HR Award at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University – article archive

Workshop: Mental Wellbeing for Every Day: How to Manage Stress Effectively and Maintain Balance in Your Professional and Personal Life

On 12 March 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm, a workshop will take place in room S211 ‘Mental Wellbeing for Every Day: How to Effectively Manage Stress and Maintain Balance in Your Professional and Personal Life’ will take place in room S211 from 9 am to 1 pm, led by lecturer Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D.

The workshop focuses on promoting mental health and a healthy work-life balance. Together, we will reflect on how to maintain energy and a sense of joy in both work and life, even amidst challenging days. You will learn about the fundamental sources of mental wellbeing and psychological resilience, as well as effective methods for managing stress, keeping a sense of perspective and maintaining a healthy balance between work commitments and time for yourself. You’ll try out simple exercises to release physical tension and restore your vitality. You’ll leave feeling inspired on how to support your mental wellbeing in everyday life. All this in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere that will allow you to recharge your batteries and take inspiration back with you for your everyday life.

Registration for the event is via TUDLE.

Workshop: Staying Safe at FI and Beyond

On 3 March 2026, from 1 pm to 3 pm, the ‘Protection of Soft Targets’ workshop will take place in room S211, led by Mgr. Pavel Bojanovský, MU’s security manager. The workshop will offer a practical insight into how to respond in high-risk or unusual situations, whether at the university or in everyday life.

Workshop content:

• An introduction to the principles of soft target protection, i.e. how the environment in which you find yourself works, how to be observant and how to correctly assess the situation around you.
• Specific recommendations on how to behave during an active violent attack.
• Simulated scenarios and strategies for safe behaviour.
• Technical security measures in rooms at MU, the rationale behind their protective features, and coordination with the Integrated Rescue System (IRS).
• How to better manage difficult or tense communication, how to prepare for it and what to avoid.
• Discussion and questions.

Registration for the event is via TUDLE.

Masaryk University’s Internal Training Platform

In January 2026, Masaryk University’s new Internal Training Platform was launched. Its aim is to create an environment that will make it easier for staff and doctoral students to navigate the options for professional development and help them plan their next steps with greater confidence and clarity.

What the platform offers:

• Everything in one place: clear access to all professional development and training events.
• A wide range of options: a programme focused on key areas of professional growth as well as the current needs of staff and doctoral students.
• A comprehensive path to development: nine areas of training that support systematic planning and the development of skills throughout one’s career.

A platform for the in-house training of staff and doctoral students at MU.

Conference on Research Careers 2025, Conference on Freedom of Scientific Research

On 11 and 12 December 2025, the third edition of the ‘Conference on Research Careers’ will take place in Brussels . The first day will be devoted to policy updates and celebrations marking the twentieth anniversary of the European Charter (and Code) for Researchers. It will be a festive occasion to reflect on progress, share best practice and envisage the future of research careers in Europe.

The Conference on Research Careers 2025 will explore how Europe can create a more sustainable, excellent and free environment for all researchers. Building on the success of previous editions, this year’s conference will bring together policymakers, research experts and stakeholder networks to discuss how policies and initiatives can shape the future of research careers in Europe and beyond. Closely linked to this event, the Conference on Freedom of Scientific Research, organised in collaboration with UNESCO, will address how research is conducted in the face of increasing undue pressure.

On the second day (12 December), the HR Excellence in Research Info Day will take place.

A detailed programme and the registration form for in-person or online participation can be found on the European Commission’s website.

Faculty HR Award Questionnaire Survey

On 19 November 2025, a faculty questionnaire survey was launched among staff and students on doctoral programmes at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University. The online questionnaire can be completed until 30 November 2025. The aim of the survey is to ascertain how staff at the Faculty of Informatics perceive the current state of the working/research environment and to map the Faculty’s progress in the period following the award of the HRS4R in key areas and aspects, such as equal opportunities and non-discrimination, workplace culture, external and internal communication, social and psychological safety, addressing undesirable behaviour, training and career development, internationalisation and mobility, the gender dimension in research, the recruitment and selection of staff, the induction process, grant, financial and HR support, employee benefits, work-life balance, etc.

The questionnaire survey is voluntary and anonymous, available in Czech and English, and is conducted via the ‘Surveys’ application in the MU Information System.

