On Wednesday, February 11, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an opportunity to highlight the importance of equal access to scientific careers and the conditions in which science is created.

In this follow-up article from our series on ethical and security aspects of the academic environment, we focus on ethics and the protection of rights. These values form one of the fundamental pillars of academic culture. They promote fair treatment, open communication, and responsibility towards students and employees.

In our previous article on social safety, we wrote about what this term means – respect, trust, and protection. This time, we will focus on situations where interpersonal communication shifts from a normal dispute or misunderstanding to bullying or hate speech.

As part of our ongoing series on topics that contribute to a safe environment at our faculty, this time we are focusing on social safety. Our goal is for every employee and student to be able to work, study, and move around the faculty in an environment where they are respected, heard, and protected.
Social safety is one of the fundamental pillars of a safe academic environment.

Close relationships are a natural part of human life – they also arise in academia, where people meet while studying, working, and conducting research. While many of them enrich the university environment, others can lead to difficult situations and conflicts of interest. Masaryk University has therefore joined the open debate on how to approach these relationships fairly, sensitively, and with regard to the safety of the entire academic community.

Contact persons at the MU Faculty of Medicine, who work within the HR Award team at the Office for Research and Quality, attended a professional training led by renowned attorney JUDr. Lucie Hrda from the HrdáLegal law firm. The training was conducted as part of an accredited seminar of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and focused on communication with victims of sexualised violence.

Masaryk University strives for an environment where everyone feels respected and safe. However, inappropriate behaviour can sometimes occur - whether it is bullying, discrimination, harassment or any other form of violation of dignity. Therefore, there is a clear process for dealing with such situations - discreetly, sensitively and with an emphasis on protecting the rights of all involved.

The annual report of the Masaryk University Rights Protection Office summarizes the activities for the calendar year 2024.

The annual sustainability report 2024 is published!
Find out about Masaryk University's progress, commitments and vision for sustainability.

MU faculties and departments create their own sustainability strategies based on the university´s Sustainable Masaryk University strategy. They take into account not only the general principles of sustainability - environmental responsibility, social commitment, and economic efficiency - but also their specific challenges and opportunities.