MENDEL news 1/2026 (eng) by MENDELU

1-26

The Employee Newsletter of Mendel University in Brno

Science communication conference METAMORPHOSIS 28–29

May 2026

Metamorphosis conference

The Metamorphosis conference is a science popularization event focused on communicating science in an understandable, fun, and attractive manner. The second edition will take place on 28 and 29 May 2026 at Mendel University in Brno. You can look forward to two days of lectures, hands-on workshops, panel debates, and networking. The conference will bring together researchers, PR professionals from research institutions, teachers, students, journalists, science communicators, and science enthusiasts. The keynote speaker will be Severine Rutherford. MENDELU employees interested in attending are entitled to special conditions; conference fee payments will be made through internal invoicing. If you are interested, contact Markéta Pukšová.

Major activities in 2024

HEROES Alliance in 2025

In 2025 the HEROES alliance completed and published the Skills & Competence Need Map, expanded the use of challenge-based learning in the classroom, and made progress in preparing joint study modules, minors, and double degree programmes. The Joint Action Plan for Micro-credentials was launched, and the first employee education calendar for spring 2026 was created. In the area of research, collaboration in thematic working groups intensified and rules for sharing research infrastructures drafted. A pilot version of the HEROES Moodle educational platform was launched for testing, as was Agora, a joint digital environment.

We’re looking for scientists for a “Journey to the Beginning of Time”

This summer, MENDELU will be holding a day camp titled “Journey to the Beginning of Time.” We are looking for employees with science and research experience to present their work to children in a playful manner and to connect it to life in prehistoric times. The camp aims to inspire children by making science and research fun and understandable. We are looking for people to create a short, approximately hour-long programme for any day of the camp, which will run from 13 to 17 July 2026. If you feel like getting involved, please contact Tereza Ondráčková from the HR Management Office.

News from the International Relations Office

The deadline for submitting applications for studying abroad through MENDELU was 31 January 2026. We are glad that students from every faculty applied, demonstrating the great interest in international mobility. This year, we are offering students unique opportunities to study abroad as part of Erasmus+ and other programmes. We also look forward to welcoming incoming international students in the summer semester, for whom we have prepared the traditional Welcome Week.

Licences for EndNote 2025 citation manager

The Library has licences available for the new version of the EndNote 2025 citation manager. This tool is used to manage bibliographic citations. It is directly connected to the Web of Science, and users can therefore easily import records and search for publications using the EndNote interface. The latest version of EndNote 2025 is more user friendly than the previous version, for which support is no longer available. These licences are intended for MENDELU academic staff, including current users of the older EndNote X9 version. If you are interested in a licence or upgrade, write an e-mail here. You can find more information on the Library’s website.

Academic Senate marks start of its new term

On 1 February 2026, the Academic Senate of the university began its new term, which will last until 31 January 2029. The senate is chaired by Petr Čermák; the senate elected as vice-chairs Jiří Čupera and, for the student chamber, Daniel Taraba. At the senate’s inaugural session held on 26 January 2026, the following expert committees were established: the Economic Committee chaired by Veronika Blašková and the Legislative Committee chaired by Ondřej Pavelek. The Academic Senate is a self-governing representative body of the university. It contributes to setting the university’s strategic direction, debates and approves key internal regulations and the university budget, and expresses its opinion on fundamental issues related to the university’s functioning. The Economic Committee concentrates in particular on the budget, financial management, and the economic impacts of proposed measures. The Legislative Committee prepares, evaluates, and interprets internal university regulations and ensures that they are in keeping with valid legislation. We would like to wish the members of the Academic Senate a successful term and to thank them for their willingness to contribute to the university’s growth.