We would like to thank all staff members who take part.

Open Science Week 2025

Open Science Week 2025 will take place from 10 to 12 November 2025, organised by the Open Science Working Group of the Association of University Libraries (AKVŠ).

This will be three days packed with inspiration, the sharing of experiences and practical demonstrations focusing on open science, research data management, open access, citizen science and the legal aspects of open science. The programme includes specialist talks, lively discussions and networking opportunities, bringing together researchers, PhD students, librarians, project support staff, data stewards and all other supporters of open science.

You can find the detailed programme and registration form on the website of the Association of University Libraries.

ORCID digital identifier

A new internal regulation will apply to authors publishing at MU from 1 October 2025 – Masaryk University Guideline No. 1/2025: Author’s Personal Identifier, which relates to the Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID).

The MU Directive imposes obligations on publishing staff and doctoral students regarding the creation and use of the ORCID identifier. Authors will be assisted by ORCID support staff at their respective faculties.

In the MU Information System, within the ‘Personal Identifiers’ application, it is now possible to grant consent for the management of one’s profile. The application also includes a detailed user guide.

LabDay 2025: Showcase of research groups at the Faculty of Informatics

LabDay, which will take place on 23 October 2025 in the faculty atrium and the KYPO laboratory, is a unique opportunity to get to know the research groups operating at the Faculty of Informatics. Each of the laboratories focuses on a different area of computer science, ranging from theoretical computer science to applied research, and from artificial intelligence through cybersecurity to bioinformatics.

At LabDay, you will find out what topics can be covered in a bachelor’s or master’s thesis, which projects you can get involved in during your studies, how to get involved in research and collaborate with the laboratories, and who the people behind the research are. The research groups and their activities will be presented by Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Barbora Kozlíková, Ph.D., Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Informatics for Research and Doctoral Studies. Detailed information can be found in the September Newsletter of the Faculty of Informatics’ Research and Project Support Department and HERE.

The CAREER RESTART grant scheme for 2026

CAREER RESTART: Support for the integration of researchers returning to work after a career break into research teams at MU – call for applications for 2026.

Since 2020, the MU Grant Agency has been implementing the CAREER RESTART grant scheme, which aims to create conditions for the integration of researchers returning to work after a career break – for example, due to parental leave – into research teams at MU. CAREER RESTART grants will facilitate and accelerate the return of talented young researchers to productive academic careers, thereby increasing their representation in independent/senior research positions. Detailed information can be found in the September Newsletter of the Faculty of Informatics’ Research and Project Support Department and on the MU Grant Agency website.

Updates on the implementation of HRS4R at university and faculty level

Overview of activities carried out in the first half of 2025:

• 01/2025: revision of the start-up grant scheme for new academic staff
• 01/2025: Issuance of the Dean’s Directive 1/2025: Salary and its components
• 02/2025: launch of a dedicated website on the topic of sexual harassment
• 02/2025: Appointment and training of the Faculty of Informatics’ second point of contact for handling cases of sexual harassment
• 03/2025: Launch of the e-course ‘Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer at Masaryk University’ on the IS
• 03/2025: Faculty meeting focused on the submission of research projects
• 03–05/2025: Update of onboarding and offboarding e-courses for FI staff; implementation of an exit questionnaire
• April 2025: CoFI break with the Faculty of Informatics management
• 04/2025: FI website update – menu expanded to include a separate ‘Careers’ section, restructuring and development of the careers pages, new ‘For the Media’ webpage created
• 04/2025: hybrid training on enhancing personal and collective safety at FI
• Ongoing: Implementation of individual measures under the FI Gender Equality Plan 2024–2028
• Ongoing: participation in working groups on the HR Award, Gender Equality Plan, New Employees, and Learning and Development Coordinators; participation in HR events; development of FI’s internal and external communications; support for the development of FI staff; collaboration with CERPEK

Annual Report of the University-wide Rights Protection Unit for 2024

The University-wide Rights Protection Office at Masaryk University has published its Annual Report for 2024. In it, the Masaryk University Ombudsman, JUDr. Eva Janovičová, together with her team, provides a comprehensive overview of the Office’s agenda across various categories. It focuses not only on complaints from individuals who believe that their own or others’ rights have been infringed, and on statistical data in this area, but also on development activities carried out in the field of social safety (e.g. the creation of the eonline course on ‘Social Safety in the Academic Environment’, the creation of the TRUST Leaders and TRUST Team workshop programmes, and the organisation of the ‘Respect Right Up to the Attic’ workshops by Konsent).

