MENDEL news 5/2025 (eng) by MENDELU

5-25

The

Employee Newsletter of Mendel University in Brno

MENDELU alumni reunion

Do you fondly recall your years spent as a student at MENDELU? Go back in time, meet up with your former classmates, and find out what’s new at the university. We are planning an alumni reunion focused on connecting the past with the present. The motto of the event is “how things were, how things are.” The reunion will take place on Friday, 13 June 2025, at the university campus. You can look forward not only to informal meetings but also to the vibrant and inspiring events planned, which include a guided tour of the arboretum, presentations made by alumni working in their fields of study who will share their experiences, and an evening block dedicated to stories, photographs, and videos. There will also be a chill-out zone, light refreshments, and the opportunity to buy university merch. The event is free and open to all alumni – no matter when they graduated. So, come out to reminisce and discover how MENDELU has changed and where it is headed. You can find more information here.

Major activities in 2025

Faculty of Horticulture team wins dragon boat race

Mid-year HEROES alliance meeting

New Professor Adam Pavilion to open doors soon

MENDELU held dragon boats races for employees for the second year in a row. The team with the fastest time was Eigrub from the Faculty of Agriculture, followed by the Forest Arrows team from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology and the Agronauts from the Faculty of AgriSciences. The fourth-place team was Frmska from the Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies. Fifth place went to Rektopádla, made up of employees from the Rector’s Office, the Center of Sport Activities, the International Relations Office, and the MENDELU School Agricultural Enterprise. Besides giving out prizes for the best times, the rector also awarded them for the best chant, the best costumes, and the most people overboard. The fair play award went to the canteen for providing refreshments.

A MENDELU delegation actively participated in the first mid-year HEROES alliance meeting, which took place from 20 to 22 May 2025 at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in Finland. During three intense days, more than 120 representatives from all the alliance’s member universities immersed themselves in sharing experiences, planning future steps, and strengthening cooperation. The meeting included cultural and networking events, including tours of the university campus and the city centre. The pilot episode of the HEREOS podcast, featuring guests from different working groups, was recorded during the meeting. They shared their experiences, successes, and visions for the alliance’s future. You can listen to the podcast here.

Mendel University in Brno is preparing to officially open the new Professor Adam Pavilion – a modern building that will expand facilities for teaching, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The grand opening will take place in two stages. External guests will be welcomed on Friday, June 20, 2025. The program will begin in the university assembly hall, from where guests will proceed together to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This will be followed by a guided tour of the new building, offering a glimpse into state-of-the-art classrooms, student facilities, and workspaces equipped with the latest technology. The event will conclude with a reception and informal gathering – a perfect opportunity to share first impressions and connect across the university community. Internal guests from MENDELU will have the opportunity to tour the building on Tuesday, September 23, during the “Coffee under the Plane Tree” event.

Happening at MENDELU

SUSTAINABLE MENDELU

THE SUCCESSFUL PATH TO A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ACCORDING TO FINNISH HAMK

On 23 and 24 April 2025, the Faculty of Horticulture at MENDELU in Lednice hosted experts from Finland’s Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), who shared their insights on sustainable campus development.

During the Sustainable Horticulture and Green Campus workshop, Sari Suomalainen showcased best practices from HAMK’s Lepaa campus—Finland’s first to receive the international Green Flag Award for eco-friendly green space management. Guided by the national KESY framework, HAMK supports biodiversity, community involvement, and nature-based solutions such as meadow creation, birdhouse installation, and rainwater management.

Their long-term strategy also includes the care of historic landscapes, hands-on learning, and collaboration with municipalities. HAMK proves that with knowledge, student engagement, and a clear plan, a sustainable campus is an achievable reality.

Special thanks to Tomáš Kopta from the Department of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops for organizing the event.