Sustainable MENDELU

MENDELU TAKES PART IN EUROPE-WIDE UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY

In 2025, Mendel University in Brno took part in a large survey conducted by the European University Association (EUA), which mapped how European universities approach sustainability and so-called greening. Four hundred institutions from 43 countries took part in the survey. The results were published in the comprehensive report Sustainability and Greening in European Higher Education. The survey revealed that sustainability is becoming a strategic priority at European universities. Today, most universities are implementing sustainability measures across the entire organization – in facility management, education, research, innovation, and cooperation with regions and international partners. There has also been a significant increase in the emphasis on student and employee engagement, sustainability education, and systematic impact monitoring.

The report also calls attention to persisting barriers, which include a lack of funding and human resources. The participating universities all agree that further growth in sustainability will require greater support at the national and European levels. By participating in the survey, MENDELU can compare its own activities with Europe-wide trends and get valuable feedback about the future of sustainability at the university. The full report is available here.

DIGITIZATION AND INNOVATIVE BRIDGES: CZECH RECTORS CONFERENCE WORKING GROUP

ABOUT FUTURE OF UNIVERSITIES

On 27 and 28 January 2026, Mendel University in Brno hosted the second meeting of the Working Group of the Czech Rectors Conference for Sustainability. University representatives under the leadership of Rector Jan Mareš focused on experiences with implementing the principles of sustainability, the digitization of processes, the transformation of research activities, and financial resources for green transformations. A key point on the meeting’s agenda was a discussion about progress on developing a shared reporting standard for all Czech universities. This standard, building upon the UNILEAD platform, will allow schools to measure and present their results related to ESG (environment, social responsibility, administration) and will improve their prestige and international competitiveness.

At the meeting, the hosting MENDELU presented the concrete results of the implementation of its

sustainability strategy for the 2025–2030 period. Rector Jan Mareš emphasized that sustainability is primarily a question of smart management that requires the digitization of internal processes and socially responsible procurement to cultivate supply chains. A workshop devoted to digitizing water management under the leadership of František Mach from the company Nextdrop provided a practical demonstration of technological progress. In the MENDELU Botanical Gardens and Arboretum, attendees learned about the application of data management, where automatization and real-time data ensure the effective management of rare collections of plants and real water savings.

An interesting point on the agenda was the presentation of the draft of MENDELU’s Ten Principles of Sustainability. This document defines ten key areas, from efficient lab operations and support for Open Access to integrating sustainably principles directly into research grant proposals. The goal is to incorporate these principles into internal regulations and funding calls to minimize the environmental impact of research while maximizing knowledge sharing.

In the final section of the meeting, models for funding green transformations were presented, as were specific grant programmes and joint interuniversity projects. A diverse group of university representatives and guests from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports; the South Moravia Region; and the Veletrhy Brno company took part in the discussions. The involvement of so many entities confirmed the importance of universities as strategic partners in regional development and modernizing public administration. The working group’s next meeting is planned for September 2026 and will be hosted by the University of Pardubice.

Happening at MENDELU

From Strategy to Tangible Results

The year 2025 marked another important milestone for Mendel University in Brno, as the objectives set out in its Strategic Plan were translated into concrete steps, projects, and results visible across the entire university. In the areas of education, science and research, internationalisation, human resources development, digitalisation, and sustainability, a number of key activities successfully progressed from conceptual planning to real-world implementation. What most of these initiatives share is a strong emphasis on quality, meaningful impact, practicality, and long-term sustainability.

Quality of Education and Development of Study Programmes

In 2025, significant attention was devoted to the development of educational activities and the quality assurance system. The university focused not only on the stabilisation and further development of accredited study programmes, but also on the systematic evaluation of their quality and relevance. Internal processes were refined, the role of study programme guarantors was strengthened, and cooperation among faculties was deepened through the sharing of good practice.

In connection with amendments to the Higher Education Act, changes to the Study and Examination Regulations and the Scholarship Regulations were formally embedded. Existing processes in the management of educational activities were revised, new processes were introduced, and adjustments were made to the University Information System (UIS). A new application for study programme guarantors and faculty management was developed, enabling the management of the accreditation file preparation process and the registration of its individual components. A strong emphasis was also placed on the development of doctoral studies. Measures were adopted to improve conditions for doctoral candidates, strengthen academic support, and better integrate doctoral studies with research teams, international cooperation, and applied practice. Procedures for the awarding, reduction, withdrawal, and increase of doctoral scholarships were established. The long-term goal of these steps is to enhance the attractiveness of doctoral studies and to prepare a new generation of researchers.

