Jiří Hanuš, Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy, Academic and Cultural Affairs, was the first to address the full auditorium, guiding the audience through the programme of the academic ceremony. He announced that Masaryk University would be awarding four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal. He also drew attention to the MU Rector’s Awards, which are presented annually in several categories in recognition of outstanding achievements in science and research, sport, teaching, the arts, and civic engagement. Twenty-four prominent figures from the university received awards this year.
In his Dies Academicus 2026 speech, Rector Martin Bareš reflected on the state of Czech higher education, assessed the past academic year, and shared his vision for the future development of universities. He pointed out that, although Czech higher education had made “modest progress within the bounds of the law”, it was still facing problems such as insufficient funding, a fragmented system, an absence of long-term strategy, and inadequate legislative modernisation. He emphasised the need for a new Higher Education Institutions Act to strengthen the autonomy of universities and support their diversification, internationalisation and high-quality evaluation, as well as ensuring they receive stable funding. This would enable Czech universities to compete internationally and respond to rapidly changing societal challenges. At the same time, he highlighted specific achievements of Masaryk University in the 2025/2026 academic year – an increased budget, successes in attracting leading researchers and grants, strategic investments, as well as growing interest from prospective students.
The central message of his speech was a call for responsibility towards the greater community, overcoming narrow interests and the ability to collaborate across the university. “It testifies to an extraordinary ability to work for the benefit of a greater community than a department, institute, clinic, division, or faculty. An extraordinary ability to look beyond the boundaries of one’s office,” said Martin Bareš. According to the Rector, this ability is one of the main reasons for Masaryk University’s success, as well as being a prerequisite for its further development in such a demanding and rapidly changing world.
In the next speech, Petr Najvar, Chair of the MU Academic Senate, drew attention to the growing influence of social media on society and democracy. He warned against a phenomenon he described as the “uprising of the uneducated”, whereby public opinion is increasingly shaped by superficial messages and emotions rather than knowledge and values. He identified high-quality education based on humanistic and democratic principles as the long-term response to this trend. He then turned his attention to the quality of teaching at higher education institutions and emphasised that, with the growing diversity of the student population, universities must pay greater attention to how they educate. He presented his own model of quality in university teaching based on three principles: relevance, rigour and collegiality. Teaching should be meaningful in terms of content, adequately challenging, and take place in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation between teachers and students. According to Najvar, the aim of the university is not merely to transfer knowledge, but to cultivate a nurturing environment for future experts, scientists, teachers and politicians. He concluded his speech with the traditional Latin phrase “Quod bonum, felix, faustum, fortunatumque sit!”, which can be translated as: “May it be good, favourable, and prosperous.”
This was followed by the presentation of awards.
Gold Medal of MU
The MU Gold Medal, which the university typically awards to prominent figures in science, culture, higher education and public life, is given in recognition of the laureate’s long-standing and exceptional contributions to the development of these fields, including their commitment to human rights and dignity.
Michael Kocáb was the first to receive the Gold Medal for his commitment to the fight for human rights and dignity. A composer, singer, founder of the rock band Pražský výběr, and also a civic activist and politician, he served as a Member of Parliament and Minister for Human Rights and National Minorities in the 1990s and was instrumental, among other things, in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia.
In his speech, he thanked Masaryk University for awarding him the Gold Medal, emphasising that the struggle for human rights and dignity is everyone’s responsibility. He reminded the audience that freedom should never be taken for granted, since it is always underpinned by the courageous actions of individuals. He warned about the current threats, which range from Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the oppression of minorities in China, to the weakening of democratic institutions in Western countries and Central Europe. He emphasised that institutions protecting human rights must not be regarded as superfluous and the law only has meaning when it protects the vulnerable and reminds the powerful of the limits of their power. He sees the award as a reminder of the commitment to defend freedom time and again. “I would wish for Masaryk University to educate students to be academically strong and morally vigilant, because democracy dies when even decent people remain silent,” said Kocáb.
The MU Gold Medal for significant contributions to the development of higher education and the deepening of MU’s cooperation was presented to Mikuláš Bek, a musicologist and Rector Emeritus of Masaryk University, as well as a former Minister for European Affairs and Minister of Education. During his time in office, MU completed the development of its educational and research infrastructure at the Bohunice University Campus and its faculties in the centre of Brno. The university also began to enhance its international standing and became more actively involved in public life.
In his speech, Bek described the Gold Medal as the most valuable award of his professional career. He recalled that the university had been a constant presence in his life ever since his student days, and receiving the medal felt like a symbolic return to the academic environment after several years in politics. He described his activities outside the university as a form of service and defence of the values that are essential for higher education institutions to function freely, whether in the context of European politics or when advocating for changes to the education system. He emphasised that, unlike many other institutions, Masaryk University is not afraid of ambitious projects and strategic decisions, whereas the public sphere often has a strong desire to maintain the status quo. At the same time, he warned that political priorities tend to sideline higher education and that its interests must be actively defended. “Let us nurture the dynamic internal culture of our university and defend the interests of education in the wider world. It is almost a duty,” he said, adding that he considers this responsibility to be particularly crucial at a time when changes to higher education legislation are being prepared.
