Dear Reader,

     In this volume Masaryk University presents to the public the 7th annual report of its activities for the past calendar and fiscal year 2000. The report gives the most pertinent data about the university activities in the year 2000 as they compare with previous years.

In pedagogical sphere, Masaryk University has focused on providing education in a broad range of study programmes which reflect the great interest of the public in university education and the possibilities that open up to university graduates on the labour market. It was generally expected that the number of young people seeking admission to the university in the year 2000 would be lower due to the smaller number of recent secondary school graduates, as a result of the introduction of the ninth grade to the primary school level.

Contrary to expectation, the demand for study was not affected. The total number of applications to the university remained the same and the results of entrance proceedings did not deviate in any way from the quantitative characteristics of previous years. This confirmed the expectations of those who argued that the volume of unfulfilled demand for university study continues to be great, in spite of the fact that the number of MU undergraduate students has grown faster than the quotas set as the maximum acceptable increments from the perspective of the financing of the universities by the ministry.

The development of the university corresponds to the general declarations of the necessity to increase  the proportion of tertiary education graduates among the population of the Czech Republic, and to extend the average length of study of Czech citizens. (Strategic materials approved by the government in April 1999 mention the need to extend the average study period of Czech citizens by two years by 2005, which in annual figures corresponds to the growth in the number of new MU students rather than to the restricted growth copying the finances provided according to the regulations governing the allocation of state subsidies for education.) Another significant factor is the gradual harmonisation of study programmes in compliance with the Bologna Declaration and the incorporation of institutes of higher learning into the common space for higher learning and research being developed in Europe.

MU also emphasises a high proportion of research in all areas of its activities. There is constant pressure on the systematic increase in research volume and quality, corresponding to the institutional financing of research and development through research work, creative activities in its grant projects, and in relation to the activities of three newly established research centres in whose activities MU plays a significant role. From the perspective of the overall impact of these activities, the essential point is not only the direct output of research activities themselves as manifested in the number of publications at home and abroad. What is particularly important is the secondary effect, together with the innate proportion of original research activities linked to teaching at all levels, with an emphasis on the development of doctoral studies increasing its success rate indicated by the percentage of successful graduates.      

The primary development objective of MU is the construction of its campus in Bohunice. At the end of 2000 an international architectural competition for the comprehensive design of the proposed campus took place. A jury set up in accordance with professional principles respecting the general requirements of the Czech Association of Architects selected several of the designs, which will become the starting point for further work. In the middle of 2000, the reconstruction of the historical building at Komenského Square was completed; it will temporarily house some of the departments of the Medical Faculty. More importantly, it will serve as a basis for new MU activities in the development of life-long education, and in relation to the newly-refurbished computer study hall which will alleviate the difficulties with the generally insufficient access that students have to Internet-based modern instruments of communication and information and communication technologies in general.

The structure of this report, with minor modifications, corresponds to the provisions of Higher Education Act 111/1998 Sb. that stipulates the obligation of all public institutes of higher learning in the Czech Republic to publish their annual report.