Tomas Bata University in Zlín

How is the HR Excellence in Research Award progressing at FaME?

At the Faculty of Management and Economics (FaME) at Tomas Bata University in Zlín, work continues toward earning the HR Excellence in Research Award (HR Award), which confirms the quality of the environment for researchers and staff.

Recently, a GAP analysis was conducted—an assessment of the current state of affairs against the principles of the European Charter for Researchers. Academic staff at all career levels, doctoral students, and administrative staff participated in this process through questionnaires, workshops, and working groups. Discussions confirmed that the faculty stands on a strong foundation, with an open and collaborative environment, but also noted some variability in experiences across departments.

Overall, the results show that the main challenge is not the absence of rules, but rather their inconsistent application and a lower degree of systematicity in certain areas, such as mentoring, career development, staff recruitment, or balancing teaching and research. At the same time, it was confirmed that the work environment is perceived as relatively stable, though influenced by external factors such as funding and project uncertainty.

Based on these findings, an Action Plan is now being prepared, which will include specific measures for further development. The document will be discussed by the faculty’s governing bodies in the coming period and subsequently submitted as part of the HR Award application.

The entire process represents an important opportunity for further systematic improvement of the work and research environment at the faculty and is based on the involvement of the broader academic community. We thank everyone who has contributed to winning this award.