Strengthening the

Community, Popularisation of Creative Activities, and Development of Partnerships

The university community is formed not only by employees, but also by students, alumni, and everyone actively involved in the life of MENDELU. For this reason, the university systematically focused on strengthening the sense of community, mutual belonging, and creating opportunities for meeting, sharing experiences, and cooperation across faculties and workplaces. These efforts were reflected in a wide range of events supporting openness, mutual understanding, and the feeling that MENDELU is a place worth being part of.

Significant attention was paid to the popularisation of creative activities through modern communication formats, exhibitions, and public events, including the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Žabčice School Agricultural Enterprise. Cooperation with key partners in education, science, and environmental awareness was further deepened, and alumni were actively involved in presenting the university, thereby strengthening MENDELU’s role as an open, collaborative, and socially responsible institution.

Lifelong Learning and Counselling Services

Further development took place in the area of lifelong learning and counselling services, with, for example, 980 counselling hours delivered. These activities respond to the changing needs of society, the labour market, and individuals at different stages of their professional lives. The university strengthened its offer of courses, micro-credentials, and educational programmes that connect academic knowledge with practical skills and enable flexible forms of study. An intergenerational university programme was implemented, along with a wide range of other related activities.

Strategic Human Resources Management

In 2025, MENDELU successfully defended the HR Excellence in Research Award, confirming significant progress in strategic human resources management in line with the updated Gender Equality Plan and the European Charter for Researchers Development continued in areas such as the Safe MENDELU platform, the digitalisation of HR agendas, the implementation of a recruitment system, onboarding of new employees, training of academic and non-academic staff, support for career development, and the strengthening of leadership competencies, among other initiatives.

Happening at MENDELU

Digitalisation, Reduction of Administrative Burden, Smart University, AI, and New Technologies

Progress was also made in the area of digitalisation and the meaningful use of ICT tools. The focus was not solely on technology itself, but on its practical benefits for the everyday work of employees and students. In the eSSL system, 27,573 records were processed, 2,574 approval processes were carried out, and 972 authorised conversions were completed. Development and stabilisation of university applications continued, along with the unification of their management processes.

In the Verso system, 11,934 travel orders and 742 purchases in Marquet were recorded, and a total of 326 project cover sheets were approved and transferred to eSSL. In November, 263 electronically submitted applications for bonus payments were processed in a pilot mode. Employees can now fully use applications for annual tax settlement, tax benefits, and income confirmation through the Employee Portal in UIS, which can newly be accessed via the national digital identity (NIA).

A significant milestone was the launch of micro-accreditations in the production environment and the development of the accreditation module, which is currently undergoing testing. The functionality of the e-košilka application was pilot-tested. The My MENDELU mobile application, with approximately 7,000 users, was further expanded with new features ranging from recording working hours for employees to gamification elements for students. The year 2025 also brought the first concrete steps towards the use of artificial intelligence and the smart campus concept, including the deployment of four chatbots that answered approximately 3,500 questions and the testing of AI assistants. The Smart Study Office has so far been used by 18,000 users, corresponding to an average of 38 reservations per day during the semester.