Library renovations in full swing

The keys to the study room, the IC library, and the periodical reading room have been handed over to the construction company, and these spaces are now temporarily closed. But the Library continues to offer services, as Library A is open every day from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Books, textbooks, and periodicals normally found in the now-closed rooms are currently stored in the Library’s storeroom. You can request items to borrow through your account in the catalogue just like normal. After making a request, your items will be ready for pickup in Library A within a few hours, or the following morning at the latest. Current issues of journals can be requested directly from the librarian at the check-out desk. You can also take advantage of the priority borrowing service by sending a periodical request to HYPERLINK knihovna@mendelu.cz. Once your material is ready, you will receive an email notification. All printers and copiers have been moved to Library A. A printer and a computer for sending print jobs are also located in front of the Auditorium Maximum. During the construction work, the information education and R&D record-keeping officer will have her office on the fourth floor of Building A. You will also find the Audiovisual Centre team in the same place. All contact information remains unchanged. For up-to-date information, follow the Library’s website. We believe that the temporary inconveniences will lead to a significantly improved library experience, as in the autumn we can look forward to meeting each in a modern building where there will be new facilities for studying, relaxing, and meeting friends.

Exhibition celebrating 100 years of School Agricultural Enterprise in Žabčice

An exhibition dedicated to 100 years of history at the School Agricultural Enterprise in Žabčice will open on Sunday, 6 June 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the building of the Field Research Station in Žabčice. The event is part of Field Day and will bring a unique opportunity to get to know agricultural traditions and modern trends. The exhibition presents the School Agricultural Enterprise as a place combining years of experience with innovative approaches. Visitors can see how modern technology and sustainable farming practices are forming the future of agriculture and landscape management. The exhibition also tells the story of people who are contributing to the farm’s growth and helping turn agriculture into a responsible, dynamic industry.

Pay confidentiality

On 1 June 2025 an amendment to the Labour Code went into effect. Among other things, it establishes the right for employees to share information about their salaries. All provisions about keeping one’s own pay information secret included in employment agreements have been invalid as of that date. This change supports greater transparency and equal opportunities at the workplace. If you have any questions, please get in touch with your HR manager here. You can find more information about other changes to the Labour Code and related regulations in a brief summary of important changes published on the HR Management Office website and on other sites for the public, such as here.

New Recruitis recruiting system

As of 1 June 2025, the university has a new recruitment system –Recruitis – which has replaced the Teamio app. Recruitis provides an ample number of user accounts, enables bilingual communication with candidates, and introduces greater automatization of the recruitment process. Everyone who plans on making job announcements or who is involved in selection committee activities will receive individual training from the Human Resources Management Office.

Happening at MENDELU

MENDELU at PCU Games 2025 in Antwerp

We took part in the international university 2025 PCU Games from 23 to 26 April in Antwerp, Belgium. Our university was heavily represented—28 students proudly wore the MENDELU uniform! The trip from Brno to Antwerp was a challenge in itself: 16 hours in a bus. But our reward was the unforgettable atmosphere we experienced from the very first day. After our arrival, we attended the opening ceremony and a welcome party, where we got to know athletes from around the world.

The following two days were devoted to battling it out in the group rounds, followed by the finals. We had plenty to celebrate! Our futsal players came in third place out of ten teams! Our female volleyball team played excellently and took fourth place. Our basketball players did not advance past the group stage, but they fought bravely and gained valuable experience. The games ended with a closing ceremony and an amazing afterparty, where we enjoyed to the fullest our final moments in Antwerp before we headed off on our long journey back home. Our athletes did more than just play matches in Belgium: they took home the experience gained from competing with teams from around the world and made new friends. It was an experience they will never forget. We would like to thank all the athletes for representing MENDELU so well.

