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Ethics and protection of rights

Code of Ethics

The basic ethical requirements for the conduct of Masaryk University employees with regard to their professional and work activities are summarised in the Masaryk University Code of Ethics and the MU Work Regulations. In the event of a suspected violation of the MU Code of Ethics, a complaint may be filed with the MU Ethics Committee.

On 16 February 2024, the Academic Senate of the FI approved the Code of Ethics for Practitioners at the Faculty of Informatics. This Code describes the standards of the practitioners' approach to their teaching and to the students agreed by the FI MU academic community. It supplements and explains the provisions of the MU Code of Ethics in the context of FI MU practitioners. Its purpose is to contribute to the quality of teaching at FI, the professionalism of practitioners and a fair approach to learners.

Research ethics at MU

Ethical aspects of research conducted at Masaryk University involving human subjects, including work with biological material of human origin, are dealt with by the Research Ethics Committee. The Research Ethics Committee reviews projects from all departments of Masaryk University except the Faculty of Medicine.

Plagiarism and plagiarism detection at MU

Plagiarism is the use of other sources without proper reference where the original work is expected. This includes careless or inaccurate citation of literature used, failure to cite (even unintentionally) a source used. It is essential to follow the rules of citation and publication ethics when producing scholarly texts. Detailed information can be found on the MU website.

The question of how to search for plagiarism is related to plagiarism. Masaryk University uses a special application implemented in the MU Information System to detect potential plagiarism. The application is publicly available on the Theses.cz website. The system for searching for similarities in the text allows for mutual comparison of documents that are part of its database. Using the "egg to egg" function, it is possible to find documents with similar content to a given document, i.e. potential plagiarism. This tool can be used by teachers, administrators and students. Below you will find information and a link to the training course "Plagiarism and similarity search applications in IS MU" as well as guides on how to avoid plagiarism.

Protection of rights and submissions towards protection of rights

Masaryk University subscribes to the protection of rights in the MU Code of Ethics, in the HR Award implementation measures and other documents. Masaryk University has processes in place to ensure that these rights are protected effectively, impartially and efficiently at Masaryk University, and to ensure that assistance is available and that whistleblowers and victims of interference with these rights are protected.

The protection of rights is governed by MU Directive 1/2023 Protection of Rights, effective April 1, 2023. The MU Ombudsperson is JUDr. Eva Janovičová. The Ombudsperson may be contacted in the following ways:

  • by e-mail to ochrance@muni.cz,
  • using the online contact form on the MU Rights Protection website,
  • in person, through a pre-arranged consultation with the ombudsman,
  • via MU mailbox, mailbox ID: 9tmj9e4,
  • MU central or electronic mailroom,
  • by post 'to the Ombudsman' at the MU address.

Discrimination and unequal treatment

Discrimination and unequal treatment is dealt with by the Equal Opportunities Panel.

Processing and protection of personal data

Detailed information can be found in the MU GDPR signpost, which contains links to MU's central information systems that process personal data. The links lead either to a page with information about the processing of personal data in the system or to a page providing access to the user's personal data within the system. This serves to support the right of data subjects (MU employees, students and external collaborators) to access their personal data and the transparency of processing activities.

The data protection officer is Mgr. Iva Zlatušková, Head of the MU Data Protection Officer's Office.

News, manuals and training for employees

Guides to avoid plagiarism

Guides on how to avoid plagiarism

Below you can download two handbooks by Mgr. Tomáš Foltýnek, Ph.D. et al. on plagiarism. The first handbook, How to Prevent Plagiarism in Student Work, is intended for academic staff as a clear guide to situations that may arise in relation to plagiarism in everyday university life. The handbook covers aspects of the originality of work, introduces forms of plagiarism, gives guidance on how to explain to students the meaning of referencing sources, but also how to spot plagiarism and what software tools can be used to do so.

The handbook is also available:

The second guide, How to avoid plagiarism, is for students. It includes topics on: where to get your own ideas, how to properly cite different sources, what exactly is considered plagiarism, how to avoid different forms of plagiarism, examples of (in)famous plagiarism, the three O's against plagiarism, as well as some tips on how not to fall into a time crunch.

The handbook is also available:

Writing custom papers

Writing custom papers

Contract cheating is an offence where a person uses an unacknowledged or unauthorised third party to help them produce a piece of work in order to gain credit, credit, academic progression or similar advantage. The general public is particularly aware of this issue in connection with the offers of commercial companies that advertise their work on the Internet.

E-book by Ing. Jan Mach, Ph.D., Mgr. Tomáš Foltýnek, Ph.D. et al. entitled How to Prevent Contract Writing shows how to prevent contract writing, followed by a description of important cases, legislation and research both abroad and in the Czech Republic.

Plagiarism and application of similarity search in IS MU

Plagiarism and application of similarity search in IS MU

Plagiarism and unethical practices in the academic environment and a practical introduction to the application of similarity search in IS - this is the main content of the training course Plagiarism and similarity search application in IS MU, which is taught by the staff of the Faculty of Informatics Mgr. Tomáš Foltýnek, Ph.D. from the Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing and Ing. Jitka Brandejsová from the Centre for Computer Science.

The training also includes a practical presentation of the similarity search application in the MU Information System Similarity Detection - Eggs to Eggs.

You can watch the training session of 1 hour 40 minutes HERE (it is necessary to log in to the Employee Portal).

Picture Guide

A guide to the legal use of images and other non-text resources

How to proceed if you want to supplement a technical text with, for example, an image or other non-textual resource? What are non-text resources? Anything that can be used in a paper that is not text, i.e. photographs, drawings, technical drawings, graphs, infographics, pictograms, tables, maps, multimedia sources, etc.

Is it necessary to obtain the author's permission for the image? What is the correct way to provide source references for reproductions of artworks? Under what conditions can I use my own photographs taken on the premises of a foreign organisation? Can I use photographs taken by strangers?

The Guide to the Legal Use of Images and Other Non-Text Resources seeks to provide answers to these and other questions.

GDPR

GDPR - basic concepts and processes of the regulation

In 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, came into force. Its purpose is to protect the personal data of citizens and thereby contribute to the protection of their privacy. The purpose of the e-course (you must log in to the Staff Portal) is to provide Masaryk University staff with basic information about this regulation.

Course content:

  • Basic concepts and information,
  • principles of personal data processing,
  • rights of individuals.

At MU, the basic document for personal data protection and GDPR is the MU Directive Protection and Processing of Personal Data 01/2018. There are also a number of Methodology Sheets of the MU Rector's Office Legal Department that need to be followed. Some of the most important areas include taking photographs and video recordings of events, regulating contractual relations with external companies or obtaining consent from data subjects.