Internationalisation and Openness to the World

MENDELU continued the systematic development of internationalisation. International cooperation in education and research was strengthened, along with support for student and staff mobility, language and multicultural education for employees, and participation in international networks and projects. The European Universities Alliance HEROES project was launched. Four faculties and 131 students and academics took part in the Blended Intensive Programme, a modern teaching format combining virtual and physical mobility with the development of digital, language, and interdisciplinary competences. Three student mobility trips accompanied by academic staff were organised, and the spring and autumn International Weeks hosted 88 participants from around the world. These activities contribute not only to higher quality education and research, but also to the university’s international visibility.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Sustainability and social responsibility represented a key chapter of 2025. MENDELU implemented its sustainability strategy for the first year, systematically participated in international university

rankings, and prepared its third sustainability report. The university actively engaged in regional and national initiatives related to climate and development strategies. An important element in this area is the university’s school enterprises, which implement a wide range of adaptation and mitigation measures addressing the impacts of climate change and function as living laboratories in the regional context. At the same time, the university community was strengthened through support for sports activities, infrastructure, and student-athletes within the UNIS programme. In the Botanical Garden and Arboretum of MENDELU, a pilot project focused on water digitalisation was launched with the aim of creating a digital twin of the area in the field of water management. Sustainability-related activities also include engagement in CSR initiatives and the organisation of further events.

Operations and Infrastructure Development

None of these achievements would be possible without high-quality operational and infrastructural support, which forms the backbone of the university’s daily functioning. In 2025, systematic attention was therefore paid to the long-term development of the campus, ranging from building management and modernisation to investment projects, technical infrastructure, and the provision of a safe, functional, and sustainable environment for study, work, and research.

The goal is not only to respond to current needs, but to build a university prepared for future challenges while caring for shared university assets intended to serve future generations as well. Step by step, MENDELU is strengthening its infrastructure to support the development of education, research, and the university community as a whole, both now and in the future.

The Common Denominator of 2025

The year 2025 demonstrated that MENDELU’s Strategic Plan is not merely a formal document, but a living framework reflected in everyday work across the university. Whether in education quality, digitalisation, sustainability, internationalisation, or people development, the shared goal remains a meaningful university that connects tradition with innovation and responds to the needs of the contemporary world.

Happening at MENDELU

2025 MENDELU Charity Market

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the 2025 MENDELU Charity Market, whether by physically visiting, by participating in the Dobrobot auction, or by donating on Donio. We truly appreciate your involvement; thanks to your help we rose 513,190 Kč for charity. From the physical market and the online auction we made 132,331 Kč, which will be split evenly between several subjects: sick little Amélka and David, students from a school for autistic children, Slezská diakonie, the Chovánek children’s centre, and a hedgehog rescue station. Another 380,859 Kč was collected through Donio. This money was collected specifically for these entities, and therefore, the donated funds were sent directly to their bank accounts. Because Chovánek did not want to be the recipient of direct donations, we chose a substitute organization: Útulek Tibet, a shelter for handicapped cats and dogs. Special thanks go to our students from the Managerial Skills Seminar, who organized the entire event. These students learned organizational and managerial skills in practice under the guidance of Sylvie Formánková and Renate Kučerová from the Department of Management of the Faculty of Business and Economics. This

event is one of the activities traditionally organized by the Centre for Social Responsibility and Sustainability (CSR MENDELU). We look forward to you taking part in the event this year and helping us give a happy start to the new year for those less fortunate than us.

Unique ILF neurofeedback at MENDELU: Cutting-edge technology for mental health support

At the MENDELU Counselling Centre we are constantly trying to push the boundaries of support for our students. We are the only university in the Czech Republic and the only institute in Brno that offers ILF neurofeedback training. This innovative method works with ultra-low frequencies of brain activity. Unlike more common neurofeedback methods, ILF focuses on stabilizing the central nervous system at a deep level and strengthening the brain’s ability to self-regulate.

ILF neurofeedback is an exceptionally effective tool, particularly for people with the following issues:

• ADHD and attention disorders: It helps calm the mind and improve concentration for studying.

• Anxiety and stress: It teaches the brain to better handle difficult situations and the exam period.

• Specific learning disabilities: It supports cognitive function and effective learning.

• Problems with sleep or regeneration: It helps achieve overall mental relaxation.