Upon receiving the MU Gold Medal in recognition of his outstanding contributions to strengthening the university’s standing in the Czech Republic and abroad, and to the development of its academic disciplines, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacognosy Václav Suchý expressed his deep gratitude for the award. He described it as the greatest recognition of his life’s work in pharmaceutical education. He dedicated the award symbolically to the teachers and colleagues who shaped his professional career at the first independent Faculty of Pharmacy, as well as at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Science. He described the reintegration of the Faculty of Pharmacy into Masaryk University as a significant milestone, welcoming the fact that teaching and research will commence in the new BioPharma Hub building on the university campus from the next academic year. He expressed his gratitude to the Rector for incorporating the faculty into the MU structure and for supporting the construction of the new facilities. He concluded his speech with the traditional academic formula “Vivat, crescat et floreat Facultas pharmaceutica Universitatis Masarykianae”, which translates from Latin as: “May the Faculty of Pharmacy of Masaryk University live, grow and flourish.”
The Rector Emeritus of the University of Veterinary Sciences in Brno has made a significant contribution to its development. He is a prominent figure at the MU Faculty of Pharmacy and has always strived to incorporate the latest scientific and pedagogical trends into the educational process.
The fourth MU Gold Medal has been awarded to the University of Tartu in Estonia in recognition of its significant contribution to the development of higher education, and for strengthening MU’s cooperation with institutions abroad. The Estonian university is a strategic partner of Masaryk University, primarily through the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC MU) within the Alliance4Life framework. It collaborates with a network of leading research institutions that are dedicated to promoting excellence in the life sciences and also works with MU’s Faculty of Informatics to promote cyber security. Its Rector Toomas Asser sent his apologies for being unable to attend the academic ceremony at MU. The award will be presented during a state visit to Estonia, in the presence of both rectors.
Milan Kašuba
The fourth MU Gold Medal has been awarded to the University of Tartu in Estonia in recognition of its significant contribution to the development of higher education, and for strengthening MU’s cooperation with institutions abroad. The Estonian university is a strategic partner of Masaryk University, primarily through the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC MU) within the Alliance4Life framework. It collaborates with a network of leading research institutions that are dedicated to promoting excellence in the life sciences and also works with MU’s Faculty of Informatics to promote cyber security. Its Rector Toomas Asser sent his apologies for being unable to attend the academic ceremony at MU. The award will be presented during a state visit to Estonia, in the presence of both rectors.
Jiří Salik Sláma
A Brno-based photographer working with leading Czech periodicals. In 2012, he received an honourable mention from Czech Press Photo for his work, and in 2016 he won the People in the News category in the same prestigious competition. The MU Silver Medal is awarded for his significant contribution to culture.
Radka Vernerová
A graduate of the Faculty of Sports Studies at Masaryk University, she focuses of paediatric palliative care and is the founder and director of the non-profit organisation Dům pro Julii. The children’s hospice of the same name, opened in Brno in 2024, is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. She is awarded the MU Silver Medal for her outstanding work ad director of Dům pro Julii and for strengthening cooperation with Czech institutions.
Vladimír Týč
A distinguished academic working at the Department of International and European Law of the MU Faculty of Law. The MU Silver Medal is awarded for significant pedagogical and scholarly contributions to the development of study programmes at MU.
Bronze Medal of MU
Jiří Procházka
A mixed martial arts fighter and a graduate of the MU Faculty of Sports Studies. He competes in the UFC, where he became world champion in the light heavyweight division in 2022. He is also a former champion in the same weight class in the Japanese organisation Rizin Fighting Federation and is involved in charitable and educational activities. He is awarded the MU Bronze Medal in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements and for being an excellent ambassador for MU sports.
MU Rector’s Awards
MU Rector’s Award for Outstanding Creative Activity
iGEM Brno Team – Matej Zámečník, Matúš Grieš, Miroslav Rosputinský, Hana Slámová, Tereza Slančíková, Michaela Prokopová, Jonáš Pospíchal, Barbora Gavendová, Matěj Bryja, Ľubomír Gallo, Zdenka Vilhanová, Klára Pěchoučková, Peter Schmidt, David Kopecký, Michal Šimčák, Marko Mećava and Ondřej Švanda, SCI MUNI and ECON MUNI.
They are awarded for winning the Overgraduate Grand Prize at iGEM, the world’s most prestigious and largest competition in the field of synthetic biology. The team presented a project focused on the more efficient cultivation and use of duckweed as livestock feed on local farms. They complemented this biological breakthrough by constructing a cultivator and an autonomous system that enables the cultivation of duckweed with minimal human intervention.
MU Rector’s Award for Outstanding Artistic Activity
Martin Flašar, ARTS MUNI
He is a musicologist, violinist and composer, performing with the musical ensembles Indigo Quartet, Musica Poetica and Ensemble Serpens cantat. He receives the Rector’s Award for his original interpretation of the composition Cantico delle creature for Mendel Days 2025.