Best wines for new academic year selected at wine tasting

The wine tasting, led by the outstanding expert Mojmír Baroň from the Department of Viticulture and Oenology, decided which wines would win the title of academic wine for the upcoming academic year. And we have some fine choices to look forward to. First place went to the 2019 Gewürztraminer from the School Agricultural Enterprise in Žabčice. The wines awarded the gold, silver, and bronze medals will be available in the DODNA wine bistro from next semester. The jury, made up of representatives from the academic senate, university management, and faculty management, evaluated nine samples of wines produced by the university in Žabčice and at the Faculty of Horticulture in Lednice. They scored each wine on a classic 100-point scale. The gold medal was awarded to a 2019 Gewürztraminer (Žabčice), the silver medal to a 2019 Pálava (Žabčice), and the bronze medal to a 2019 Hibernal (Žabčice).

We are seeking volunteers for 2025 Emil Open

Mendel University in Brno is proud to support Emil Open, the Summer European Youth Games for the Disabled, which will be held this year for the fourteenth time. At the games, athletes from across Europe will compete in seven sports. One of these disciplines, boccia, will be organized by Paralympian and MENDELU alumnus Radek Procházka. We invite students and university employees to join the volunteer team. Volunteer activities will take place from Wednesday, 25 June, until Saturday, 28 June. There is a wide range of opportunities. You can contribute to organizing and coordinating races and matches, provide support to athletes, serve lunches, or help out at individual races and matches. You can register here.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

2 May – iRozhlas.cz – Scientists study urban jungles: HERE

5 May – Ekolist.cz – New waste treatment and contamination degree programme: HERE

16 May – Brněnský deník – Hundreds of blooming irises: HERE

21 May – Novinky.cz – Alternative methods for cultivating malting barley: HERE

21 May – Novinky.cz – Well application guides visitors through Lesnický Slavín: HERE

Happening at MENDELU

Media Literacy Weeks as Part of Senior Education at MENDELU

As a result of mutual collaboration and the integration of activities for users of all generations, a screening of the film "Why and How We Click" took place on May 29 at the Institute of Lifelong Learning (ICV). The screening was enriched by a moderated discussion led by Associate Professor Tomáš Sochor from the Department of Informatics at the Faculty of Business and Economics, which added great value to the event. The film, distributed by the educational program One World in Schools from the organization People in Need, was viewed by approximately 120 senior participants as part of the Media Literacy Weeks. The event was organized by the Department of Senior Education at ICV in cooperation with the MENDELU Library.

New Smart MENDELU application makes creating C-I forms a snap – launching 16 June

The Smart MENDELU team in collaboration with the Department of Quality and Risk Management is developing a new application that will significantly simplify working with accreditation files. It offers a single environment for creating forms and automatically filling in data. Because the app is connected to university systems, such as OBD, and enables users to create their own profiles, it is capable of automatically filling in data. The application can save multiple versions of form C-I, which you will appreciate, for example, when you are writing audit reports, self-evaluations, or C.V.s. You can get your first taste of the app on 16 June 2025, when the part of the app for creating C-I forms is launched, for the time being, not yet linked to any accreditation files. We believe that the new app will save you time and make work more pleasant. Try it out on the SMART MENDELU app page. If you have any questions, direct them to the Smart MENDELU helpdesk.

Donate blood with Vojta: Campaign extended to 20 June

The blood donation campaign being held in honour of Vojtěch Adam has been extended until 20 June. You still have the chance to fulfill Vojta’s final wish. Together we can donate a symbolic 42 litres of blood––one litre for every year of his life. You can give blood every weekday from 6:15 to 9:30 a.m. at St. Anne’s University Hospital. It is not necessary to register with the hospital, but it is recommended to make the donation process go smoothly. We would also like you to fill out a form. The data you supply will be used only internally to help us calculate how many people have donated. So don’t hesitate and come out to donate blood – you could save a life!

