From Labs to Life: PhD Journeys Unplugged
From coffee breaks to career tips, students explored the twists and turns of the PhD journey with those who’ve walked the path before them.
The Faculty of Science replaces Bachelor's theses in chemistry with a final project
The Faculty of Science of Masaryk University is introducing an innovative way of completing Bachelor's studies, replacing the traditional Bachelor's thesis with a final project. This step addresses the need for a greater emphasis on experimental and creative activities, practical skills, and students' analytical thinking. The change now applies to the following programmes: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Technology of Materials for Conservation – Restoration and Environment and Health. Students can also carry out their final projects during placements abroad, increasing international cooperation and mobility.
Final projects will offer greater publication opportunities and grant involvement due to the ability to influence or prevent publication, facilitating collaboration with external companies. The renewed state final exam will include two parts: the presentation of the final project and the unchanged theoretical part. This approach encourages original intellectual creation, presentation skills, and the ability to defend results, which provides practical skills and prepares students for scientific practice.
The Faculty has been striving for this change since 2020, and now it has been approved by the MU Board of Internal Evaluation just in time for students of chemistry programmes to benefit from it in the academic year 2024/25. The change brings a significant shift in the quality and form of completion of undergraduate studies at our Faculty. It is an example of a modern approach to higher education that reflects current market needs and developments in scientific fields. The Faculty will continue to evaluate the needs of other Bachelor's degree programmes and will support change where it would bring the expected qualitative improvement.
