PhDr. Ing. Silvie Szwedová
Head of Human Resources, HR Award Manager
| Telephone: | 549 49 1803 |
|---|---|
| Email: | szwedovaGM_VcR9JR@fiMVEIV4Hn4.muniw1ZZmaE9c.cz |
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HR Excellence in Research Award at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University
Objectives and timetable | Action plan and documents | Team and involvement | Guide to the selection process (OTM-R policy) | Outputs
The Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University is the proud recipient of the HR Excellence in Research Award (the ‘HR Award’)
On 12 April 2021, the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University (FI MU) became the proud recipient of the HR Excellence in Research award (the so-called HR Award), which is awarded by the European Commission to institutions that successfully implement the European Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), based on the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers .
All ten faculties and two institutes of MU have received the HR Excellence in Research award. Strategic documents at MU level and the measures adopted by the university are available on the MU website at HR Excellence in Research at MU
The European Charter and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers are a set of principles and requirements for researchers and their employers, covering areas such as ethics, academic freedom, equal opportunities, working conditions, professional development, and the assessment and recruitment of new staff. Research institutions that have been awarded the HR Excellence in Research Award implement a human resources strategy aimed at creating an open, transparent, motivating and supportive working environment for research staff. Detailed information on the HR Excellence in Research Award can be found on the EURAXESS website.
What have been the key milestones of the HR Award so far, and what lies ahead? In May 2023, the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University submitted a self-assessment of the implementation of its HR strategy and a revised action plan for the period 2023–2026, which the European Commission accepted without comment and, on 23 May 2023, granted the faculty ‘HRS4R Embedded’ status. From November 2025, an internal self-assessment was carried out after three years, alongside preparations for the external evaluation by the European Commission. On 21 May 2026, the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, submitted its self-assessment report together with the revised action plan for 2026–2029. During 2027, an on-site visit will take place, during which an international evaluation team will speak with various groups of FI staff, namely management, academic staff, researchers at various stages of their careers, and PhD students.
Guide: how to quickly find HRS4R topic pages
Contact
News: How the implementation of HRS4R is progressing at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University
Submission of the Internal Review and successful completion of the administrative check
On 21 May 2026, the Faculty of Informatics submitted a new self-assessment (Internal Review) describing the strengths and weaknesses of the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, the process of implementing the human resources strategy, and progress in fulfilling the individual measures of the Action Plan for the period Q2/2023–Q1/2026. The self-assessment report also includes an updated Action Plan for the period Q2/2026–Q1/2029, which sets out 23 new measures to be implemented during the next assessment period.
The internal evaluation, the revised OTM-R checklist, the Action Plan for the period Q2/2026–Q1/2029 and the Gantt chart can be found on the Action Plan and Documents webpage.
On 26 June 2026, we received a report from the European Commission confirming that our internal evaluation had successfully passed the administrative check. We have proposed dates for a site visit to the European Commission. We are now awaiting feedback from the European Commission.
Questionnaire Survey: Feedback on the 2026 Academic Evaluation Process
Following the evaluation of FI academic staff, which was carried out in accordance with the new evaluation criteria, an online questionnaire survey is taking place from 17 June to 15 July 2026 entitled “Feedback on the 2026 Academic Evaluation Process”, the aim of which is to gather feedback on the newly established evaluation criteria for academic staff at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University.
Respondents may comment on the content, transparency and objectivity of the evaluation, the user-friendliness of the new application in the MU Information System, its functionality, the deadlines and conduct of the evaluation, and the evaluation interviews.
AMBIA 2026: Summer school focusing on the analysis of biomedical image data
The Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University will host the Advanced Methods in Biomedical Image Analysis (AMBIA) summer school, which focuses on advanced methods of image data analysis in biomedicine. This summer school is primarily intended for Master’s and PhD students in STEM disciplines with an interest in biomedical image analysis.
Participants can look forward to lectures and practical workshops focusing on:
- image pre-processing and analysis,
- method validation and benchmarking,
- image data synthesis,
- processing large image datasets
The summer school will take place from 6 September 2026 to 12 September 2026. The deadline for applications is 1 June 2026. Detailed information and the application form can be found HERE.
A new MU e-course, ‘Soft Target Protection’, has been launched
From 7 April 2026, FI staff can complete the new MU e-course ‘Protection of Soft Targets’. The e-course was developed by the Security Department of the MU Rector’s Office. The online training focuses on how to behave in crisis and high-risk situations in relation to the protection of soft targets.
