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She was there when scholarships were sent to the rector's office on floppy disks and messages were stitched together with needle and thread. “Every day brought something new,” says Dana Komárková about her early days, when the faculty was small and the atmosphere was personal. She stayed though the pace quickened and the workload increased, and she never lost her joy in working with people. In this interview, the master of project support and former head of the Department of Science, Research, and Doctoral Studies talks about how a coincidence turned into a lifelong career.

What brought you to the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University?

It was actually by chance that I ended up at the FI MU. I graduated from Brno University of Technology in 1988, at that time with a six-month-old son, and gradually two more children were added to the family. The Velvet Revolution fundamentally changed the social situation and employment opportunities. My husband started his own business, and I was looking for a job that I could combine with caring for small children. At the nursery, I met Lenka Bartošková (now the bursar of the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University – author's note), who once mentioned that the faculty was looking for a maternity leave replacement in the science and research department. There was even the option of part-time work, which was ideal for me at the time. I decided to apply, and that's how my journey at the Faculty of Informatics began.

What were your first days at FI MU like?

The first days were very challenging – everything was new to me, I had no experience with anything. The faculty had only been operating for two years at that time, I had not met my predecessor, and I was the only one in the department. Nevertheless, I remember that time with great enthusiasm and vigor. All my colleagues were extremely nice and willing to help. There was an open and friendly atmosphere between academics and non-academics. My first vice-dean was Assoc. Prof. Staudek, who was very supportive and friendly and always had time to give advice. I learned most things on the fly.

How do you think the faculty has changed over the 29 years you have spent here, and what changes do you consider to be the most significant?

The faculty has grown, both in terms of the number of students and staff, and in terms of the scope of its activities and projects. This has naturally led to a change in atmosphere. The faculty used to be smaller and more personal, everyone knew each other, and there was more room for informal meetings and conversations. Today, everything is faster, more hectic, and it seems that no one has much time. On the other hand, I see that the faculty is keeping up with the times, constantly developing and remaining a dynamic and inspiring environment.

Last year, the faculty celebrated its 30th anniversary. Do you have any personal memories or moments that you think best capture the faculty's development?

My memories include Christmas parties, which had an amazing atmosphere. We, the non-academic staff, prepared the buffet during the day, and in the evening our colleagues from the faculty joined us – they often brought musical instruments, and we had fun together until the morning in the mirror hall. It was informal, friendly, and very human. I think it was this cohesion and joy of working and living together that captured the spirit of the faculty in its early days.

Which project, initiative, or event associated with the faculty has been most fulfilling for you over the years?

What I liked most about my job was its diversity. In the beginning, a lot of things were still being set up and nothing was routine. Every day brought something new. In addition to my regular duties, I was also able to get involved in organizing conferences and student competitions, which was always a joy and a reward for me. I even helped guard CIA agents at the Faculty of Law during the presentation of the MU Grand Gold Medal to Madeleine Albright. These events energized me and confirmed that my work at the faculty was meaningful.

For many years, you served as head of the Department of Science, Research, and Doctoral Studies. What were your main priorities in this role? What do you think you achieved in this position?

I was responsible for doctoral studies, habilitation and professorship procedures, the disciplinary and scientific council, projects, and initially also international relations. I worked alone in the department for eleven years, and only later was I joined by my colleagues Ada Nazarejová and Pavel Šmerk. I am proud that we managed to build a thriving department and set up functional processes, especially in the area of doctoral studies and qualification procedures. Of course, this is especially thanks to my vice-deans—during my time as head, there were seven of them: Assoc. Prof. Staudek, Prof. Brim, Prof. Zezula, Prof. Přenosil, Prof. Kučera, Prof. Kozubek, and Prof. Hliněný.

As far as I can tell, the scientific level of the faculty has always been high. Compared to its size, we had a very decent number of projects and the financial resources that came with them. It was inspiring and joyful to watch our doctoral students and young academics grow professionally – and later return to me for habilitation and professorship procedures.

