History

"I wish the new agricultural university all the best in the pursuit it has newly undertaken."

T. G. Masaryk, first President of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1919

24 July 1919 The University of Agriculture in Brno (UA-Brno) is established by a decree of the National Assembly as a 4-year university with tuition in the Czech language and with two schools-agriculture and forestry. Before long, Brno had become a renowned centre of forestry education.

27 October 1920 Inauguration of studies at the Faculty of Forestry; enrolment of the first 208 students.

In the university's first years, a number of distinguished professionals from the field contributed with their knowledge and practical experience to earning a good reputation for the University's forestry education. Close interconnection of education and research brought notable achievements already in those first years. Czechoslovak forestry science was elevated to an international level, while preserving its mission: to serve the forestry profession.

1922 Establishment of the University Forest Estate (later the University Forestry Enterprise and now the Masaryk Forest Training Enterprise at Křtiny) by the transfer of the Adamov country estate. The school's 11,000 ha forest estate significantly promoted the image of forestry education in Brno. Construction of a second building for the University of Agriculture at Zemědělská Street No. 3 in Brno, home of the departments of the forestry school (1922-1924).

17 November 1939 Development is disrupted as Czech universities are closed following Nazi occupation.

3 May 1945 The University of Agriculture in Brno is reopened.

1 September 1950 Reorganisation of UA-Brno. Establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture with seven departments and the Faculty of Forestry with six departments. Economics, wood technology, silviculture, production, construction, technical and logging technology branches established. Economic, political and social changes create unstable situation for the University's management and operation at the end of the 1940s and beginning of the 1950s. Active members of the Czechoslovak Union of Youth and the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia replace politically unsuitable teachers.

1 June 1952 The Faculty of Forestry is transferred to the University of Civil Engineering in Brno, and the duration of study is extended to 5 years.

1 June 1956 The Faculty of Forestry is removed from the University of Civil Engineering and reincorporated into the University of Agriculture in Brno, which is renamed the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno (UAF-Brno).

1964 Student journal "LEF" founded. Reflecting even political changes in society, and thus banned in 1969.

1971 Foundation of the Hunting Training and Research Centre in Lednice.

1986 Adjustment of the curriculum. Construction of an off-site special-purpose workplace in Útěchov u Brna (today, a production centre for nailed truss constructions).

1989 Velvet Revolution. Organisation of a students' strike committee and establishment of faculty academic boards and the university academic board, later transformed into the current academic senates. Partial restoration of the university, faculties, departments, committees of the deans and the chancellor, and scientific management councils.

1990 Four-year Master's study extended to 5 years. Initiation of PhD programmes. Establishment of the faculty and university academic senates.

1991 Tuition in the independent field of Wood Engineering is begun.

1992 State Woodworking Products Testing Centre in Zlín transferred under the management of UAF in Brno as its wood research workplace.

1992 Reopening of the "Green" student club in the dormitory area (originally founded in 1969).

1993 The Faculty of Forestry renamed the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology.

1995 UAF in Brno is renamed Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno (MUAF).

1996 Opening of the wood technology pavilion (Building T) for use by wood technology departments.

1997 IDRISI Resource Center founded for three-dimensional data processing. Tuition in the independent field of Landscape Engineering is begun.

1999 A teaching centre for wood technology (Building P) begins operation.

2002 Reconstruction of Building B for the Forestry and Wood Technology Faculty is begun. Student journal "LEF" is re-established.

2006 Tuition in the independent field of Furniture Engineering is begun.

2008 Tuition in the independent field of Timber Structures and Wood Building Constructionn is begun.

2009 Tuition in the independent field of Arboriculture and Management of Natural Resources in the Tropics and Subtropics is begun.

2010 Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno (MUAF) is renamed Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU).

References:

MIKOVCOVÁ, A. Historie Mendelovy zemědělské a lesnické univerzity v Brně v datech a obrazech. Brno: Mendelova zemědělská a lesnická univerzita v Brně, 2004. 165 s. ISBN 80-7326-057-3

NOVÁK, V. (ed.). Památník Vysoké školy zemědělské v Brně k 10. výročí jejího založení: 1919-1929. Brno: VŠZ v Brně, 1930, s. 1-26.