The e-course focuses on how to:
- spot warning signs and recognise potentially risky situations in good time,
- know how to react when a threat is already occurring,
- apply the USB rule – Run, Hide, Fight,
- understand who to communicate with and how to do so in such a situation,
- be clear about what to do after an incident and who to contact.
The new e-learning course features short videos with practical demonstrations and has been created specifically for the needs of MU. You can find the e-course in the relevant section of the ‘Training’ application in the Information System.
Evaluation of academic staff in accordance with the new rules
On 16 March 2026, by Dean’s Measure 3/2026, ‘Announcement of the 2026 Evaluation of Academic Staff at the Faculty of Informatics’, the 2026 evaluation of academic staff at the Faculty of Informatics (FI) was announced in accordance with the new rules, which had been presented to and discussed with the academic community during the previous semester. The evaluation is now being carried out via an application within the MU Information System. Data is currently being collected from academic staff, followed by discussions of the evaluation results between department heads and individual academic staff, discussions of the results between department heads, the Dean and the Vice-Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies, and the submission of reports for each department to the Faculty of Informatics management.
The principles and criteria for the annual evaluation of FI academic staff are set out in the Dean’s Directive 2/2026 ‘Criteria for the Evaluation of FI Academic Staff’, which also came into effect on 16 March 2026. Annex 1 to this Order describes in detail the activities assessed in the area of teaching, whilst Annex 2 focuses on the activities assessed in the area of research.
On 1 April 2026, the evaluation of non-academic staff at the Faculty of Informatics for the year 2026 was also announced via the Registrar’s Directive 1/2026: Announcement of the Evaluation of Non-Academic Staff at the Faculty of Informatics for the Year 2026.
Trust Team and Trust Leaders workshops – building a respectful and supportive working environment
In May 2026, face-to-face TRUST TEAM and TRUST LEADERS workshops will take place (the programmes are organised by the RMU Human Resources Department in collaboration with the University-wide Rights Protection Unit):
- TRUST TEAM: building a respectful and supportive working environment : The programme is intended for MU staff and focuses on building a respectful, safe and supportive working environment at MU. It consists of two workshops – on 7 May and 21 May 2026 – which registered participants are required to attend.
- TRUST LEADERS: building a respectful and supportive working environment : The programme is aimed at MU managers who wish to actively contribute to creating a positive workplace culture and preventing undesirable behaviour, and who are keen to ensure that their staff feel respected, supported and have opportunities for professional development. It consists of two workshops – on 28 May and 11 June 2026 – which registered participants are required to attend.
Detailed information and details of other workshops can be found on the MUNI Internal Training Platform (intended for MU staff and PhD students; internal access only).
Expand your skills with EDUC Alliance: New 2026 Online Courses for Academic Staff & PhD Students
Working in academia can be challenging due to the numerous activities and responsibilities involved. EDUC Alliance invites you to join three engaging online courses, each focusing on a specific topic to help you develop your skills and knowledge in the fields of science communication, career diversification and female empowerment.
- Career Empowerment in Research : Boost your confidence, career clarity and professional growth as an early-career researcher. This course focuses on personal development, self-empowerment and practical strategies for navigating academic career paths.
- Introduction to Science Communication : Hone your ability to share research with wider audiences. This course consists of six video modules. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to communicate your work clearly, confidently and effectively beyond academic circles.
- Female Empowerment in Academia : Focusing on gender equality in academia. You will explore structural inequalities, gender-based violence in academia and gender methodologies.
Who can register and where? The course is open to all members of EDUC Alliance universities, but is particularly suitable for academic staff, PhD candidates and research support staff. Check our EDUC Course Catalogue to find out more.
A look back at 2025 and the results of the faculty questionnaire survey
There are only a few weeks left until the evaluation of the second implementation period of the revised FI MU HR Award action plan. In May 2026, we will submit a self-assessment report and a revised action plan for the next three-year period to the European Commission.
In 2025, we finalised measures relating to the selection process, induction and adaptation, whilst a review of the academic staff appraisal system was also underway. We will continue to work on further measures relating to the FI Career Regulations and the integration of the career system with the evaluation system for academic staff.
We analysed the data obtained from the faculty questionnaire survey conducted in November 2025. At the time, all staff members were asked to complete the questionnaire. The results and proposed recommendations were presented to the Dean’s Council on 9 March 2026. These findings form an important basis for drawing up the revised HR Award action plan. A summary of the questionnaire survey results can be found here: (Czech version) (English version)
We would like to thank all staff members who took part in the survey. Your feedback is crucial to enabling us to move the faculty forward together.
The Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University is the proud recipient of the HR Excellence in Research Award, a European certificate of quality for HR processes.