The Sustainable Masaryk University Strategy is a framework document that represents the basic direction the University is taking in the area of sustainability. Individual faculties build on it with their specific plans reflecting their academic focus, research priorities and operational specifics. The result will be strategies that link teaching, research and the day-to-day running of the faculty with the principles of sustainable development.
The Faculty of Law has the basic part of its sustainability strategy already prepared and approved by the College, while its finalisation still requires discussion by the Academic Senate. The Faculty is working to raise awareness of sustainability among students and staff and is collecting their input on the topic. “The challenge is the limited student interest in the topic and the technical limitations associated with a listed building, which complicate the use of photovoltaics, for example,” said Eva Tomášková, vice-dean for strategy and development. Nevertheless, the faculty is trying to engage and motivate students, for example this year by communicating the activities of the CoMUNIT Fund.
The Department of Computer Science approaches sustainability on two levels - as a support for the efficient and greener operation of the entire university through IT services, and as an issue of its own internal operations, particularly in the area of HR. As part of the development of the sustainability strategy, an eight-member working group has defined the key themes and is now completing a review of the individual chapters. “Specific steps include, for example, a significant reduction in the number of printers from 37 to six following the Institute's relocation, which illustrates the drive for efficient and responsible operations,” said Institute Director Jan Mysliveček.
The Faculty of Education is actively working on its sustainability strategy in relation to the university framework. It has divided the strategy into four pillars, with particular emphasis on the education of future teachers and the integration of sustainability into the curriculum. It plans to introduce a university-wide elective course and to share know-how on green schools. As part of its operational measures, it is preparing the conversion of the faculty garden into a demonstration space for environmental education, the development of outdoor classrooms and the promotion of sustainable mobility. The faculty is also considering the introduction of a faculty chatbot, more sustainable promotional items and community activities such as planting an “alumni forest”. “The aim is to become an active centre of sustainability and good practice in the university and wider society,” concluded Jiří Němec, introducing the activities of the Faculty of Education.
The Faculty of Pharmacy bases its strategy on the structure of the university strategy. Currently, it maps the internal environment and consults the individual parts of the document with the faculty management. The strategy should be approved by the end of the year. The faculty plans to move next year to the campus, which will affect teaching, research and operations. “The strategy should also include the development of new study programmes, such as industrial pharmacy focusing on sustainable approaches to pharmaceuticals,” added Jakub Treml, vice dean for external relations, strategy and development.
Gabriela Vybíralová, who coordinates the strategy work at the Faculty of Social Studies, described the questionnaire survey (334 responses, including 20 in English) and the analysis of feedback from students and staff. The data show interest in interdisciplinary teaching, strengthening community life, collaboration with government and non-profit organizations, and improving operational aspects such as waste sorting and eco-friendly dishes. The faculty develops its sustainability strategy in collaboration with two working groups - formal (involving the Dean and the Secretary) and informal. The aim is to produce a two-year, concrete and realistic strategy, which the groups plan to present to the Faculty management at the end of September and further refine according to comments.
The Faculty of Medicine prepares its sustainability strategy according to the structure of the university strategy. It has first mapped the current situation and is now identifying key themes that will serve as the basis for the strategy and communication to the public. It is planning a questionnaire survey, the results of which will be used to finalise the strategy. Specifically, it will focus on areas such as “sustainable graduate”, teaching sustainability in health care, equal opportunities, interdisciplinary research, sustainable institutions and support for community activities. “Emphasis is on resource efficiency, computerisation of administration, sharing of equipment and space, and promotion of alternative transport. We are also working with other parts of the university on campus improvements and shared infrastructure,” said coordinator Jan Slezak.
In preparing the sustainability strategy, the Faculty of Economics and Administration discussed comments on topics such as promoting employee wellbeing, responsible behaviour and volunteering - for example, a proposal for a day off to participate in volunteering activities. They also considered systemic measures such as incorporating sustainability principles into onboarding of new employees or updating the rules for work and study trips. Faculty are also addressing practical measures - reducing food waste in the cafeteria, streamlining communication of the impact of sustainable initiatives, and drawing inspiration from abroad. She also presented one of the ways to challenge more responsible behaviour, with one of the faculty´s students carrying out a so-called nudging exercise as part of her thesis. The strategy will be further discussed at the faculty meeting.
