Centre for the Further Education

Head: Dr. Jan Beran

Pellicova 43, 602 00 Brno

Phone: ++420–5–43 21 24 83, fax: ++420–5–43 24 82 19


As in previous years, the activities of the Centre (CDVU) were concentrated on the organization and realization of accredited educational courses, grant projects, counselling and publication activities. The Centre co-operated with the MU faculties, external professionals, the Czech School Inspection Board, School Offices and foreign institutions. The monitoring of the needs of the life-long educational process (outside of the field of education) resulted in the signing of an agreement between Masaryk University and the Institute for Local Administration, Prague, which serves as a centre of the Ministry of Interior for the education of employees in state administration. Educational activities following from this agreement were delegated to the CDVU and the Faculty of Economics and Administration, and courses focusing on special professional qualifications will be open in the year 2000.

Educational courses

The total number of accredited courses reached 159. Courses were offered to schools through a university-wide catalogue.

In 457 days of seminars, 5,886 course participants received training.

Based on a contract with the Czech School Inspection Board, the Centre held courses for the Board’s employees. In nine three-day courses, all the Board’s employees (a total of 300 inspectors) were trained.

Summer holiday activities

During the summer holiday, the Centre held three courses for teachers of foreign languages in the Šlapanice Training Centre and one course of Czech for Austrian teachers. These courses were attended by 135 teachers.

Counselling and service activities

The Centre supported teachers in their orientation in new schoolbooks, study materials and teaching aids, and informed them on study stays abroad.

The centre also provided organizational services at regional school competitions, disseminated informational materials on particular teaching issues, and mediated offers for the educational activities of other educational centres.

 

Development programmes

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

  1. Preparation of unqualified teachers of German for study at the Faculty of Education and for teaching of the fourth year and higher at elementary school (441/1999)
  2. Mathematics teaching at elementary school (439/1999)

LEONARDO DA VINCI programme

A Comparative Evaluation of Apprentice Education in the Czech Republic and Spain

(CZ/98/1/32/EXI.I.2 c) – completed in June 1999

Education in Specialized German

(NL/98/I/74058/PI/III/I and IVT) – started in February 1999

International co-operation

The Centre worked together with foreign partner institutions focusing on the methodology of foreign languages, school management and preparation of so called ”moderators” responsible for the further education of teachers at regional level. In co-operation with Austrian and German partner institutes, the Centre organized the participation of 129 Czech teachers in various two- or three-day educational courses abroad; 72 teachers were able to take part in study stays lasting between five and 14 days.

For 45 teachers, the Centre organized a course held in Lechtal in German methodology accompanied with German and Austrian Life and Institution Studies. Austrian teachers were offered a course in Czech language and three educational seminars. Five employees of the Centre took part in various projects, study stays and international conferences.

Together with the Austrian Ministry for Education and Culture and the KulturKontakt institute, Vienna, the Centre held 23 seminars of more than one day’s duration and a one-year study project led by prominent Austrian lecturers, three seminars led by German lecturers and two seminars organized in co-operation with Swiss partners. The close contacts with Germany, Austria and Switzerland made possible the holding of a summer course for German teachers on entry into the EU, at which the Swiss Ambassador Mr. Fetcherin gave a lecture on connected issues.

Our German and Austrian partners took part in the organization and sponsoring of a three-semester course in ”multipliers” in German language accompanied by study stays in Germany (14 days) and Austria (4 days). The three-semester course for ”moderators” was successfully completed. At the present time the Centre is holding a course for school managers on the preparation of schools for EU entry and a course for ”moderators” on sex education. Co-operation with American and British partners led to three seminars and two summer courses in methodology.

The Centre continues to strengthen its already close contacts with a considerable number of foreign institutions and universities. New contacts were established with Educational Centres in Hamburg and Esslingen.

Together with KulturKontakt Vienna , the Centre published 11 methodological brochures for participants in courses led by international lecturers.

 

Publication activities

With a print run of 500 copies, the Centre published Elementary School in the Mirror of a Five-year Research Projekt written by Beran and Smékal.

The Centre also published a whole range of methodology materials for participants in its seminars and courses.

Educational Centre

The Education Centre in Šlapanice was involved in the organization of the activities described above. In its building, educational courses and important conferences were held not only by the Centre for the Further Education of Teachers but also by MU faculties and academic societies.