Thanks to the project Equality, Inclusiveness, and a Barrierfree MENDELU Campus (RIBA), project registration number CZ.02.02.01/00/23_024/0008912, the Counselling Centre can offer students cutting-edge care. If you are interested in this method or would like to learn more about it, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can find more information about the centre’s services here

MENDEL PhD Infra project ends

The implementation of the project The Development of Researchoriented Study Programmes at Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU PhD Infra), registration number CZ.02.01.01/00/22_012/0004847, was completed on 31 December 2025. This project, funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme of the Ministry of Education, Youths and Sports, significantly improved the infrastructure at all faculties with accredited doctoral programmes. The project’s objective was to provide high-quality, modern facilities for doctoral students and research teams.

As part of the project, 65.5 million Kč were spent to purchase 69 items, including instruments, IT technologies, and other equipment intended for PhD students as well as other MENDELU students. For example, thanks to the project, the Faculty of AgriSciences bought a growth chamber with cultivation units for 9.2 million Kč and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology acquired a universal testing machine for 7 million Kč. The project was co-financed by the European Union. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT

2. DECEMBER – Impuls.cz – Superworms “eat” plastics and could help with waste management: HERE

8. DECEMBER – Brňan.cz – MENDELU launches educational programmes for secondary school students: HERE

17. DECEMBER – Ekolist.cz – Czech scientists are helping in the Amazon: HERE

21. JANUARY – Brňan.cz – Experts examine century-old pistachio trees in Israel: HERE

22. JANUARY – iRozhlas.cz – MENDELU studies ash trees affected by disease in the Soutok Protected Landscape Area: HERE

27. JANUARY – iBrno.cz – Scientist studies DNA of microorganisms in Antarctica: HERE

Happening at MENDELU

InnovPrecMed project enters next phase

The European project InnovPrecMed, coordinated by MENDELU, has completed its first phase of implementation, which confirmed the strong interest in learning about innovation and precision medicine among students and academic and non-academic staff. More than 800 people from different European countries took part in free online educational activities; the project made a significant contribution to developing the innovation and technological competence of these participants. The project also firmly established the foundations of international collaboration between universities, research organizations, and companies, and opened new opportunities for mentoring, technology transfer, and connecting teaching with practice.

In 2026, the InnovPrecMed will build upon its achievements. It will continue to offer a mentoring programme, which will grow to include internship opportunities, and it will introduce two new free online courses focused on entrepreneurship and gaining a deeper understanding of precision medicine. You can find more information at www.innovprecmed.eu. If you have any questions, get in touch with Julia Daňková

Training session: Effectively Selecting Employees –Recruitment Interviews

We cordially invite anyone who regularly or occasionally takes part in hiring new employees as members of selection committees to attend a training session titled “Effectively Selecting Employees –Recruitment Interviews.” Come and brush up on your knowledge about how to prepare for an interview, ask meaningful questions, evaluate answers, and conduct interviews in a professional manner. The session will be led by Zdeňka Brázdová, an experienced HR manager and consultant.

• Date: 11 February 2026

• Time: 12:00–16:00

• Location: Institute of Lifelong Leaning, Room E15

• Capacity: 15 people

• Registration

Webinar: Organizing and Documenting Research Data

We would like to invite you to the webinar Organizing and Documenting Research Data, which will take place on 24 February at 10:00 on MS Teams. The webinar is intended for academic staff and PhD students. Participants will learn about proven methods for effectively organizing research data, including rules for naming files and folders, version control management, long-term storage, and working with sustainable data formats. The webinar will also focus on the creation of high-quality documentation that will make the future use of data easier not only for the creator but also other researchers. You can find detailed information and the registration form on the Open Science Centre website.

Happening at MENDELU

Do you use the Edenred meal card?

MENDELU employees can receive meal allowances via the Edenred dining card, which can be used to pay for food in select restaurants and grocery stores. To receive a daily allowance, you must have an employment contract of at least 0.5 FTE, work four hours on the given day, and not eat a subsidized lunch in the university canteens, with the exception of Canteen X. You can find detailed information on the website of the HR Management Office. If you meet these requirements and are interested in the Edenred card, get in touch with your HR manager.