From the complaints received in 2024, the University-wide Rights Protection Unit drew up recommendations concerning the following areas:

• human resources,
• student relations,
• the university’s systems,
• recommendations for the entire university community.

The Annual Report of the University-wide Rights Protection Unit for 2024 can be found HERE.

Training on personal and collective safety at the Faculty of Informatics

On 24 April 2025, a training session on personal and collective safety at the Faculty of Informatics (FI) took place, led by Mgr. Pavel Bojanovský, MU’s security manager. More than 40 academic and non-academic staff members from the Faculty of Informatics took part in the training, which was organised in a hybrid format.

The training focused primarily on:

• ways to improve the personal and collective safety of staff,
• signs to look out for, assess and report,
• scenarios of the most common types of violent attacks and guidelines for behaviour during such incidents,
• managing conflictual communication situations (how to handle tense exchanges, how to safely leave the office and ensure one’s own safety),
• incidents, their reporting and record-keeping.

A new e-course, ‘Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer’, has been launched at MU

From March 2025, FI staff will be able to complete the new MU e-course “Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer”. The e-course was developed by the MU Centre for Technology Transfer based on requirements from MU’s faculties and departments, which is, amongst other things, in line with the implementation of the HRS4R strategy in connection with HR Award certification.

Do you know the difference between a patent and a trade mark? What is a genuine and a non-genuine spin-off company? Do you know what to do if you develop an invention together with colleagues from another university?

Thanks to the new e-learning course on the MU IS, you’ll gain a clear understanding of intellectual property and technology transfer at Masaryk University. You’ll learn the basic concepts that will be useful to you in a university setting, find out who to consult on matters of intellectual property and technology transfer, and you can also look forward to examples of inventions that have been developed at our university. You can find the e-course in the relevant section of the ‘Training’ application in the Information System.

The e-course ‘Social Security in the Academic Environment’ has been expanded to include new videos

From 1 July 2024, FI staff can complete the MU e-course “Social Safety in the Academic Environment”, which was developed by the MU University-wide Rights Protection Unit. In the course, you will learn what social safety is, how it can be undermined by inappropriate behaviour, how to recognise inappropriate behaviour, how to intervene, and who to turn to if you need a helping hand. The course builds on Masaryk University’s mission, which includes contributing to a free, cohesive and safe society. It can only fulfil this mission thanks to the members of its university community. Through their participation in the academic environment, they embrace the values of respect, freedom and responsibility, which are also reflected in MU’s Code of Ethics.

The original course has been expanded to include new videos since March 2025. You can find it in the relevant section of the Training application in the Information System. You can read more about the course, for example, in an article in M Magazine.

Information for FI staff, clearly organised in one place

A new portal has been launched to raise awareness of the working environment and processes at the Faculty of Informatics (FI), benefits, training and development opportunities, communication channels, as well as ethical and gender-related issues.

In the first half of 2024, a pilot version of an onboarding e-course for new FI staff was launched at FI, serving as a guide through the induction process at their new workplace. The successful launch of the course for new staff demonstrated that most of the information presented there may also be of interest to existing faculty staff, as the course content acts as a hub for relevant information from various sources. The course has been created using the Interactive Syllabus in the MU Information System (IS MU), which offers a user-friendly display on both PCs and mobile devices and allows administrators to update the content easily.

The e-course is available on the FI document server within the MU IS.

The guide covers all important information not only about the working environment and processes at Masaryk University and the Faculty of Informatics, but also provides an overview of staff benefits and a wide range of courses and training programmes. You may also find the list of important faculty contacts and university-wide communication channels useful.

Is there a topic missing from the portal? Please email us at and we’ll be happy to add it.

