Pellicova 43, 602 00 Brno

phone: +420 (5) 43 21 18, fax: +420 (5) 43 24 82 19

In 1998, the activity of the Centre concentrated on the organisation and realisation of accredited educational courses, research, counselling and publication activities. The Centre co-operated with the MU faculties, external professionals, the Czech School Inspection Board, School Offices and foreign institutions. In line with development trends stipulated by the Centre, the monitoring of needs, progress and level of the whole-life educational process was introduced in certain regional institutions and organisations (outside of the field of education).

1. Educational courses

The total number of accredited courses reached 152. Courses were offered to schools through a university-wide catalogue. The courses strive to deepen the professional qualifications of teachers, leading school staff and employees of the Czech School Inspection Board. In 465 days of seminars, 6,209 course participants received training.

Summer Holiday activities

During the summer holidays, the Centre held fourteen intensive language courses for teachers of English and German and one course of Czech for Austrian teachers. These courses were attended by 161 teachers.

2. Research activities

Two extensive research projects of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport representing the final stage of a long-term study (started 1993) were completed with successful disputation proceedings. The first project was called ”Public School after the Third and Fourth Year of Verification” (RS-97-063), the second ”Elementary School after the Fourth and Fifth Year of Verification” (RS-97-064).

3. Development programmes

In the framework of the Development Fund for Schools of Higher Education, the following two programmes were implemented:

a) Geography of South Moravia (0755)

b) Issues of Mathematics Teaching in the 9th year of elementary school, differentiation according to choice of career (1299)

Leonardo da Vinci Project

A comparison evaluation of apprentice education studies in the Czech Republic and Spain (CZ/98/1/32/EX.I.1.2.c).

Socrates – Lingua Project

An intensive language and methodology course for teachers of English literature at secondary schools (LB/B-98/I.-O18)

Open Society Fund Prague

Woman’s position in society, family and at work (9/7/98)

4. International co-operation

The Centre worked together with many foreign institutions: their joint activities focused on the methodology of foreign languages and school management.

The Centre organised participation of 59 teachers in short educational conferences abroad; 97 teachers were able to take part in one–week courses. Nine employees of the Centre participated in short foreign attachments, study visits and international conferences.

The Centre held 25 short conferences (lasting more then one day) led by Austrian lecturers (organized together with the Austrian Ministry for Education and Culture and KulturKontakt Vienna); two short conferences were led by German lecturers. The co-operation with Austria and Germany made possible the holding of summer courses in methodology. Both countries also took part in the preparation of ”multipliers” in German language, which were carried out for the first time in the Czech Republic.

Co–operation with American and British partners led to four short conferences and three courses in methodology. Austrian teachers were offered a course in Czech language. All these events were partially sponsored by foreign institutions.

The Centre continues to strengthen its already close contacts with a considerable number of foreign institutions and organisations. New contacts were established with representatives of the Teachers’ Centre in Bremen and the Educational Centre in Oviedo, Spain.

Together with KulturKontakt Vienna, the Centre processed and published three brochures for participants in methodology courses.

5. Publication activities

With a print run of 1,200 copies, the Centre published a 1998 catalogue offering projects and programmes in the framework of the further education of teachers. The Centre also published the third reprint (in an extended and revised edition) of the textbook Legal Theory for Schools and Practice by Novotný, Schelle and Tomancová in a run of 1,500 copies. The Centre published a whole range of methodology materials for participants in its conferences.

6. Educational Centre