Martin Švec will head the Faculty of Natural Sciences starting in November
The Academic Senate of the Faculty of Science at J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem has nominated RNDr. Martin Švec, Ph.D., as the candidate for the position of Dean of the Faculty of Science at UJEP for the 2026–2030 term. The current Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and statutory deputy to the dean was the sole candidate in the election.
The election of the candidate for dean took place at a meeting of the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkyně University, on June 3, 2026. Martin Švec, who has long served in the faculty’s leadership and is responsible for academic affairs, received the Senate’s support for his appointment as head of the faculty for the upcoming four-year term.
Despite the fact that Martin Švec had no opponent in the election, he presented a comprehensive and well-developed campaign platform to the faculty’s staff and students. His candidacy drew on the experience he gained during twelve years in the faculty’s leadership and focused primarily on supporting the people who make up the faculty, open and predictable communication, creating space for high-quality educational and research work, and the gradual simplification and digitization of faculty processes. He also addressed issues related to the future of higher education in the era of artificial intelligence, support for doctoral studies, strengthening research projects, and the faculty’s collaboration with regional partners.
“I did not enter this race as just another career move, but with the conviction that I can offer the faculty my experience and energy to further its development. I would like to be a dean who listens, communicates clearly, and creates the conditions for people to do their jobs as well as possible. The Faculty of Science relies on its staff and students. My priority is to foster an environment where they have the space to learn, conduct research, study, and come up with new ideas,” said Martin Švec following his election.
Martin Švec will succeed Assoc. Prof. Michal Varady as head of the UJEP Faculty of Science; Varady served as dean for the previous eight years.
“The Faculty of Science has undergone significant development in recent years, and I am convinced that under Martin Švec’s leadership, it will continue to succeed in this regard. His many years of experience in leading the faculty and his knowledge of how it operates create a solid foundation for the faculty’s further development in the areas of education, science, and cooperation with the region. I wish him plenty of energy, sound decisions, and the support of the entire academic community as he works to realize his vision for the faculty’s further development,” says the dean of the Faculty of Science, Assoc. Prof. Michaly Varady.
The Faculty of Science at UJEP was founded in 2005 and, over the two decades of its existence, has become a major center for education and research in the natural sciences in the Ústí nad Labem Region.
The following individuals have previously served as deans of the faculty:
Prof. RNDr. Stanislav Novák, CSc. (November 4, 2005 – October 31, 2006),
Prof. RNDr. Stanislav Novák, CSc. (November 1, 2006 – October 31, 2010),
Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Pavlík, CSc. (Nov. 1, 2010 – Oct. 31, 2018),
Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Michal Varady, Ph.D. (Nov. 1, 2018 – present).
Martin Švec will take office as head of the Faculty of Science at UJEP on November 1, 2026. He will be appointed to this position by the rector. “I sincerely congratulate Martin Švec on his election, wish him every success, and trust that he will build on the excellent work of his predecessors,” concludes Rector Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Koutský.