Mendel University in Brno budget for 2025 approved

The draft budget went through three rounds of deliberation by the Economic Committee before the Academy Senate approved it on 28 April 2025 and the Board of Trustees confirmed it on 7 May 2025. The proposed and discussed budget documents included the Budget Allocation Principles, which provide a key framework for determining how much funding is allocated to various parts of the university. Every year, funding allocation leads to the liveliest debates that usually heat up once specific calculations and the impacts of allocations are made known. For the sake of completeness, we should add that the approved budget applies only to the allocation of the main funding provided by the state to the amount of CZK 1.1 billion (contribution for educational activities and institutional subsides for long-term conceptual development of research organizations). The university, however, is also funded by other sources, including activity-specific subsidies, foreign and domestic grants, and its own income from its main and supplementary activities, in the total amount of approximately CZK 0.8 billion. Thus, the annual income of Mendel University in Brno is nearly CZK 1.9 billion. If we include the budgets of other organizational components of the university, such as dormitories, canteens, and school enterprises, the university’s total budget is CZK 2.5 billion.

Social Enterprise and Nonprofit Organization Day

On 30 April, Social Enterprise and Non-profit Organization Day was held at MENDELU. Students enrolled in the course Social Responsibility and Sustainability of Organizations taught at the Department of Management of the Faculty of Business and Economics had the chance to present their course projects. Meanwhile, social enterprises and non-profit organizations had stands where they presented their activities, either by selling their goods or by offering activities. This day also marked the opening of an exhibition of the mentioned student projects. Attendees had the opportunity to vote for the best project. This year, MENDELU hosted 30 stands, 10 of which were student stands and 20 of which belonged to social enterprises. CSR MENDELU collaborated on this event for the second year with the social enterprise Teamium and the Declaration of Responsible Entrepreneurship. Participation for enterprises was free as was admittance for visitors, including students, employees, and members of the public. We would like to thank everyone who took part in the event and supported our students, registered as bone marrow donors, donated to charity projects, and tried out for a brief moment what it is like living with a disability. We would also like to thank the Department of Strategy and Analysis for gift items given to students. Here is a link to photographs from this year’s event. We are already looking forward to next year!

From the world of science and research

MENDELU administrators in SISTA application

SISTA is the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic’s information system for providing support for applied research (the system is also used by other grant providers, such as the Ministry of Agriculture – National Agency for Agricultural Research). It is a platform where all processes related to administering research can be executed. You will find contact information for the MENDELU administrators in the SISTA application on the website of the Project Centre here. If you need help registering for the application, you can consult the instructions.

Internal call of the Gregor

Johann Mendel Grant Agency

Applicants had until 30 April 2025 to submit applications in response to the internal call of the Gregor Johann Mendel Grant Agency for grants in Category A – Interdisciplinary Internal Research Projects and Category C – Return Projects. The applications are currently being evaluated. The winning projects will be implemented starting 1 September 2025. You have until 7 July to apply for grants in Category D – Applied Research Projects, which are focused on finalizing the results of applied research and experimental development leading to commercial use. You can find out more information on the Project Centre’s website or socials.

Mendel University in Brno to head prestigious international project supporting innovation in precision medicine

Mendel University in Brno won a prestigious grant from the European Institution of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as part of the EIT Higher Education Initiative. Thanks to this support, the university will coordinate the international InnovPrecMed project, the goal of which is to develop innovations in precision medicine. The project will bring together universities, research institutes, and companies across Europe and create a strong partnership between the academic and private sectors. All participating institutions share one vision: to transform the innovation landscape at European universities and to build a dynamic ecosystem, which will support the development and implementation of innovative solutions in precision medicine. Emphasis is primarily put on developing human resources, strengthening innovation infrastructures, supporting start-ups and tech firms, and fostering deeper collaboration between academia, research institutions, and industry. The Faculty of AgriSciences, the Faculty of Business and Economics, and the Department of Technology Transfer are involved in the project. The project coordinator is Vice-rector Ondřej Mocek, and the project investigator is Andrew David Miller from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The InnovPrecMed project was launched on 1 April 2025 and will run until 30 April 2027. It is a major step towards strengthening Mendel University’s competitiveness in research, innovation, and technology transfer.