Informace o univerzitě

Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno can pride itself on the longest history of agriculture and forestry studies on the Czech lands. It was established in 1919 as the University of Agriculture in Brno and it maintained this name till 1994. Its constitution completed the long term effort to institute an agricultural university in Moravia, which has, from time immemorial, held an important post among the countries with the most developed agricultures in the Central Europe. Since its establishment, it has undergone a range of structural as well as curricula changes, and provided top quality education to more than 20,000 agricultural engineers, 6,500 forestry engineers and 5,500 engineers of economics so as to be employable in a variety of spheres of the national economy and the economic practice.

Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno (MUAF in Brno) is divided into four faculties and one institute. Faculty of Agronomy, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Business and Economics and Institute of Lifelong Learning are all located in Brno. Faculty of Horticulture is located in Lednice. The total number of students enrolled at all four faculties was almost 8,000 in 2004.

The original education programme drew on the university's two main fields of interest: economics and forestry. Nevertheless, over the time the programme has significantly expanded. Gradually new study programmes were introduced and consequently modified so that they better satisfied the needs and technical orientations of the university graduates. Presently the university has been accredited study programmes with 25 Bachelor's fields of study, 12 study programmes with 27 follow-up Master's fields of study, 13 study programmes with 17 5-years Master's fields of study and 19 study programmes with 29 postgraduate fields of study. Within the individual study programmes students can assume a technical track including a variety of technical courses, which have been curricularly modified with regard to the needs arising from the Czech Republic having joined the European Union. Through programmes of lifelong learning the university ensures that its graduates as well as a great number of other interested people can refresh their knowledge and skills, and acquire new qualifications. In general, the concept of lifelong learning at MUAF in Brno copies the curricula of the accredited study programmes so that the overlapping knowledge and skills can also be acquired in the study programmes of lifelong learning. Senior citizens can attend the University of Third Age established at MUAF in Brno. 

The solution of the science and research tasks complies with the long term prognosis and the scientific aims of the university and of the individual faculties, and covers the agricultural, forest, biological, economic and technical sciences. It is an open circle of scientific activities used in institutional research, in selection procedures of grant agencies, in research centers, and in international research programmes. In general, the research programme of MUAF in Brno follows the trends in contemporary development of the fundamental scientific fields, biology in particular, and their application in agricultural, forest, horticultural and economic sciences. In practice it means targeted managment of biological processes, effective use of non-renewable natural sources and production of renewable ones while sustaining the present standard of multifunctional agriculture and business. The main interest lies largely in the quality and safety of the agricultural products, foods in particular, in the context of ever-growing competition on the world agricultural market. In compliance with the outcomes of the Common agricultural policy of EU, the university's priority is the topics concerning multifunctional agriculture and forestry, and the implications of their production and outside production functions while shaping the landscape and developing the countryside.

Concerning the foreign relations, both university staff and students frequently visit partner universities in France, Poland, Austria, Germany, the USA, Great Britain and many other countries to study, attend conferences, participate in scholarship programmes or seek consultations. MUAF in Brno is a member of many prominent European organizations (CRE, ICA) and cooperative networks of schools with similar orientations. The university also participates in a large number of international programmes such as SOCRATES, LEONARDO DA VINCI, CEEPUS, AKTION, as well as many international projects.

In order to train students, conduct experiments and verify theories in practice, the university disposes of the University agriculture enterprise in Žabčice and the University forest enterprise Masarykův les in Křtiny. The complementary teacher training in technical subjects, the complementary teacher training for job trainers, education for senior citizens within the University of the Third Age and the educational courses tailored to the needs of general public are all in charge of  the Institute of Lifelong Learning, established in 2003. Both the Botanical garden and the Arboretum frequently serve the teaching purposes. All persons at the university are welcome to make use of the extensive library, the magazine reading room, and the modern information and computer center which pertain to the Institute for Scientific Information. Automated systems of administration, the University information system and the SAP system, are run by a newly constituted Institute of Informatics and Communication Technologies. The Audiovisual center is responsible for producing video recordings for educational and research purposes, and runs the university film and video library. To preserve and present the university legacy to future generations is the task of the University archive.

The students dormitories are located primarily in Brno and Lednice. All students can take their meals in the university canteen. Sports activities are offered to students within the university courses and the university sports club.