Grant winners announced

At the end of 2025, the winners of grants were announced. The names of the principal investigators of successful 3rd Public Call for Earth II projects have been published on the Project Centre website. On our Czech Science Foundation page, you will find successful projects that began in 2026. Besides a list of successful applicants, in the near future we will also publish here information about a planned online seminar on the calls for applications that the Czech Science Foundation regularly announces in February. For more information, follow the Project Centre’s website or sign up for the Project Centre newsletter.

SPACE NET & SPACE DAY MENDELU

On 4 March, Mendel University in Brno will host SPACE NET & SPACE DAY MENDELU, an event bringing together students, academics and researchers interested in space research and space technologies. The morning programme, SPACE NET MENDELU, will take place from 9:30 to 12:00, followed by the afternoon SPACE DAY MENDELU from 13:00 to 17:00. The event will present an overview of MENDELU’s space-related activities, opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation, and plenty of space for networking.

New features in the My MENDELU app

Smart MENDELU has introduced another useful update. University employees can now record working hours and manage leave anytime, anywhere directly from their mobile phones via the My MENDELU app. The feature is currently available as a pilot version for Android devices only, with an iOS version expected around mid-year. In addition to attendance tracking, the app allows employees to receive important messages and news. It also offers a range of other practical features – users can check and rate meals in the university canteen, easily find colleagues’ offices using an interactive map, and access many other helpful tools. If you are not yet using the My MENDELU app, you can download it from Google Play.

Master’s Degree Programmes Festival

On 4 March from 10:00 to 14:00, the Master’s Degree Programmes Festival will take place in the atrium of Building Q at Mendel University in Brno. The event offers prospective students the opportunity to meet programme coordinators and current master’s students, and to gain detailed information about the structure of study programmes, practical experience and graduate career opportunities. The festival also includes SPACE DAY MENDELU, showcasing how master’s studies can be connected with space activities, research and modern space applications.

From the world of science and research

MENDELU building more robust infrastructure for research and innovation

In summer 2025, Mendel University in Brno launched the strategic project Building Academic Infrastructure for Research and Innovation, Leadership, and Effective Coordination of the Research Environment (registration number CZ.02.01.01/00/23_026/0011485), which is funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme. The project focuses on the long-term improvement of research and development quality, human resources development, the evaluation of scholarly activities, open science, technology transfer, and research popularization. We dedicated the first months of project implementation primarily to analytical and preparatory work across key activities. Expert teams focused on mapping existing processes and the needs of academic and managerial staff. They also studied national and international trends. At the same time, we established project management and coordination systems so that individual activities would lead to interconnected and mutually compatible strategic outputs at the university level.

Attention was also paid to developing employee education, preparing new concepts and strategies, evaluating research activities, strengthening cooperation with industry, and developing open science, including research data management. The project is thus creating a firm foundation for changes that will in coming years be reflected in how MENDELU functions and in the conditions for research and scholarly work.

MENDELU Returns: Support for returning to research career after career break

Mendel University in Brno is implementing the MENDELU Returns project (registration number CZ.02.01.01/00/24_037/0013865) funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme. The project’s goal is to provide systematic support for researchers who are returning to a research career after a career break. The project is primarily intended for people returning to academia and research after maternity or family leave, long-term illnesses, or care leave. It responds to their specific needs associated with re-engaging with research activities. Its aims include reducing the number of people that leave academia after taking a career break and promoting equal opportunities. Part of the project involves offering return grants meant to facilitate professional re-integration and restarting research activities. The first call for applications for these internal return grants is planned for March 2026. Other project activities include providing educational support during career breaks and institutionally embedding the entire return support system. The MENDELU Returns project is administered by the Project Centre of Mendel University in Brno. We recommended anyone interested in return grants to follow the Project Centre website.