Martin Klimánek officially assumed the role of Rector of Mendel University in Brno today and will lead the university for the next four years. The Academic Senate elected him as the university’s 35th rector in November last year. A new team of vice-rectors also takes office alongside him as of April 1.

The new rector’s main priorities include strengthening the quality of education and research activities, developing cooperation with industry, and modernizing the university environment.

“I want our results to have a clear impact in practice and for us to fully utilize the potential of our university enterprises as living laboratories. We will actively create a responsible and sustainable environment in our society and communicate our goals openly,” said Rector Martin Klimánek.

Together with the new rector, the university will be led by two vice-rectors and three vice-rectors (male). The new leadership also brings changes to the structure of individual vice-rector portfolios.

University leadership:

• Hana Středová, Vice-Rector for Education
  Responsible for the development of study programs, coordination of educational activities, accreditation processes, and quality of education.
• Robert Pokluda, Vice-Rector for Research and Creative Activities
  Responsible for the development of research and doctoral studies, effective project support, and knowledge transfer into practice.
• Martina Rašticová, Vice-Rector for Internationalization
  Responsible for strengthening strategic international partnerships, involvement in the European university alliance, and creating a multicultural environment.
• Petr Kupec, Vice-Rector for Strategy, Sustainability and Special-Purpose Activities
  Responsible for coordinating the strategy of responsible and sustainable development, cooperation concepts, and the development of university enterprises and other special-purpose facilities.
• Jiří Skládanka, Vice-Rector for Quality, Communication and Human Resources
  Responsible for supporting the working environment and HR management, communication strategy, quality evaluation, and risk management.

Martin Klimánek was born in Brno in July 1977. He graduated from the Matyáš Lerch Grammar School in Brno and subsequently enrolled at the former Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, studying Forest Engineering. During his studies, he worked for the Forest Management Institute and later for a company focused on preparing forest management plans for forest owners.

His professional focus includes applied geoinformatics in precision forestry and spatial decision support. He has also worked on topics such as digital terrain modeling, topographic modeling, spatial data infrastructure, location-based services, forest thematic cartography, and the use of unmanned aerial systems in forest planning.

He has been working full-time at the university since 2003, completed his Ph.D. in 2006, and was subsequently appointed Head of the Department of Geoinformation Technologies at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology. He habilitated in Forest Management in 2013 and has served as Vice-Rector since 2014 for three consecutive terms. His previous responsibilities included education, strategy, development, special-purpose facilities, and later also sustainability.

Photos available for download (source: MENDELU Photo Bank).

Media contact:
Mgr. Jiřina Studenková
+420 773 207 777
jirina.studenkova@mendelu.cz
Department of Communication and Marketing, MENDELU