On Friday, 13 February, the event “Holding Power Responsibly: Leadership, Integrity, and Safety in Higher Education” took place at the British Embassy in Prague and was organized by NKC – Gender & Science. The meeting focused on addressing the abuse of power and strengthening accountability mechanisms in higher education. Representing our faculty were the Vice-Dean for International Studies, Lifelong Learning and Personal Development, Associate Professor Jitka Žurmanová, and the Faculty Ombudsperson, Nikola Burkovská, MA.
Associate Professor Jitka Žurmanová, Vice-Dean for International Studies, Lifelong Learning and Personal Development
The keynote speaker was Anna Bull from The 1752 Group, who shared insights on addressing abuses of power and strengthening accountability mechanisms within higher education. The panel discussion addressed why professional boundaries and social safety are essential in higher education institutions, particularly in relation to leadership responsibility and institutional culture.The key challenges include a lack of transparency, an unwillingness to change, and a reluctance to acknowledge potential conflicts of interest.
Faculty Ombudsperson, Nikola Burkovská, MA.
A positive development highlighted during the discussion is that more and more universities and research institutions are appointing ombudspersons, who can play an important role in strengthening accountability and helping to build an atmosphere of trust and openness within academic environments. The event was attended on behalf of the Faculty of Science, Charles University by the Vice-Dean Jitka Žurmanová and the Faculty Ombudsperson Nikola Burkovská.
