Cooperation in 2009
Open day
The most extensive event organized by Masaryk University within the framework of the Cooperation project is a special Open day event. This year, it took place on Friday 20 November; all nine faculties actively participated. Information relevant to studies in individual fields as well as information regarding the admission procedure formed the basis of the programme. Students of partner secondary schools had the opportunity to visit all faculties including selected laboratories and specialized units; new facilities belonging to the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Sports Studies were all made available at the university campus in Bohunice. Interest on the part of secondary school students was massive – over 900 of them made use of the special open day event.
Seminar for school counsellors in Šlapanice
Taking place in the University Centre Šlapanice, the third annual seminar for school counsellors was primarily focused around two current topics: Mgr. Anna Ševčíková of the MU Institute for Research on Children, Youth and Family addressed the issue of cyber-bullying, while PhDr. Jitka Fořtíková of the Prague-based Centre of Giftedness held a lecture on aspects of working with talented children. A total of 23 behavioural counsellors attended the seminar. A presentation of novel elements implemented in the MU admission procedure as well as the learning potential test (LPT) concluded the event.
Masaryk University student presentations at secondary schools
Presentations given by pairs of Masaryk University students are another valuable source of information about university studies available to secondary school students. The students – usually from different faculties and frequently graduates of the schools they are visiting – focus on providing their junior colleagues with information about studies at Masaryk University, its structure, fields of studies and aspects of student life in Brno. In comparison with presentations offered in previous years, this year’s presentations may be said to be more attractive, image-focused, clearer and more concise. The presentations focus on students in their last year of secondary school studies, generally last one period and always include a question and answer as well as a discussion session.
Specialized lectures given by MU teachers at secondary schools
The offer of specialized lectures provided on demand by MU lecturers has grown again this year; each partner secondary school was given the opportunity to choose from over 300 specialized lectures encompassing most faculties as well as a majority of research units and fields of study.
Partnership in education bulletin
In January 2010, partner secondary schools received a printed bulletin summarizing developments in the Partnership project which took place in 2009. It includes photographs, interviews and a range of articles focusing on events and activities organized within the project framework. The bulletin is also available in electronic form:
Bulletin about Partnership in education 2009 (Czech only)
Specialized consultations for students of partner secondary schools
Specialized consultations designated for talented secondary school students comprise a specific form of cooperation. Both the Faculty of Social Studies and the Faculty of Science offer consultations as well as opportunities for actual collaboration on issues addressed in students’ scientific projects such as the SOČ (secondary school scientific project) and various secondary school competitions.
Specialized events for students
The project specifically supports small-scale events and seminars focusing on talented students. In November 2009, the Faculty of Social Studies held a ‘Multimedia Day’ in order to introduce students to modern concepts in journalism. Three hundred secondary school students took part in the event.
The Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Social Studies organized a series of seminars aimed at exploring employment choices, relationship psychology and other current topics. This year, the Faculty of Sports Studies offered a series of lectures and seminars focusing on a range of healthcare and diet-related issues. Physics day – a traditional event organized by the Faculty of Science – also attracted a large number of students.
Electronic newsletter
Electronic newsletters including study-related information as well as news and an array of interesting issues, open day schedules and a list of university activities for the public were sent out to the partner secondary schools in June, October and December 2009. Regularly distributed informative letters and emails likewise contribute to the ongoing communication with partner schools.
MU presence at partner schools
MU presence at partner schools forms an inherent part of the cooperation between the university and the secondary schools. Information about the Partnership in Education project is generally displayed on partner school websites; schools also notify their students about project-related events via their official noticeboards.
Presentation of partner secondary schools on the MU website
Partner secondary schools are listed on www.muni.cz. A comprehensive list includes all secondary schools taking part in the project as well as links to their own websites and an overview of recent cooperation.
Annual conference of partner school headmasters and MU management
The 2009 cooperation project was concluded on 10 December by a conference bringing together partner secondary school headmasters and MU management. This year’s conference was composed of two parts. The first part, which took place in the recently renovated conference room at the MU Rector’s Office, was primarily focused on the war on plagiarism. MU management was represented by Petr Fiala, Rector, Mikuláš Bek, vice-rector for strategy and internal relations, and Ivana Černá, vice-rector for information technologies. The meeting was aimed at eliciting the opinions of partner school representatives, establishing further cooperation potential between the schools and MU and – last but not least – discussing the issues and various aspects of the main conference topic. The afternoon conference session was devoted to a tour of the newly constructed university campus in Bohunice. School representatives were thus granted the unique opportunity of visiting campus premises, the local library and even the anatomical museum (operated by the Faculty of Medicine) and the nuclear magnetic resonance unit of the Faculty of Science.