MU Rector’s Award for an Outstanding Sports Performance
Pavla Štoudková, SPORT MUNI
A talented runner who won two medals at the Czech Championships last year. She has long been considered one of the country’s greatest hopes in this sport.
MU Rector’s Award for Extraordinary Grant Competition Results
Tomáš Fiala, SCI MUNI
In 2025, he was awarded an ERC Starting Grant focused on the development of new chemical tools for the targeted modification of proteins at the level of individual proteoforms. Tomáš Fiala’s ERC project is unique in that it develops chemical tools for studying biological problems where traditional methods of molecular biology fail.
MU Rector’s Award for Outstanding Research Results Achieved by Young Scientists under 40
Natural sciences and medicine:
David Bednář, SCI MUNI
He focuses on the study of the relationships between the structure and function of proteins. He is the author or co-author of 92 publications in impact-factor journals and 14 bioinformatics tools and three databases, all of which are used by the wider scientific community.
Social sciences and humanities:
Alena Kluknavská, FSS MUNI
Her work analyses current shifts in political and media discourse and contributes to an understanding of the dynamics of communication in crisis situations and socially polarised contexts. Among other things, the studies on which she has worked have introduced innovative analytical approaches to researching post-factual communication, emotions, and incivility in online political discourse during a crisis.
Economics and informatics:
Dinara Alpysbayeva, ECON MUNI
She is one of the most prominent young researchers in applied economics. Her work focuses particularly on analysing labour markets and healthcare systems, as well as the public policies that influence them.
MU Rector’s Award for Long-term Excellence in Research
Natural sciences and medicine:
Mary O‘Connell, CEITEC MU
Holder of the Senior ERA Chair at the Centre for Molecular Medicine at the Central European Institute of Technology MU, she is an expert in the field of molecular biology and RNA biology and has significantly strengthened this area of research in the Czech Republic since 2014.
Social sciences and humanities:
Martin Vaculík, FSS MUNI
He is a leading Czech expert in the field of occupational psychology. He focuses on factors influencing work performance, job satisfaction and the impact of work on mental health. His original competency model enables accurate prediction of leadership effectiveness.
Economics and informatics:
Štefan Lyócsa, ECON MUNI
He is an expert in financial market research, whose long-term academic work has significantly contributed to a deeper understanding of price dynamics in financial markets. His research contributes to an understanding of the mechanisms for reducing uncertainty in investment decision-making.
MU Rector’s Award for innovations in teaching
Teaching:
Markéta Holá, SCI MUNI
She receives the award for a conceptual and sustainable change in laboratory teaching of analytical chemistry. Her innovative approach is based on the concept of blended learning, which combines laboratory teaching with online study support and elements of research-based learning and gamification.
Teaching support:
Josef Šilhán, LAW MUNI
He is recognised for changes he has made to two courses – Advanced Practical Class in Commercial Law and Commercial Law III, where he innovated the manner of concluding the courses.
MU Rector’s Award for the Best Students in MU Master’s Programmes
Anna Poledňáková, MED MUNI, General medicine
Pavla Procházková, SCI MUNI, Mathematics
Filip Jozefov, FI MUNI, Artificial intelligence and data processing
MU Rector’s Award for the Best Students in Doctoral Programmes
Anoop Kumar Yadav, SCI MUNI, Molecular and cell biology and genetics
Anna Blechová, LAW MUNI, Law of information and communication technologies
Andrea Stašek, FSS MUNI, Psychology
MU Rector’s Award for an Outstanding Doctoral Thesis
Marcos Gonzáles López, MED MUNI
For the doctoral thesis Mechanisms controlling tooth growth and repair.
Jana Nenadalová, ARTS MUNI
For the doctoral thesis On the Role of Sensory Deprivation, Social Seclusion, and Authority in the Formation of Religious Experience.
Nikol Kvardová, FSS MUNI
For her doctoral thesis Liking, Sharing, Body Comparing? Impact of Appearance-Focused Social Media Interactions on Adolescents’ Body Image.
MU Rector’s Award for the Active Development of Civil Society
David Neuman, MED MUNI
He was active in the Medical Students’ Association and played a key role in the “Daruj (se)” campaign, which led to the creation of a memorial site at Brno Central Cemetery dedicated to those who donated their bodies to science and research. Since 2021, he has been working at Loono, an organisation educating the public on the prevention of cancer and other diseases, including mental health.
MU Rector’s Award for Volunteering – Students
Jiří Němec, FSS MUNI
He has repeatedly provided individual voluntary support for Ukraine in the form of direct material and humanitarian aid, as well as systematic support for defence units. In 2025 alone, he made a total of six trips to Ukraine.
MU Rector’s Award for Volunteering – Staff
Svatava Kalná, MU
Head of the Lifelong Learning Division at the Office for Studies, she is recognised for her work as manager of the DobroCentrum volunteer programme at St Anne’s University Hospital in Brno. The centre aims to improve patients’ mental wellbeing and help alleviate the stresses of hospitalisation.