The Faculty of Science at Masaryk University is choosing a new dean. Three candidates are competing for the position, having presented their plans to the academic community. The election will take place on October 20.
Luděk Bláha, Michal Bulant, and Karel Kubíček are candidates for the position of Dean of the Faculty of Science. The second term of the current dean, Tomáš Kašparovský, ends on January 31, 2026. As part of the ongoing election for the faculty’s top representative, a public debate with all candidates took place on Monday, October 6. The candidates presented their experience and visions and answered questions from academics and students. The discussion also continued in the university’s Information System.
All three candidates graduated from the Faculty of Science and currently work there.
Luděk Bláha works at the RECETOX Centre, focusing on toxicology, and serves as Vice-Dean for Doctoral Studies. In addition to MU, he has worked in research institutes, spent two years at the University of Michigan, and contributes his expertise to national and international science evaluation panels. He has previously run for the position of dean.
“I offer experience, perspective, and prudence — because as a member of the faculty’s management, I already know that not everything can be achieved immediately or by force,” said Vice-Dean Bláha at the beginning of the debate.
He added that one of his goals is to develop a faculty-wide concept of study programs and to focus on the shift in education from learning facts to learning how to think. He also wants to ensure that development activities at the Bohunice campus are strategically managed so that they do not negatively impact the faculty.
Michal Bulant, currently Vice-Rector for Education and Quality at MU, works within the faculty as a Lecturer II at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. He has been active in faculty and University bodies since 2001 and also has experience from the commercial sector. He enjoys teaching and focuses strongly on working with high school students.
“After years in the leadership of the faculty and University, I believe I’ve gained enough experience to run for dean. My goal is for the Faculty of Science to be recognized as one that offers excellent education. I think we need to actively engage in discussions on how to promote interest in science and technology disciplines,” he said at the start of the discussion.
The third candidate, Karel Kubíček, works at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics and, like Bláha, has previously run for dean. As a student, he was active in University governance as a member of academic senates. After completing doctoral and postdoctoral studies abroad, he returned to the Faculty of Science in 2007 and has since been active again as a senator.
“I want to develop conditions at the faculty so that it’s a great place for people who bring new ideas and know how to transfer them into teaching. My goal is for us not to be seen as a stagnating faculty, and when we make commitments, not to have to ask later why they weren’t fulfilled,” Kubíček said.
The first question from the debate’s moderator concerned potential vice-deans. All three candidates declined to reveal specific names, but Bláha and Kubíček indicated they would reduce the current number of eight vice-deans.
The first question from the audience asked what they would do differently from the current leadership and what improvements they would make as dean.
Karel Kubíček said three issues were, in his view, easily fixable: internal communication and cooperation with institute directors, standardizing support for prestigious grant applications, and ensuring predictability and stability in the announcement of selection procedures.
Luděk Bláha noted that serving as vice-dean had shown him how naïve some of his earlier ideas for change had been.
“Among other things, I would not allow re-accreditations of study programs without broad discussion, and I repeatedly call for greater cooperation in teaching within the faculty — that is, shared credits.”
Michal Bulant added that, at the university level, the Faculty of Science is seen as lacking a coherent strategy for its overall direction.
“I support the strong role of departments, but the faculty must have a strategy.”
Other questions addressed topics such as how the candidates plan to improve teacher education in science subjects, which in turn influences secondary school students’ interest in these disciplines.
For Michal Bulant, this is an important issue:
“I have to praise the faculty for what it has done for teachers. There’s more focus on practical experience now. However, teacher training for secondary schools must be grounded in expertise.”
Luděk Bláha believes that the faculty sends excellent ambassadors into schools and prepares them to foster the best possible relationships with their students.
“We mustn’t overemphasize expertise at the expense of personality development. In addition to content, we need to strengthen practical training — both internally and with partner faculties that support us.”
Other questions touched on motivating researchers to apply for grants, the future of the Kotlářská campus, and sensitive topics such as selection processes for institute directors, as well as handling bullying or other inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
The election of the new dean is scheduled for the October 20 meeting of the Academic Senate.
Photo: Jiří Salik Sláma
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