You can find HR-related news from the Faculty of Informatics on the Faculty of Informatics HR Department noticeboard in the MU Information System

Did you know that staff benefits at MU have been expanded to include a contribution towards a long-term investment product? Did you know that we have launched an information e-course in the IS for FI staff, as well as an optional university e-course entitled “Cybersecurity Basics for MU Staff”? Did you know that, in addition to the Elánek children’s groups, there are now new Loučka children’s groups and a Loučka play area? Did you know that the University Sports Club has organised new activity groups?

We regularly publish various news and updates from the HR department on the FI HR Noticeboard in the MU IS. If you’d like to receive these updates by email, please enable this feature in the IS.

Publication of an internal FI regulation: Dean’s Directive No. 1/2025 on Salaries and their Components for Staff of the Faculty of Informatics

With effect from 1 January 2025, Dean’s Directive No. 1/2025 on Salaries and their Components for Staff of the Faculty of Informatics was issued. This Faculty directive builds upon MU’s Internal Salary Regulations, the MU Job Catalogue Directive, MU’s ‘Staff Appraisal’ Directive and the MU Collective Agreement; and, in accordance with the Labour Code, regulates the remuneration of permanent staff at the Faculty of Informatics for work carried out for the Faculty either under an employment contract or on the basis of agreements on work performed outside an employment relationship.

The guidelines describe in detail the individual salary components applied at the Faculty of Informatics, as well as other employees’ salary entitlements, salary arrangements during creative leave, and salary arrangements for academic staff joining the Faculty of Informatics.

The guidelines also regulate remuneration under contracts for work carried out outside an employment relationship and address the area of staff appraisals.

The Faculty of Informatics has adopted the FI Gender Equality Plan (Part 1)

The FI Gender Equality Plan was drawn up on the basis of the findings and recommendations of a gender audit, which the FI carried out from April to September 2024 in collaboration with external experts from the NORA Gender Information Centre, with methodological support from the Rector’s Office of Masaryk University.

The preparation of the FI gender audit and the FI Gender Equality Plan forms part of the faculty’s current HR Award (HRS4R) action plan. This was also the case with the first gender audit and plan in 2021. The FI gender audit covers the following key areas:

• organisational objectives and institutional safeguards for gender equality policy,
• organisational culture and workplace relations,
• the gender dimension in research,
• personnel and remuneration policy,
• well-being and work-life balance.

The six-month audit process comprised several quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis:

• analysis of public and internal university and faculty documents, websites and social media accounts of MU and FI,
• processing and analysis of statistical data,
• an online questionnaire survey,
• four face-to-face focus groups,
• face-to-face and online individual interviews with FI staff who expressed an interest in participating in the questionnaire survey.

The Faculty of Informatics has adopted the FI Gender Equality Plan (Part 2)

The audit found that the Faculty of Informatics systematically and actively promotes gender equality and diversity. Principles of equal treatment and the prohibition of discrimination are embedded at faculty level. In 2024, it focused on developing the induction process for new staff, and a performance appraisal system for non-academic staff was introduced. The Faculty of Informatics also offers a wide range of measures for staff with care responsibilities, thereby helping to balance work and personal/family life. Specific areas for improvement or development were also identified. A team of external experts proposed more than thirty measures covering seven areas:

• transforming organisational culture,
• balancing work and parenthood/personal life,
• recruitment, selection and career progression,
• balanced representation of women and men in leadership positions,
• measures against sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence,
• the gender dimension in research and innovation,
• studies and the student population.

The proposed measures include, for example, the creation of mentoring programmes to support women’s career progression; awareness-raising and training on the gender dimension in research, gender-based violence and gender-sensitive language; raising awareness of pay, benefits, the complaints procedure and anti-discrimination legislation, and the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data. The implementation of these measures will be subject to regular annual evaluation and review.

We would like to thank all participants in the gender audit for taking part. We greatly value your feedback, your views and the experiences you have shared. If you would like to share your suggestions for positive changes at the Faculty of Informatics, please write to or .

