doc. RNDr. David Svoboda, Ph.D.
Vice-Dean for Undergraduate Studies
| Telephone: | 549 49 4383 |
|---|---|
| Email: | svoboda2FiwbQJvv@fipSJC4FBxx.muniw8--r0_FB.cz |
Translated using 
Machine-translated page for increased accessibility for English questioners.
Prevention of sexual harassment
One of the priority areas of the MU Gender Equality Plan 2025–2028 is measures to combat sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence.
Sexual harassment is a very serious form of inappropriate behaviour and is not tolerated on the premises of Masaryk University. Sexual harassment is defined as any form of unsolicited verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, the purpose or effect of which is to infringe upon a person’s dignity, particularly when it creates an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, humiliating or offensive environment. The term ‘sexual harassment’ may include sexual coercion, unwanted sexual attention and sexist behaviour (the application of gender stereotypes with sexual undertones). In an academic setting, it may occur between students, between lecturers, between staff members, by lecturers towards students, or by students towards lecturers.
In a higher education setting, it can take various forms, such as unsolicited and repeated sexual advances, coercing sexual behaviour in exchange for something in return (e.g. favourable exam conditions), inappropriate comments directed at an individual or a group based on gender, gender or sexual orientation, unsolicited emails, photographs or messages of a sexual nature, inappropriate jokes about sex and obscene gestures, the exposure of breasts, buttocks or genitals in public, rape or attempted rape, and unwanted touching.
Detailed information on sexual harassment can be found on the MU website Sexual harassment
The handling of cases of sexual harassment on the MU campus is governed by the university’s guidelines.
Network of contact persons at MU
MU has established a network of contact persons who provide counselling to victims, witnesses and those accused of sexual harassment; they are professionally trained in this area and take an active interest in the subject. In terms of communicating with anyone involved in such a case, all contact persons have completed bespoke workshops run by the organisation Konsent and are also thoroughly familiar with the process for handling such cases within MU. The contact person will listen to you, introduce you to the support resources available both within and outside MU, depending on your specific situation, and explain the resolution process within MU. All of this should help you make an informed decision on how to proceed with your situation. If you wish to refer your case for resolution within MU, the contact person is ready to assist you with this.
You can contact the counsellors working at the MU Counselling Centre, counsellors from individual faculties, and a counsellor from the Student Chamber of the Academic Senate. You are free to choose whichever contact person you wish to approach, whether you are a student or a member of staff. As well as being able to choose whether you wish to speak to a woman or a man, you can also choose whether to use a contact from your faculty or a contact person from outside it.
The faculty contact persons at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, are:
PhDr. Ing. Silvie Szwedová
Head of HR
| Telephone: | 549 49 1803 |
|---|---|
| Email: | szwedovaPSob_QA9i@fi1Tf0WPR2s.munimfS21Osr6.cz |
News, events, courses
Workshops on Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Academic Settings I
The Administrative and Management Support Department of the MU Rector’s Office, in collaboration with the MU University-wide Rights Protection Unit, is organising a new series of face-to-face workshops entitled ‘Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Academic Settings I’.
A workshop for MU staff will take place on 8 June 2026 from 10.00 to 13.30. This is a practical, interactive workshop aimed at providing staff with information and introducing tools that form part of the preventative measures for addressing sexual harassment, bullying and violence in academic settings. The workshop serves as an introduction to the issue of sexual harassment. Together, we will explain what can be considered sexual harassment and violence, whether perpetrated by MU staff or by students. We will discuss what to do if we witness problematic behaviour, how to communicate with both victims and perpetrators of such harmful behaviour, and where to turn for help. Participants will practise role-playing scenarios, learn about practical information from the Czech Republic and abroad, share their views and opinions, and leave better equipped to ensure they do not become part of the problem. You can register via the MUNI Internal Training platform.
A workshop for PhD students will take place on 11 June 2026 from 10:00 to 13:30. You can find the registration form on the MUNI Internal Training platform.
Autumn ‘Respect All the Way to the Attic’ Workshops I and II
The Human Resources Department of the Rector’s Office, in collaboration with the University-wide Rights Protection Unit at Masaryk University, is announcing the autumn dates for the ‘Respect Right Up to the Attic’ workshops.
