2008, preparing strategic programmes potentially environment and positive public reception. The drawing on European Structural Funds. Creating development and perhaps even defence of these new research capacities based on existing infra- results might, nevertheless, constitute a formidable structure as well as a range of research programmes task to be addressed in the future. – unparalleled in the Czech Republic in terms of both quantity and thematic diversity – presents a host of new opportunities. As a result, Masaryk University and the South Moravian Region are able to provide the most talented students and re- Petr Fiala search workers from the Czech Republic as well as Rector from abroad with a place to start and develop their careers. This is also one of the reasons why the university carried out a fundamental restructuring of the personnel and wage system in 2008, adopt- MASARYK UNIVERSITY MASARYK ing modern rules and regulations fully compliant FOREWORD 5 I I I I I I I I I ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT About the University I I I I I I I I I MASARYK UNIVERSITY MASARYK 7 I I I I I I I I I The University in 2008 I I I I I I I I I ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 was in many respects both a significant and demanding year; Masaryk University was confronted with crucial public policy developments in both higher education as well as in research. The year saw a number of reforms in research, development, and innovation commencing throughout the Czech Republic, while a debate regarding a new Higher Education Act begun with unprecedented intensity. Throughout this period, Masaryk University was able to rely on a clearly defined strategy, well-maintained academic activities and a relevant financial and administrative base. MASARYK UNIVERSITY MASARYK THE UNIVERSITY IN 2008 9 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The University in Numbers in 2008 faculties degree fields patent programmes of study applications submitted 9230 1,171 3 applications for students doctoral admission students 65,861 41,052 3,289 partner disabled international high schools students students 64 7.2 ‰ 11 % employees alumni since 1919 4,319 average 0 university employee salary 125 00 (CZK) 36,045 library total non-investment units non-investment research and income develop. funding (mil. CZK) (mil. CZK) 1.7 mil 3,945 777 10 THE UNIVERSITY IN NUMBERS IN 2008 I I I I I I I I I Key Events in 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT Recognition at Home and Abroad e c Academic Year Opening All universities in the Czech Republic started the 2008/2009 academic year at Masaryk University. For the fi rst time ever, the traditional opening of the academic year – attended by the highest state representatives – was held outside the capital city. As the fi rst institution outside Prague, Masaryk University undertook the task of hosting the event. A total of 28 rectors and vice-rectors from across the Czech Republic took part. e Governor General of Canada Visits MU Masaryk University was the only institution of higher education visited by Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, on her state visit to the Czech Republic. A large number of students and teacher attended a panel discussion entitled “Canadian Cultural Diversity: Gender, Minorities and Public Life”. Meeting the European Commissioner At a meeting with students from Brno universities, Jan Figeľ, the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, presented an overview of the current issues in European integration. He also visited the new University Campus at Bohunice. MASARYK UNIVERSITY MASARYK KEY EVENTS IN 2008 11 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Successes in Research and Technology Transfer c f Polar Research Centre The National Polar Research Centre was established as a joint venture between by Masaryk University and other scientifi c institutions. The Centre is to coordinate the activities of Czech scientifi c units undertaking research missions at the Gregor Johann Mendel Antarctic Station on James Ross Island and the Arctic base on Svalbard. Collaboration with IBM A new non-text search method developed at the Faculty of Informatics is capable of processing over 50 million images in less than half a second. The in- novative technology won the prestigious IBM Shared University Research award, Masaryk University thus became the fi rst university in the Czech Republic to receive the international prize. f Find in Znojmo Archaeologists from the Department of History of the Faculty of Education unearthed what may well be one of the largest Great Moravian burial grounds in the Czech Republic. Thanks to the fi nd, Hradiště svatého Hypolita near Znojmo now ranks among the most signifi cant Great Moravian hill-forts such as Mikulčice, Pohansko or Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště. 12 KEY EVENTS IN 2008 I I I I I I I I I d CEITEC Project The CEITEC project has been registered as one of the best-prepared projects in the Czech Republic. The project aims to provide the best possible conditions and equipment for research in biotechnology, biomedicine and advanced materials, thus improving the competitive ability of the region – and consequently of the Czech Republic as a whole – within a European framework. ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2008 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT c New Methods in Leukaemia Treatment Scientists from the University Cell Immunotherapy Centre have successfully fi nalized their research into biological treatment, developing methods which minimize undesirable side-effects generally occurring after bone marrow cell transplantation.