During the last six months, the Faculty of Informatics has formed a working group consisting of representatives from management, HR, the project department and other experts to discuss the relevance of the university strategy for the faculty environment. They identified a key challenge as the need to improve communication of sustainability issues and to encourage a change in thinking towards long-term and strategic planning. The faculty also stressed the need to allocate financial and staff resources to coordinate and anchor the sustainability agenda for the long term - thinking about what next after the project is over, who will map, move and coordinate things at the faculty.
In developing its sustainability strategy, the Faculty of Science considered four key areas: teaching, equal opportunities, research and faculty operations. In teaching, it is trying to ensure that every student takes at least one sustainability-focused course and is considering introducing a universal faculty course. It also wants to integrate the subject into lifelong learning and retraining programmes for companies. In the area of equal opportunities, the faculty is working with the Teiresiás Centre to address accessibility in laboratories. Research on sustainability is already a strength, with over 110 relevant projects underway at the Faculty, in which PhD students are actively involved. In internal culture and operations, the faculty addresses energy management, shares its botanical, geological and zoological collections with the public, and uses an electric vehicle for local transportation. In the future, it is considering the installation of photovoltaics and heat pumps, and is taking inspiration from abroad and other faculties in the Czech Republic.
The Faculty of Arts approaches the topic of sustainability with respect and with the knowledge that it has been doing a lot for a long time - whether it is the reduction of printing, the introduction of shared kitchens and offices, or the economical operation during the renovation of the Arno Novák campus. “We don't want to create a strategy "on paper”, but rather look for how to connect the already existing activities and natural attitudes of our male and female employees in a practical and meaningful way,” said coordinator Markéta Bočková. Therefore, they decided to use a participatory approach and instead of a centrally written strategy, using a bottom-up approach, based on the needs and suggestions of people directly from the faculty. The first workshops for employees have already taken place, during which concrete suggestions and proposals were collected. "The goal is not to create complex documents, but immediately implementable actions with visible impact. The faculty strategy will thus be based on practice and naturally reflect what the faculty is already doing and what it can still improve,” Bočková added.
The Faculty of Sport Studies takes a pragmatic and community-based approach to the topic of sustainability. It builds on the fact that it has been implementing a number of principles for a long time - from promoting healthy lifestyles, networked printers, shared labs to organising quality of life events. Much is already happening naturally at the Faculty. “Our main question is not ´what to do´ but ´who will do it sustainably and how´. Therefore, we try to look for approaches that will be meaningful and sustainable for the faculty community in the long term. We have established a task force comprised of representatives from departments, the senate, and staff and student volunteers. Using a participatory method, we organised initial workshops, which showed that our environment is closer to concrete and practically oriented activities than general topics like climate change,” Lenka Goldmannová, the faculty´s secretary, described the work on the strategy, adding that the faculty has formed a small innovation unit to collect ideas, take inspiration from abroad and bring concrete proposals. "The faculty´s strategy is based on the framework of the university strategy, but the emphasis is on realistic, meaningful and sustainable steps that are in line with our focus. A significant project that we consider to be a mainstay in the area of sustainability is the "Active School” project, which helps to develop a movement culture across schools in cooperation with the South Moravian Region," said the faculty secretary.
The process of developing faculty strategies is a collaborative effort between academic staff, students and administration, often with the support of the university's sustainability coordinator. The aim is to ensure that sustainability becomes an integral part of decision-making processes, development plans and educational activities in each faculty. “I would like to thank you for an inspiring meeting. All that was said here is very valuable feedback. I think it is the mutual listening and sharing of approaches that brings great added value to the whole project,” concluded Monika Jandová, Vice-Rector for Lifelong Learning, Technology Transfer and Sustainability, in her presentation of the faculties and departments.
Through a coordinated approach to strategy development, Masaryk University strengthens its role as a responsible public institution and creates an environment that supports long-term sustainable development both at the university level and in society as a whole.