International Cooperation
 

Prof. PhDr. Jiří Šrámek, CSc., vice-rector

International Relations Department

On the basis of the quota allotted to Masaryk University by the Ministry of Education, 50 workers and students went abroad to study or to attend language courses under international cultural agreements. Travel expenses were first covered by the University Division of International Relations and then refunded by the Ministry of Education.

An exchange of workers under bilateral agreements was performed with universities in Vienna, Regensburg, Szeged, Wroclaw, Poznan and Katowice. MU sent abroad 29 workers whose travel expenses were partly (1/2) covered by the University and welcomed 33 workers for whom accommodation and meals were covered.

In October Masaryk University was visited by a delegation of academic officials of Poznan University headed by Rector Professor Jurga. The aim of the visit was to assess the co-operation and to formulate future objectives. The official delegation came to Brno together with a University choir which gave a concert in the assembly hall of Masaryk University.

A very important event from the political viewpoint was the installation of a bust of T. G. Masaryk in the central courtyard of Vienna University. The bust created by the academic sculptor Vincenc Makovský was a gift of Masaryk University to its partner Vienna University where TGM worked as a private Associate Professor. The bust was festively unveiled by the rectors of both universities on 21 November 1996. Then there was a joint workshop "TGM - a university teacher and a visionary politician". A Czech - German booklet entitled T. G. Masaryk and Vienna University was published. This event was sponsored chiefly by KB Praha and KB Brno.

The members of the University delegation were provided with all necessary services connected with their business trips.All workers and students whose business and study trips abroad were covered from Masaryk University funds, grants, etc. were provided with foreign currency and other refunds of expenses. Compared with the year 1995 the number of business trips and study trips increased from 810 to 930 in the year 1996.

The fees for memberships of MU in international organisations such as IAU, CRE and Compostela Group were covered.

The co-operation with European University Viadrina in Frankfurt an der Oder developed.. Four students of the Faculty of Law spent the summer term 1996 studying at the university. In the winter term 1996/97 four students of the Faculty of Law and three students of the Faculty of Economics and Administration studied there.

An exchange of students between MU and EMA university in Greifswald was launched. University of Greifswald offered a scholarship to one student of MU for a term. MU welcomed one student of Greifswald university and sponsored his study of Czech at the Faculty of Arts.

Within the framework of direct co-operation the University in Utrecht provided 3 scholarships for our students and helped them take part in the summer course "Dutch culture and society". Similarly the university in Leipzig sponsored a course in German for 3 post-graduate students.

As usual, Masaryk University took part in the Eleventh Information Fair of Study and Career Choice, which is held in Vienna every March.

As one of the first Central and Eastern European universities, Masaryk University was admitted as a member of the Utrecht network which is one of the best working university networks in Europe.

As a member of the Compostela Group, Masaryk University hosted one week's workshop "Nationalism and populism in Europe." which was attended by 15 students and 8 lecturers.

Public Relations

Masaryk University hosted 18^th World Congress of Society for Science and Art which was held at the end of August. The Congress was prepared jointly by MU and the Brno section of SVU and the advertising agency SNIP over the period of nearly one year. The Congress was attended by 500 members of SVU from the CR and abroad and many other interested persons.

In June there was a commemoration ceremony to commemorate the 35^th anniversary of the death of Professor Karel Engliš, an author of original teleological theory of national economy and the first Rector of Masaryk University. A commemorative speech was delivered by František Vencovský, Professor of University of Economics in Prague and Chairman of the Karel Engliš Society, who is a recognised expert in problems of monetary policy and the history of economic thinking.

Attention was also directed to the production and updating of promotional literature concerning the University. Of periodic publications, a brief brochure about faculties in English, the Annual Report for 1996 and A Diary of Significant Events for 1996 were published. Invitation cards to various events and other materials (New Year cards etc.) were prepared.

Quarterly, a press conference was held in which journalists and newspapermen were informed of the present problems of the University and of forthcoming events.

Monthly, a column of Academic news was prepared for a University newspaper and readers were informed of significant events organised by the Foreign Relations Department. Monitoring of newspapers was conducted daily to provide the latest information concerning education and science to the officials of the University and its faculties. Events organised by the University were photographed and photos will be kept in the university archives.

At the end of the year a Christmas concert was given for University staff and general public, in which the Choir of the Faculty of Teacher Training gave a performance. On this occasion there was also a meeting of University officials with representatives of Brno institutions and collaborating companies whose sponsorship was appreciated.