Updates on the implementation of HRS4R at university and faculty level

Overview of activities carried out in the second half of 2024:

• October 2024: delivery of the in-person ‘Cybersecurity for MU Staff’ training course for FI administrative staff
• October 2024: completion of the Faculty of Informatics’ equal opportunities audit and drafting of the Faculty of Informatics’ Gender Equality Plan for 2024–2028
• October 2024: Launch of the e-course “Ethics and Strategies for Working with AI in Teaching and Learning” on the IS
• 8/2024–10/2024: development and implementation of onboarding and offboarding e-courses for FI staff; digitisation of the FI exit form
• August 2024–October 2024: Conducting performance appraisals for non-academic staff at the Faculty of Informatics
• September 2024: launch of the e-course “Cybersecurity Basics for MU Staff” in the IS
• July 2024: Launch of the e-course “Social Security in the Academic Environment” in the IS
• Ongoing: participation in working groups on the HR Award, Gender Equality Plan, Adaptation, Recruitment, Appraisal, Postdoc, and Training and Development coordinators; participation in HR events; development of FI’s internal and external communications; support for the development of FI staff; collaboration with CERPEK

Second MUNI HR Day

On 3 October 2024, the second annual MUNI HR Day took place, organised by the Department of Human Resources Management at the Rector’s Office of Masaryk University. The aim of the event was to draw inspiration and gain practical tips from HR professionals from various fields, as well as to create an opportunity for meaningful networking.

MUNI HR Day programme:

• The topic of artificial intelligence. Is this really the future of (un)employment?
• Corporate culture, organisational development through people
• Talent management
• Performance appraisals, motivational interviews, HR as a partner
• Networking amongst HR MUNI Day participants

Thanks to this event, we were able to draw inspiration from renowned experts from the world of HR and gain an insight into the latest trends in human resources.

New e-course: ‘Cybersecurity Basics for MU Staff’

The range of training courses available to FI staff has been expanded to include a new optional online course. In this e-course, you will learn how to create and manage strong passwords, secure your devices, recognise and report cybersecurity incidents, communicate securely and protect your data.

You can find the training in the relevant section of the ‘Training’ application in the Information System. It comprises seven thematic modules, with the theory supplemented by practical advice. A checklist is also available for download here, containing 19 recommendations and measures that you should implement to ensure personal and organisational cybersecurity. At the end of the training, you will take a short test to assess the knowledge you have gained.

The training course was developed in response to the obligations arising from Act No. 181/2014 Coll., on cyber security, and Directive No. 10/2017 on the use of information technology.

First round of performance appraisals for non-academic staff at the Faculty of Informatics

On 1 August 2024, the first appraisal of non-academic staff at the Faculty of Informatics (FI) began, covering the Dean’s Office, Facilities Management, the Library and the IT Centre. The aim is to support the development of the professional potential of FI staff and to identify and meet their development needs.

The entire appraisal process is described in detail in the Faculty of Informatics’ new internal regulations: Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University Measure 7/2024 Appraisal of Non-Academic Staff at the Faculty of Informatics and Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University Secretary’s Measure 1/2024 Announcement of the Appraisal of Non-Academic Staff at the Faculty of Informatics.

The appraisal process involves not only the appraisal of work performance over the past year (from August 2023 to July 2024), but also the planning of work objectives and development activities for FI’s non-academic staff for the coming year. The ‘Staff Appraisal’ application in the IS is used to record and evaluate the appraisals.

A new e-course, ‘Social Security in the Academic Environment’, has been launched

On 1 July 2024, a new MU e-course entitled ‘Social Safety in the Academic Environment’, developed by the MU University-wide Rights Protection Unit, was launched in the MU Information System. Completion of the course is voluntary.

In the course, you will learn what social safety is, how it can be undermined by inappropriate behaviour, how to recognise inappropriate behaviour, how to intervene, and who to turn to if you need a helping hand. The course builds on Masaryk University’s mission, which includes contributing to a free, cohesive and safe society. It can only fulfil this mission thanks to the members of its university community. Through their participation in the academic environment, they embrace the values of respect, freedom and responsibility, which are also reflected in MU’s Code of Ethics.

By completing this course, you will familiarise yourself with Masaryk University’s established guidelines for maintaining a safe and healthy educational and working environment, in which no member of the university community is exposed to inappropriate behaviour.

You can find the training in the relevant section of the ‘Training’ application in the Information System.