On 24 November 2025, the ‘Respect on Campus I’ workshop will take place, serving as an introduction to the topic of sexual harassment. The aim is to provide staff with information and tools that form the preventative aspect of addressing sexual harassment, bullying and violence on campus. Participants will learn what constitutes sexual harassment and violence, whether perpetrated by university staff or by students. They will also learn what to do if they witness problematic behaviour, how to deal with victims and perpetrators of such behaviour, and who to turn to for help. They will practise role-play scenarios and learn practical information from both the Czech Republic and abroad. The registration form can be found on the CERPEK website.
On 8 December 2025, a follow-up workshop, ‘Respect Right to the Top II’, will take place. This is intended for those who will be attending or have attended the ‘Respect Right to the Top I’ workshop. The application form can be found on the CERPEK website.
Spring workshops ‘Respect Right Up to the Attic I’ and ‘Respect Right Up to the Attic II’
In 2025, CERPEK, in collaboration with the University-wide Rights Protection Unit at Masaryk University, is once again announcing new dates for the “Respect on Campus” workshops.
On 22 April 2025, the ‘Respect on Campus I’ workshop will take place, serving as an introduction to the topic of sexual harassment. The aim is to provide staff with information and tools that form part of the preventative approach to addressing sexual harassment, bullying and violence on campus. Participants will learn what constitutes sexual harassment and violence, whether perpetrated by university staff or by students. They will also learn what to do if they have witnessed problematic behaviour, how to deal with victims and perpetrators of such behaviour, and who to turn to for help. They will practise role-play scenarios and gain practical insights from both the Czech Republic and abroad. The registration form can be found on the CERPEK website.
On 6 May 2025, a follow-up workshop, ‘Respect All the Way to the Top II’, will take place. This is intended for those who will be attending or have attended the ‘Respect All the Way to the Top I’ workshop. The application form can be found on the CERPEK website.
New FI e-training course: Prevention of gender-based violence
What forms of violence fall under the term ‘gender-based violence’? Could you encounter it on campus?
We have put together an interactive training course on the MU IS platform for staff at the Faculty of Informatics, which explains the phenomenon of gender-based violence and offers strategies on how to respond should they encounter it on campus. The content was developed by the Nora Gender Information Centre, o.p.s. The training materials were produced as part of the project ‘Prevention of gender-based violence in the workplace at public research institutions and universities in the Czech Republic’, which was funded by Norway through the Norwegian Funds.
Topics covered in the course include, for example, gender-based prejudice against women in academic and research settings, sexual harassment, psychological forms of gender-based violence, prejudice against women in the recruitment process, and gender-balanced language.
You can findthe online course on the prevention of gender-based violence HERE.
‘Respect All the Way to the Attic I’ Workshop
On 14 November 2024, the ‘Respect Right Up to the Attic I’ workshop will take place; this is an introductory workshop on the topic of sexual harassment.
The aim of this practical, interactive workshop is to provide staff with information and tools that form part of the preventative approach to tackling sexual harassment, bullying and violence on campus. Participants will learn what constitutes sexual harassment and violence, whether perpetrated by university staff or by students. They will also learn what to do if they witness problematic behaviour, how to deal with victims and perpetrators of such behaviour, and who to turn to for help. They will practise role-playing scenarios and gain practical insights from both the Czech Republic and abroad.
You can find the application form on the CERPEK website.
‘Respect All the Way to the Attic II’ Workshop
On 2 December 2024, the ‘Respect Right to the Top II’ workshop will take place, which is a follow-up workshop on the topic of sexual harassment.
The aim of this practical, interactive workshop is to provide university staff with information and tools that form part of the preventative approach to tackling sexual harassment, bullying and violence on campus. The workshop is intended for those who have already attended the introductory workshop ‘Respect on Campus I’. We will explore the topic of gender-based violence and sexual harassment in a broader context and link it to related themes such as intersectionality, physical and psychological violence, economic and financial violence, and sexual and cyber violence. We will deepen our understanding of the bystander effect and, through a practical exercise, practise how to speak to a victim of harassment. Real-life stories from the university environment will enable us to recognise even less obvious forms of gender-based harassment; we will also discuss the most common myths surrounding victim-blaming and secondary victimisation.
You can find the registration form on the CERPEK website.
The Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University is a proud recipient of the HR Excellence in Research Award, a European certificate of quality for HR processes.
For more information, please visit HR Award at the Faculty of Economics, Masaryk University