In addition to changes reflecting legislative developments, the new MU Study and Examination Regulations feature more concise and understandable wording, reflect recent teaching practices at MU and harmonise terminology with other university internal regulations.
One of the main items on the agenda of today’s 277th meeting of the Academic Senate of Masaryk University (AS MU) was the presentation of the new version of the Study and Examination Regulations sponsored by Michal Bulant, Vice-Rector for Studies and Quality, and Šárka Pospíšilová, Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies. Its systematic preparation by the Office for Studies and the Research & Development Office began in October 2022. Throughout the drafting process, the main changes were continuously discussed with the vice-deans for (doctoral) studies and representatives of both chambers of the MU Academic Senate.
In the AS MU Academic Staff’s Chamber, 28 academics voted in favour of the new regulations and one abstained, while the Students’ Chamber unanimously approved the new regulations with 15 votes in favour, which Rector Martin Bareš described as a historic moment.
“The new MU Study and Examination Regulations are better, clearer and linked to other related regulations and guidelines. A number of comments and observations have been incorporated and addressed in the drafting process. At the same time, we have tried to anticipate some of the changes that may come in the future, so that when the expected amendment to the Higher Education Act is approved, we will be ready,” said Rector Martin Bareš.
For example, the new Regulations take into account the experience gained during the Covid-19 pandemic and provide for multiple teaching methods (in-class, synchronous and asynchronous) and online examinations, including the use of remote communication means for the final state and doctoral examinations. The new Regulations also introduce stricter conditions for the termination of studies for people who habitually fail to pay their tuition fees, and for the termination of studies during a semester for students who are not actually studying and fail to meet various course milestones. They further introduce a verbal evaluation of the final state examination, where the current A to F grading system will be discontinued. At the same time, the new Regulations change and tighten the possibilities for obtaining the “red diploma”, which is awarded to exceptional students for consistently excellent results in their studies, with the grade average now being replaced by a percentile.
The question of whether the dean of a faculty can grant an exception in relation to a student’s enrolment for the next semester caused some debate and led to a motion to modify the wording of Article 38 (Decisions on Student Rights and Responsibilities). The new paragraph 1 specifies that the dean is entitled to grant a student an exemption from the provisions of the Regulations on the basis of a written and reasoned request for reasons that merit special consideration.
The section on doctoral studies also anticipates the reform of doctoral degrees.
“We wanted the Study and Examination Regulations to be consistent for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. We have taken into account feedback from various parties and have done our best to ensure that the draft presented is in line with the expected amendment to the Higher Education Act. I believe it will prove its worth and that it will contribute to the improvement of teaching and studies at all levels,” said Vice-Rector Šárka Pospíšilová.
The main changes to the doctoral studies include an updated individual study plan (including the possibility of introducing mandatory study milestones, an emphasis on international research placements and a pedagogical skills development plan). The evaluation of the state doctoral examination and the defence of the doctoral thesis has also been modified (in addition to the verbal evaluation, “passed summa cum laude” has been introduced for successfully defended doctoral theses that significantly exceed the usual standards in terms of impact and quality).
The Academic Senate also approved the new Advanced Master’s Procedure Regulations, which have been removed from the general Study and Examination Regulations in order to bring them closer to the Master’s degree procedure and separate them from the doctoral procedure. The Academic Senate also approved the MU Lifelong Learning Regulations, the aim of which is to identify, unify and systematise all lifelong learning at Masaryk University.
There have also been some changes to the Study Programme Quality Regulations. “In the amendment, we have taken into account the area of lifelong learning and practical experience with the powers and appointment of programme guarantors in the establishment of programmes or the merging of programmes. There will be significant changes for the faculties in terms of when programmes have to be submitted to the Board of Internal Evaluation for approval and when they do not,” said Vice-Rector Michal Bulant. Both chambers of the Academic Senate approved this amendment as well as the amendment to the Quality Assurance and Internal Evaluation System Guidelines. The amendment to the Statutes of the Faculty of Informatics, submitted by the Dean Jiří Barnat, also passed.
The new MU Study and Examination Regulations will come into effect on 1 September 2024, with some transitional provisions. For example, students who will take the final state examination by the end of October 2024 will still be assessed according to the currently applicable examination regulations. The new assessment method for the final state examination (Article 26) will not come into force until January 2025.