Brno’s Masaryk University, the Second Largest University in the Czech Republic, Celebrates Its Centenary

One hundred years ago, on January 28, 1919, a law was passed unanimously approving the founding of the University of Brno, bearing the name of President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. Photo: Campus Bohunice. Credit: Masaryk University. Licence: CC-BY.

Brno, Jan 29 (BD) – The university was founded in 1919 as the second in Czechoslovakia. Currently, Masaryk University, abbreviated as MU or MUNI, offers numerous study programs across nine faculties, including programs in English for international students.

Photo: Law establishing the university. Credit: Masaryk University.

On Monday, January 28, at 10 am, on the 100th anniversary of the university’s founding, a ceremony took place at the Faculty of Law. Commemorative medals were given to: Karol Mičieta, the rector of Comenius University in Bratislava; Ivo Medek, former rector of the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts; Václav Račanský, one of the founders of the Faculty of Informatic and the long-time head of the university’s Institute of Computer Science of MU; and Petr Fiala, the Emeritus Rector of Masaryk University who is currently the leader of the opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS).

The award ceremony will continue today, when Slovak President Andrej Kiska will receive a gold medal from the university at 10 am. After the ceremony, Kiska will talk with students at the Faculty of Social Studies.

The motto of the special centenary campaign is “Thanks MUNI”. Several events and activities in Brno will commemorate the founding, and a special blue tram will be touring the streets of Brno to commemorate the important day.

On 21 January, Czech Post issued a commemorative postage stamp with the rector’s sceptre. On Monday and today, a blue sphere will drop at the Brno Astronomical Clock on náměstí Svobody, every hour from 11h to 23h, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Masaryk University.

The celebrations will culminate on 15 June with a festival and the MUNI Homecoming 2019 at Brno Exhibition Center, an event for university alumni from the Czech Republic and abroad who would like to “reminisce a little bit and re-live their student life in a concentrated form,” according to the university’s Facebook page.

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