Updates on the implementation of HRS4R at university and faculty level

Overview of activities carried out in the first half of 2024:

• April 2024–September 2024: FI equal opportunities audit
• February 2024–June 2024: development and implementation of e-induction plans for new FI staff employed on permanent contracts and on a contract basis; creation of an e-brochure for new FI staff
• February 2024: approval of the Code of Ethics for Lecturers by the FI Academic Senate; launch of the FI’s new website on ethics and the protection of rights
• Ongoing: participation in the HR Award, Gender Equality Plan, Induction, Recruitment, PhD Academia and Training and Development Coordinators working groups; participation in HR events
• Ongoing: supporting the development of FI staff, collaboration with CERPEK
• Ongoing: development of FI’s internal and external communication (activities of the External Relations and Partner Cooperation Department (including publicising staff achievements on the website, FI newsletters, activities of the Human Resources Department – updating the careers pages, including ‘Women in IT’; development of the Staff Portal)
• 1/2024: A new MU Code of Ethics was issued on 1 January 2024

FI Equal Opportunities Audit (gender audit)

In April 2024, we began work on the FI equal opportunities audit, also known as the FI gender audit, in collaboration with the NORA Gender Information Centre.

The audit comprises the following sub-activities:

• content analysis of internal and publicly available documents from the Faculty of Informatics and Masaryk University,
• the design and implementation of an online questionnaire survey, analysis of the data collected,
• preparation and conduct of individual interviews with FI staff,
• preparation and conduct of focus groups with senior staff, (English-speaking) foreign staff, carers, and technical, financial and administrative staff,
• drafting of the final report and the gender equality plan.

We would like to thank all FI staff for their high level of participation in the questionnaire survey, focus groups and interviews. We managed to complete all these activities by mid-June; we are now in the process of analysing all the data and drafting the final report.

Code of Ethics for Lecturers at the Faculty of Informatics

On 16 February 2024, the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Informatics approved the Code of Ethics for Tutors at the Faculty of Informatics.

This code sets out the standards governing teaching assistants’ approach to their teaching and to students, as agreed by the academic community of the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University. It supplements and explains the provisions of the MU Code of Ethics in the context of teaching assistants at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University. Its purpose is to contribute to high-quality teaching at the Faculty of Informatics, the professionalism of teaching assistants and a fair approach towards students.

The Code sets out values and principles in the following areas:

• 1. Consistency and fairness.
• 2. Professionalism.
• 3. Relationship with students.
• 4. Sense of belonging to the Faculty and the University.

New MU Code of Ethics

A new MU Code of Ethics was published on 1 January 2024.

The Code of Ethics is a declaration of ethical values and general moral principles relevant to the academic environment, to which Masaryk University and its academic community actively adhere. The extent to which an individual’s actions correspond to these values is not simply a matter of agreement or disagreement with a specific provision, but rather of responsible and impartial consideration of all the ethical dimensions of the situation in question.

MU and its university community – comprising all those who work or study at the university – undertake to honour and respect the following values:

• 1. Freedom and responsibility.
• 2. Moral and academic integrity.
• 3. Decency and respect.
• 4. The university’s role in the fields of ethics and culture.

Revised Charter and Code for Researchers

European Commission Council Recommendation C/2023/1640 of 18 December 2023 on a European framework for attracting and retaining talent in research, innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe contains the revised European Charter for Researchers – the full text of the recommendation, including the Code, in Czech and English.

The Council Recommendation states, amongst other things, that the Charter and Code for Researchers have been revised to reflect new realities and the current challenges faced by researchers and institutions, including better integration of gender balance, gender equality and inclusivity, incorporating measures aimed at creating a research environment free from gender-based violence, as well as open science practices. The new version of the charter has been simplified to facilitate its implementation and to encourage its use beyond the academic sector.

Updates@FI: Staff Newsletter

On 20 December 2023, the first newsletter for FI staff was published. It is available on the Staff Portal.

You can read, for example, an interview with the Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, Prof. RNDr. Jiří Barnat, Ph.D., an interview with Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Petr Sojka, Ph.D., about his life, his academic career and his connection with the Faculty of Informatics, or an interview with Mgr. art. Helena Lukášová, ArtD., on augmented reality.

The newsletter also includes information on the HR Award, staff benefits, student numbers and other statistics.

