On 20 May 2026, the first meeting of the Scientific Board of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology took place, marking the beginning of a new term under the current dean. The meeting had not only a ceremonial, but above all a working character. Members of the Scientific Board received their appointment decrees, while discussions were opened on the key academic and strategic topics that will shape the faculty in the coming years.

The Scientific Board of a faculty represents one of the most important academic bodies, traditionally associated mainly with habilitation and professorial appointment procedures. However, the inaugural meeting of the new Board demonstrated that its role may be considerably broader. The discussion therefore focused not only on the formal framework of habilitation and professorial proceedings, but also on opportunities for a more intensive involvement of the Scientific Board in the Faculty’s development, improving study programmes, supporting science and research, and strengthening of cooperation with industry and professional practice.

A significant part of the meeting was devoted to doctoral studies, the education of young researchers, and the Faculty’s ability to attract and continuously develop talented doctoral students and early-career scientists. This area is crucial for the future of the Faculty, as the quality of doctoral education directly influences research performance, generational renewal within academic departments, and the Faculty’s ability to contribute to solving current technical, environmental, and social challenges.

The agenda also included the presentation of plans aimed at simplifying the administrative processes related to habilitation and professorial appointment procedures. The goal of these measures is to enhance transparency, predictability and efficiency, while maintaining the high professional standards inherently connected with these procedures.

The Faculty leadership perceives the new Scientific Board as an important professional partner. Its members bring not only extensive academic and scientific expertise, but also experience from other universities, research institutions, public administration, and professional practice. This combination of expertise, perspective, and external insight can provide valuable support for the Faculty in shaping its future direction.

“The Scientific Board is not merely a body assessing qualification procedures. We want it to become a platform for open professional discussion about the future of the Faculty, the quality of education and research, and about how a Faculty of Civil Engineering should respond to the changes in the construction industry and society,” said the Dean of the Faculty, Associate Professor Karel Šuhajda, during the meeting.

 

Composition of the Scientific Board of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, BUT

Internal Members

• Assoc. Prof. Ing. Karel Šuhajda, Ph.D.  – Chairman
• Assoc. Prof. Mgr. Tomáš Apeltauer, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Miroslav Bajer, CSc.
• Prof. Ing. Rostislav Drochytka, CSc., MBA, dr.h.c.
• Assoc. Prof. JUDr. Ing. Zdeněk Dufek, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Petr Hlavínek, CSc., MBA
• Prof. Ing. Jiří Kala, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Jana Korytárová, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Drahomír Novák, DrSc.
• Prof. Ing. Jan Pěnčík, Ph.D.
• Assoc. Prof. Ing. Otto Plášek, Ph.D.
• Prof. RNDr. Pavel Rovnaník, Ph.D.
• Assoc. Prof. Ing. Aleš Rubina, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Pavel Schmid, Ph.D.
• Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jan Vaněrek, Ph.D.
• Prof. Miroslav Vořechovský, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Jiří Zach, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Jozef Kaiser, Ph.D.
• Prof. Ing. Martin Weiter, Ph.D.

External Members

• Prof. Ing. Jana Frankovská, Ph.D., Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Prof. Ing. Renáta Heralová, Ph.D., Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Prof. Ing. arch. Zdeněk Jiran, Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Assoc. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. Hana Krasna, TU Wien
• Ing. Jan Nováček, Ph.D., Stráský, Hustý a partneři s.r.o.
• Ing. Lubomír Šabatka, CSc., IDEA StatiCa s.r.o.
• Lt. Col. Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jiří Štoller, Ph.D., University of Defence, Faculty of Military Technology
• Dr. Ing. Antonín Tůma, Morava River Board corp.
• Prof. Ing. Eva Vejmelková, Ph.D., Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Martin Vlach, Ph.D., Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

 

The first meeting of the new Scientific Board symbolically opened a new chapter in the development of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology. In the coming period, the Faculty aims to build on the professional strength of its departments, further develop a high-quality scientific environment, support young talents, and strengthen its role as a respected partner for academia, the public sector, and construction industry.