Mendel University in Brno (Czech: Mendelova univerzita v Brně) is located in Brno, Czech Republic. It was founded on 24 July 1919 on the basis of the former Tábor Academy. It now consists of five faculties and one institute - the Faculty of AgriSciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Horticulture, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies and Institute of Lifelong Education. It is named since 1994 after Gregor Johann Mendel, the botanist and "father of genetics", who was active in this city during his lifetime.[3]
In June 2020, the university was included in the QS World University Rankings top 1,000 for the first time, placed #701-750.[4]
History
Established on July 24, 1919, the university initially known as the University of Agriculture is the oldest agricultural school in Czechoslovakia. Renamed in the mid-1990s to honor Gregor Johann Mendel, reflecting its strong heritage in the agricultural sciences. It began with programs in forestry and economics and has since expanded to include several specialized faculties and research institutes.
In 2010, it adopted the name Mendel University in Brno. The establishment of CEITEC MENDELU in 2011 integrated the university into the Central European Institute of Technology, enhancing its research capabilities.[5][6]
Scientific research tasks
The resolution of scientific research tasks is based on the long-term forecast and scientific orientation of the university and its faculties, covering the fields of agricultural, forestry, biological, economic, and technical sciences. It involves an open range of research activities, implemented in institutional research, competitive grant agency procedures, research centers, and international scientific research programs. The research program at MENDELU in Brno generally follows current trends in the development of basic scientific disciplines, especially biology and their applications in agricultural, forestry, horticultural, and economic sciences.
In practical implementation, it involves targeted management of biological processes, efficient utilization of non-renewable and creation of renewable natural resources in the development of sustainable, multifunctional agriculture and agribusiness. Emphasis is placed on the quality and safety of agricultural products in general, and food in particular. In the context of the conclusions of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, the university prioritizes topics related to multifunctional agriculture and forestry, the significance of their production and non-production functions in shaping the landscape and rural development."[7]