News regarding the implementation of HRS4R at university and faculty level

Overview of activities carried out in the second half of 2023:

• ongoing: participation in working groups on the HR Award, Gender Equality Plan, Adaptation, Recruitment, PhD academia, and Training and Development coordinators; participation in HR events
• Ongoing: support for FI staff development; collaboration with CERPEK
• December 2023: publication of the first FI online newsletter; new design for the FI website
• October 2023: Participation in the Department of Human Resources Management’s introductory workshop on talent management (6 October 2023)
• October 2023: Participation in the first MUNI HR Day (4 October 2023)
• September 2023: Organisation of a workshop on selection procedures for members of FI selection panels (18 September 2023)
• September 2023 and onwards: Staffing the External Relations and Partner Cooperation Department; presenting the department’s objectives and agenda; meetings with individual departments; establishing cooperation
• September 2023: Publication of the updated Organisational Regulations
• September 2023: Introduction of a new employee benefit – a contribution towards nursery fees
• August 2023: Issuance of a decree by the Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University October 2023: Onboarding and induction process for staff at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

Course on Effective Communication within International / Intercultural Teams

A short course entitled ‘Effective Communication within International / Intercultural Teams’ will take place from 24 November 2023 to 26 November 2023.

Would you like to learn tips on how to work effectively in an international team, how to manage your time, or how to communicate remotely? Register free of charge for this three-day course, organised by the MU Centre for Language Education.

The course is open to MU staff and PhD students who are also employed by the university. Try out practical exercises and real-life scenarios alongside international lecturers. You must register for the course via the CJV website; it is conducted in English. The provisional programme and registration link can be found HERE.

First MUNI HR Day

On 4 October 2023, the first edition of MUNI HR Day took place, organised by the Department of Human Resources Management at the MU Rector’s Office. The aim of this meeting of the MUNI HR community was to share practical insights and experiences from various areas of HR.

MUNI HR Day programme:

• Market data and its practical application – research and other data sources mapping key phenomena and trends in the interconnected worlds of education and work
• Recruitment – how to attract the candidates we want
• Onboarding – tips on how not to put newcomers off
• Offboarding – how to part ways on good terms
• Performance appraisal, well-being and employee motivation in line with the needs of management, employees and entire teams and organisations

Thanks to this event, we were able to draw inspiration from renowned experts in the HR world and gain an overview of current trends in human resources.

Workshop ‘How to Conduct a Recruitment Process Through Questions’ for non-academic staff

On 18 September 2023, the workshop ‘How to Conduct a Recruitment Process Through Questions’ took place, attended by 11 non-academic staff members from the Faculty of Informatics who are involved in, or may be involved in, recruitment processes when filling vacancies. This workshop complements the practical skills required under the new recruitment regulations.

Workshop topics:

• who is a suitable candidate,
• why it is a dialogue: how to conduct the interview and how/what to present,
• preparation and the logical sequence of the interview,
• what matters – what to find out and verify about the candidate (knowledge alone is not enough),
• how to ask appropriate questions (how and why to ask),
• specific tips on interview questions.

This is now the third workshop on this topic organised by CERPEK MU and led by lecturer Mgr. Hana Ondráčková.

Introduction of a new MU employee benefit: a nursery fee allowance

From September 2023, MU staff will be able to claim a nursery fee allowance. As part of its efforts to support work-life balance and the return of parents from maternity and parental leave, MU has introduced a new employee benefit. This benefit allows employees to draw a contribution from the social fund towards nursery school or a children’s group, instead of a contribution towards supplementary pension insurance or supplementary pension savings.

The contribution towards part of the nursery fees is provided to the employee, not the child. Each employee is therefore entitled to one contribution. However, both parents (if they are MU employees) may claim the contribution for one child; conversely, the contribution cannot be claimed multiple times for multiple children.

If you are interested in this allowance, please contact the FI Human Resources Department.

Onboarding and induction process for FI staff

On 1 August 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, issued Measure No. 10/2023: The Onboarding and Induction Process for Staff at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University.

This measure sets out the procedure for the induction and onboarding of new staff members permanently assigned to the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, and serves as a supporting document for key personnel involved in the onboarding process – namely the line manager and the designated representative of the department. The measure describes in detail the individual steps that are important not only for ensuring the effective induction of staff into their role, but also for their successful orientation and integration into the running of the department and the work team, usually during the first three months in the role.

