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In addition to students and faculty, Brno University of Technology (BUT) is also made up of administrative and support staff whose work keeps the university running. The “Backstage BUT” series introduces non-academic staff members who have dedicated their careers to the Brno University of Technology. At BUT, Kateřina Myslivcová ensures that sustainability is not just a strategy, but an everyday reality. What she enjoys most about her work is connecting students, staff, and operations, and turning ideas into concrete results. Kateřina Myslivcová ensures that sustainability is more than just a strategy at BUT. | Author: Václav Koníček
I’m essentially a fast link between people, information, and data. My main task is to ensure that BUT’s sustainability strategy is known both within the university and externally, and that everyone understands it and finds something relevant to them in it. I coordinate the Sustainability Office, which ensures that the strategy does not remain merely on paper and that its goals are gradually fulfilled. I mainly work on communication, keeping track of developments, promoting projects and activities and at the same time monitoring what has been successful and where there is room for further improvement.
The first major task was to coordinate all stakeholders – representatives of the faculties, university departments, and university leadership – and jointly develop a sustainability strategy. We only had four months to do this, so it was quite intense – we collected data and supporting materials, communicated with the faculties, and tried to understand everything that was already happening at the university. Of course, sustainability had been addressed at BUT before, but not in a comprehensive way. The sustainability strategy tied it all together and set a clear direction for where we want to move forward.
The Sustainability Office was established in 2025 and, besides me, consists of specialist Tereza Kučerová. Sustainability is overseen by Vice Rector Milan Houser , and our collaboration works wonderfully—it is built on trust, independence, and an occasional sense of humor. A great source of support is analyst Petr Kouřil, who, although not part of the team, has contributed significantly to the strategy and supports us on a long-term basis.
We work closely with the Facilities Department, marketing, investments, project support, and anyone else who helps us put sustainability into practice. We have a network of ambassadors across the faculties and departments with whom we share ideas and inspiration. And I’m delighted that we’re seeing concrete results.
Academics and staff are essential to our work. They often contribute their own ideas, research projects, and expertise, allowing us to test new approaches directly in practice. Their involvement takes place through projects, campaigns, and the Sustainable University website, where they can find inspiration and showcase their work. We also collaborate with students, who last year analyzed dining options at BUT and this year will participate in a campaign on responsible water, waste, and energy management. Young people are mainly interested in practical solutions that improve everyday life – and we show that this, too, is part of sustainability.
People sometimes view sustainability purely as an environmental issue and may therefore be skeptical of it. We don’t want to convince anyone, but rather to explain the topic of sustainability clearly and offer inspiration. We organize various events, campaigns, and meetings. As an example, I can mention a workshop for maintenance staff who care for green spaces. Even those who were initially rather skeptical about the topic eventually appreciated the opportunity for open discussion and sharing experiences.
I studied landscape architecture at MENDELU, so I’ve been involved with environmental issues for a long time. I wanted to develop professionally and explore broader areas of sustainability and ESG – and how they are managed in terms of ethics and transparency. At the South Moravian Regional Authority, in addition to my main duties, I served as a corporate social responsibility ambassador, which inspired me to dedicate myself fully to this field. What brought me to BUT was the opportunity to utilize my organizational and negotiation skills and manage processes that are close to my heart.
It’s hard to pick just one project. For example, I really enjoyed the waste analysis with PhD students from the Faculty of Information Studies, but I’m most proud of the Rector’s apiary. I’m glad we managed to convince the administration in a short time and implement the project within two months. A big thank you goes to beekeeper Pavel Ilka and my colleagues from operations, who willingly helped me. Jirka Dukát from the Marketing Department came up with a creative design for the hives. The apiary not only supports biodiversity but also has a technical dimension. Thanks to the ApiVčelař 4.0 technology developed by experts from FEKT, we monitor data from hive scales, including weight, growth, temperature, and humidity. This demonstrates how sustainability can be integrated with technology. In addition, a group of people interested in beekeeping has formed, and we meet regularly.
It’s probably funny, but when I really need to switch off and unwind, I find enjoyment in a very simple activity. I enjoy vacuuming and not thinking about anything. Of course, I also spend time with my family as usual. I enjoy sports and, lately, renovating our house. To be honest, I don’t really know how to relax completely, so these little activities help me unwind and recharge.
I don’t feel any barriers at a technical university, and I’ve actually never thought about it that way. There are plenty of talented and inspiring women here. There are fields and areas where there may be more men, but I’m used to working with male teams as well. I feel that diversity and collaboration work naturally here.
I wish every young woman the opportunity to do what she enjoys and what she’s good at. And above all, to persevere. BUT recognizes the value of women and supports their roles so that their contributions are known and discussed. Capable women are here – and even though this series is called “Backstage BUT,” it shows that they aren’t hidden in the background and can fully participate.
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