I also cherish smaller, more personal things – for example, I taught myself the basics of HTML and put together the department's website. For some time, I also devoted myself to faculty photography, and several of my photo chronicles remain in the archive. I was also delighted that one of my winter photos of the faculty appeared on a New Year's card.

What did project management look like at the faculty 20 years ago, and how has it evolved into its current form?

Project management as we know it today did not actually exist at FI twenty years ago. At that time, I only dealt with projects formally – I handled proposals, changes, contracts, reports, and opposition proceedings. At that time, the faculty did not have a centralized system for the ongoing use of funds, human resources, or administrative support for researchers.

Information about grant competitions came by regular mail, sometimes by email, or through the rector's office. I often learned about GA ČR competitions from the printed Bulletin, which was sent by mail only a few times a year. Reports and results were printed and sent physically by mail – sometimes there weren't even enough envelopes, so whole boxes were sent.

Proposals and reports for the Ministry of Defense were a special case—they had to be physically stitched and glued, so I always had a large needle and string ready in my drawer (and I found them there years later when I moved).

How has digitization changed administration and research support over the years?

This change has been absolutely fundamental. I remember a time when, for example, scholarship payment documents had to be saved on floppy disks and taken to the rector's office in person – that sounds almost unbelievable today. Digitization has transformed not only routine administration, but also the overall functioning of the faculty and the university. I think we often don't realize how lucky we are at Masaryk University – systems such as IS MU (MU Information System) or INET (Internal Economic and Administrative Information System) are exceptional even within Czech higher education. It is only when I talk to colleagues from other universities that I realize that such complex and interconnected systems are far from the norm.

Our developers deserve great recognition. The creation of ISEP (Information System for Project Records) was also a big step forward, providing a clear overview of projects. Suddenly, it was possible to easily find all the necessary information, and everyone who needed it had access to it. Previously, we had to leaf through folders and binders – today, everything can be done with a few clicks.

What are the most common mistakes you see in completed projects, and how can they be avoided?

I can't really name any specific mistakes that are repeated in all projects. The only thing that comes to mind is a lack of time—often everything is rushed and dealt with at the last minute, which naturally leads to mistakes.

What would you recommend to new project managers starting out in project management in academia?

In my opinion, it is best to start with one type of project and carefully learn the entire process from design to final report. Only then can you add other types of projects and expand your experience.

Have you had any experience with projects funded by European funds? What was the most challenging and what was the most rewarding?

The Czech Republic's accession to the EU opened up new opportunities for funding and cooperation. I don't have much experience with European projects, but it is certainly challenging to interpret and harmonize the rules – to reconcile the rules of our university and national legislation with the rules of other countries. I consider the greatest benefit to be the opportunity to establish international cooperation, gain new experiences, and broaden my horizons. All of this contributes to the advancement of science and the strengthening of the professional quality of projects.

Your career at FI is now coming to an end as you are retiring. What are you looking forward to the most?

I am most looking forward to having free time for myself, my family, and my eight grandchildren.

Do you have any favorite rituals or little things from your workday that you will remember?

I will definitely remember the morning hustle and bustle in the kitchen, shared lunches, and after-lunch coffee.

What qualities do you think help a person thrive in the academic environment in the long term?

I feel that every scientist is a personality with their own world—and it is often true that the better they are, the more noticeable this is. This makes it all the more important to treat them with respect and individually. I think that in an academic environment, you can't just follow manuals and tables; it's important to be able to understand people and their specific needs.

Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven't mentioned yet?

I really appreciate that I was able to work at the faculty and participate in so many things. We did many things a little differently at FI than at other faculties. I often heard: "Well, yes, computer science, it's different there than at other faculties." I was proud that we at the faculty were able to stand by our opinions. I have always considered the faculty my second family—my daughter and daughter-in-law studied here, and now my son-in-law works here. I will continue to follow the faculty and keep my fingers crossed for its success.

Thank you for the interview, and I wish you happiness in the next stage of your life.

Author: Marta Vrlová, Office for External Relations and Partnerships at FI MU