The measure and its annexes are available on the document server.

Updates on the implementation of HRS4R at university and faculty level

Overview of activities carried out in the first half of 2023:

• May 2023: Awarded HRS4R embedded status
• May 2023: Seminar on flexible working options at MU in relation to work-life balance
• May 2023: Workshop on selection procedures for members of FI committees
• May 2023: Drafting of the revised Faculty of Informatics Action Plan
• May 2023: FI IT colloquium with Mgr. Kamila Urban, Ph.D.
• April 2023: Launch of psychological counselling services for staff
• April 2023: Appointment of the MU Ombudsman and entry into force of the MU Directive on the Protection of Rights
• 4/2023: FI webinar on the growing role of diversity in IT
• 3/2023: FI IT Colloquium with Assoc. Prof. Jana Tůmová
• March 2023: Introduction of occasional working from home at the Faculty of Informatics
• February 2023: Conduct of an online questionnaire survey by the Faculty of Informatics in connection with the preparation of the self-assessment report
• 2/2023: Organisation of a workshop on selection procedures for members of FI selection committees
• 1/2023: Implementation of the MU Selection Procedures Regulations and the FI rules for selection procedures

Seminar: ‘Flexible working options at MU in relation to work-life balance’

On 22 May 2023, staff from the FI Human Resources Department attended the seminar ‘Flexible working options at MU in relation to work-life balance’. The aim of the seminar was to present flexible working arrangements as a tool for balancing work and family life. The seminar also addressed trends in the development of home-office arrangements in European labour markets both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical section was complemented by practical experiences of introducing flexible working arrangements in various companies, institutions and at MU itself.

Seminar topics:

• an introduction to the issue of flexible working arrangements, the needs of employers versus those of employees,
• a practical session from the Centre for Family and Social Care (an introduction to the sandwich generation, their needs, and how to work with this group from an employer’s perspective),
• rules, practices and tools at MU (practical input),
• Motivation Labs will share experiences of implementing flexible working arrangements from other companies and institutions (benefits for both employers and employees).

Workshop ‘How to Conduct a Recruitment Process Through Questions’ for academic staff

On 19 May 2023, a workshop entitled ‘How to conduct a recruitment process using questions’ took place, attended by 11 academic staff members from the Faculty of Informatics who are involved in, or may become involved in, recruitment processes for filling vacancies. This workshop complements the practical skills required under the new recruitment regulations.

Workshop topics:

• who is a suitable candidate,
• why it is a dialogue: how to handle the process and how/what to present,
• preparation and the logical sequence of the interview,
• what matters – what to find out and verify about the candidate (knowledge alone is not enough),
• how to ask appropriate questions (how and why to ask),
• specific tips on interview questions.

This is the second workshop on this topic organised by CERPEK MU and led by lecturer Mgr. Hana Ondráčková. The first workshop, intended for 12 academic staff members, took place on 3 February 2023.

HRS4R workshop with Mary Kate O’Regan from University College Cork

On 11 May 2023, staff from the Faculty of Informatics’ HR department attended a workshop on Human Resources Strategy for Researchers led by Mary Kate O’Regan, who works as an HR Research Manager at University College Cork in Ireland.

The workshop focused on the following topics:

• the benefits of implementing HR Excellence in Research for researchers,
• the implementation of the HR strategy at University College Cork in Ireland,
• recommendations and tips for preparing a self-assessment,
• preparation for an on-site visit.

This unique workshop was organised by the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University; many thanks to them.

Internal self-assessment, drafting of the revised Faculty of Science Action Plan and attainment of HRS4R embedded status

In May 2023, the Faculty of Informatics submitted its self-assessment of the implementation of its human resources strategy and a revised HRS4R Action Plan for the period 2023–2025. On 23 May 2023, the European Commission granted the Faculty of Informatics ‘HRS4R embedded’ status.

The drafting of the revised action plan was preceded by an online questionnaire survey carried out in February 2023, with a response rate of 77 per cent. This survey followed on from the questionnaire survey carried out in 2020, which served as the basis for preparing the documentation for HRS4R certification.

The results of the questionnaire survey and the revised action plan can be found in the section ‘Implementation of the Action Plan for the period 1/2021–5/2023’ above.