News and events archive

To learn more about their plans for the next three years, we posed several key questions to Prof. RNDr. Ivana Černá, CSc. (Department of Computer Science), Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Petr Matula, Ph.D. (Department of Visual Computing), Assoc. Prof. Mgr. Hana Rudová, Ph.D. (Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing), and Prof. Ing. Tomáš Vojnar, Ph.D. (Department of Computer Systems and Communications). We were interested in the direction they wish to develop their departments, how they intend to support and motivate students to engage in research or innovative projects, and how they perceive the connection between academia and industry. Their answers reveal not only their professional focus but also their determination to push the boundaries of knowledge and education. We bring you their views on the future of the faculty and the path they intend to take.

Prof. Ing. Tomáš Vojnar, Ph.D.

Head of the Department of Computer Systems and Communications

1. In which direction would you like your department to develop in the next three years? What specific projects or initiatives are priorities for you in this regard?

I would like us to balance both high-quality teaching and high-quality research within the department. To achieve this, it will be necessary for individual areas of research and teaching to be appropriately staffed, and for academics to have the best possible support in information systems and computing technology. This will enable especially younger colleagues to develop in research and advance their careers. Furthermore, I would like department members to actively participate in research projects beneficial to the faculty. Finally, I aim for all processes within the department to be as transparent as possible and for relationships within the department and between the department and the rest of the faculty to be optimal.

2. How are you trying/will you try to support and motivate students to engage in research or innovative projects within your department?

From my perspective, the most important thing is that the department conducts high-quality research and implements high-quality projects, whether fundamental or applied. Additionally, department members should provide high-quality teaching, during which there is always room to mention the research they are involved in. Based on my previous experience, students usually find their way to people who operate in this manner.

3. How do you perceive the connection between academia and industry? How do you try to support your department's collaboration with industry?

From what I have been able to ascertain so far, the department's collaboration with industry is already quite intensive, and I would like this trend to continue. I can personally contribute through my own collaborations with companies like Red Hat, Honeywell, and Oracle Labs. To further support collaboration with industry, I would like the faculty to strengthen the positive perception of high-quality (I emphasize high-quality) applied results that are based on our own research, are actually used, and bring real societal benefits. I would like such results not to be seen merely as a tolerated “add-on” to publications, mentioned somewhere in small print at the bottom, but to be understood as equally important—including the fact that on employee web pages, we find a "Publications" tab but no corresponding tab for applied results.

Prof. RNDr. Ivana Černá, CSc.

Head of the Department of Computer Science

1. In which direction would you like your department to develop in the next three years? What specific projects or initiatives are priorities for you in this regard?

The department should focus on developing the master's study program in Theoretical Informatics so that the program responds to current research directions and simultaneously attracts a larger number of students.

2. How are you trying/will you try to support and motivate students to engage in research or innovative projects within your department?

Involving students in research and innovative projects has a long tradition in our department. We wish to continue using the proven method of involvement through research laboratories. Especially for incoming students, we are opening two courses: IV119 Seminar on Discrete Mathematical Methods and IV134 Limits of Formal Systems, Proofs, and Computations, which can serve as an entry point for closer collaboration.

3. How do you perceive the connection between academia and industry? How do you try to support your department's collaboration with industry?

The connection with the academic sphere occurs through participation in projects; among others, I would mention the highly successful project "Models, Algorithms, and Tools for Solving Adversarial Security Problems" led by Prof. Kučera.

Assoc. Prof. Mgr. Hana Rudová, Ph.D.

Head of the Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing

1. In which direction would you like your department to develop in the next three years? What specific projects or initiatives are priorities for you in this regard?

Artificial intelligence is gradually permeating everyday life and is affecting an increasing number of people. I would like this to be more reflected in the study composition at the faculty so that every graduate has a systematically presented overview of artificial intelligence, and the faculty produces a higher number of specialists and experts in the field of artificial intelligence, including the processing of extensive data. My goal is also to support communication and collaboration within the department and to motivate the preparation of joint projects within the department and faculty, leading to projects of a larger international character.

2. How are you trying/will you try to support and motivate students to engage in research or innovative projects within your department?

From this perspective, laboratories are significant for the faculty; they are and must be open to students so they can get involved—perhaps in collaboration with their bachelor's and master's thesis supervisors—in solving interesting problems that can bring useful results for research and practice. An attractive motivation is also the involvement of students in projects in collaboration with industrial partners, of which the faculty has many. Similarly, students can engage in research within seminars and laboratory courses. Above all, I would like to support mutual communication and awareness between students and academic staff so they better understand the extensive and diverse opportunities the faculty offers.

3. How do you perceive the connection between academia and industry? How do you try to support your department's collaboration with industry?

Solving practical problems together with partners from industry is very important for me and the faculty, enriching our work by allowing us to directly observe the practical impact of the methods and approaches we propose. From personal experience, I know that establishing initial partnerships is easily achievable through the Association of Industrial Partners of FI MU. Within the department and faculty, I will strive for better visibility of the work of individual groups in the field of artificial intelligence to facilitate easier connections between academia and industry.

Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Petr Matula, Ph.D.

Head of the Department of Visual Computing

1. In which direction would you like your department to develop in the next three years? What specific projects or initiatives are priorities for you in this regard?

I will continue to strive to maintain a well-functioning department in the field of visual informatics at FI, which will be visible, attractive, and respected not only in the Czech Republic but also internationally, in teaching, research, and the third role (community engagement). My priority is to create suitable conditions for the department's employees so they enjoy their work and collaborate effectively. Currently, we are attempting to strengthen the team with a habilitated staff member or someone close to habilitation, who will be capable of publishing at high-quality conferences in the field of computer graphics.

2. How are you trying/will you try to support and motivate students to engage in research or innovative projects within your department?

All research groups in the department offer students the opportunity to participate in research and artistic projects within so-called project/laboratory courses, where they are presented with current topics from various areas of visual informatics. This method has proven effective, and I intend to continue supporting it.

3. How do you perceive the connection between academia and industry? How do you try to support your department's collaboration with industry?

At FI, there is systematic support for collaboration with industry within the Association of Industrial Partners (the Department of Visual Informatics has long-term collaborations, especially with companies like Tescan, GOAL Sport, and SANEZOO). Within the specialization in Game Development, there is a requirement to complete an internship in a game studio. The department participates in the Game Cluster, a non-profit association of game developers and educational institutions in Brno and its surroundings. Students, especially those studying the Graphic Design specialization, regularly participate in various cultural events (e.g., the Prototyp festival) or co-organize them (e.g., the FI Film Festival). Company representatives are actively involved in teaching through guest lectures and by offering interesting topics for students within project courses. I will continue to support these activities.