“I believe that the study and science of Mendel University will stimulate a change in thinking, which we urgently need for a sustainable life on our planet,” said Jan Mareš, Rector of the University. The campus will add bins for sorted waste, new green roofs, walls and other green components. In the area of catering, the university plans to increase the use of its own food production, from faculties and school enterprises. “Among the more costly items, we can mention the installation of photovoltaic panels, part of the cost will be covered by a subsidy. Another more expensive item is the planned electric vehicles in the service fleet,” Martin Klimanek, Vice-Rector for Strategy, Sustainability and Purposeful Activities, explained.

In the field of science and research, a Sustainable Research Decalogue will be developed. “In terms of the operation and administration of the University, further solutions are gradually being developed and implemented to digitise the institution in order to reduce the administrative burden on students and staff, and minimise the consumption of paper and toner. In terms of operational matters, a major challenge is the gradual conversion of all information on facilities and infrastructure into digital form, among other things, in order to optimise the management of the University’s assets,” the Vice-Chancellor outlined. The proposed measures should result in a gradual reduction of energy consumption and energy consumption, to conserve drinking water, to use rainwater and to minimise waste.

The MENDELU community is involved in shaping cultural heritage and implementing the concept of social responsibility. “We want to create a multicultural environment with the participation of international students and employees and at the same time be a quality and responsible employer. We aim to provide quality education with an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity of graduates, and to implement innovative research at our workplaces with global distribution of knowledge and knowledge transfer,” Klimánek described.

The University has started reporting on its sustainability activities with the MENDELU Sustainability Report 2022, the aim is to publish the report every year, in both Czech and English. A new feature in 2025 will be the appointment of a sustainability manager. A Sustainability Marketing Strategy 2025+ will be prepared in the same year. Due to the large number of events organised, a related MENDELU Sustainable Events Manual is also in preparation, which will offer recommendations and examples of good practice.

Since the end of 2024, Mendel University in Brno is also the head of the Working Group of the Czech Rectors’ Conference on Sustainability, with the Rector of MENDELU Jan Mareš as the guarantor and Vice-Rector Martin Klimánek as the secretary. The Working Group currently has 18 members, including representatives of Czech public and private universities. “MENDELU will share experience in the field of non-financial reporting in cooperation with the participating universities, for example, a unified structure of sustainability reports could be the outcome,” said Vice-Rector Klimánek.