In this interview, Kateřina Kashi, Chair of the Academic Senate of VSB-TUO, speaks about trust, responsibility, and the importance of academic self-governance, while reminding us that the Senate belongs to the entire academic community.
The first time we spoke was at the end of 2020. At that time, you said that the Senate should operate independently and fairly, and serve as a support for the academic community. Have you managed to fulfil that vision?
That is probably not a question I should answer myself. I believe people should not evaluate their own work; that is primarily for the academic community that entrusted us with its confidence. What I can say is that I have always tried to ensure that the Senate is not merely a body that formally approves submitted materials, but rather a place for genuine discussion, where no one is afraid to ask difficult questions. We do not always have to agree. What matters is that we listen to each other and make decisions with a sense of responsibility toward the university as a whole. Whether we succeeded in doing that is for others to judge.
Looking back on your previous term, what are you most proud of?
I would not point to a single specific decision. What makes me happiest is that we were able to work together despite differing opinions. The Senate consists of people from different faculties, with different experiences and priorities, and I see that diversity as its greatest strength. I always wanted everyone to have the opportunity to express their views. That does not mean everyone must be satisfied with the outcome, but they should know they have been heard and that decisions are made for clear reasons.
Was there anything you were unable to achieve, or anything that surprised you during your time in the Senate?
Of course, there were things that did not turn out the way we had hoped. A university is a complex organism, and every change has more implications than may appear at first glance.Sometimes you assume that if something makes sense, it will be easy to change. In practice, however, things are often different. I have learned that patience and the search for common ground are sometimes more important than trying to push through a solution at any cost.
“The Academic Senate serves as an important counterbalance to the university management. Not in the sense of rivalry, but as a partner.”
For many employees and students, the Academic Senate remains something of a mystery. How would you simply explain why it is important for the university?
The Academic Senate is a place where the academic community can genuinely influence how the university operates. It takes part in key decisions regarding the university’s direction, budget, and rules, and it also elects the Rector. At the same time, it serves as an important counterbalance to the university management. Not in the sense of competition, but partnership. We may share the same goals while holding different views on how to achieve them. To me, that is the essence of academic self-governance.
What issues have employees and students most frequently brought to the Senate in recent years? Have their priorities changed?
The core topics remain largely the same. Employees are mainly concerned with working conditions, funding, and the overall functioning of the university. Students focus on the quality of education and the environment in which they study. What they have in common is the need to know that their voices matter. They also want to understand why certain decisions are being made. I believe clear and transparent communication is more important today than ever before.
Do you think the academic community has a better understanding of what the Senate does today than it did several years ago?
I would like to say yes, but there is still room for improvement. The Senate usually attracts wider attention only when a major issue arises. I would like people to know that they can approach their senators at any time. Publishing minutes and resolutions is not enough. We also need to explain clearly what we do and why we do it.
You have now been elected Chair of the Academic Senate of VSB-TUO for a second time. Do you see that as a vote of confidence from your colleagues?
Of course, it makes me very happy, and I greatly appreciate it. However, I do not see it as confirmation that I am doing everything correctly. Above all, I see it as a commitment. Trust is not something you earn once and keep forever. It has to be earned again and again through your work.
What priorities are you bringing into this new term?
I do not want to come in with grand declarations about revolutionary changes. It is more important to build on what already works and improve areas where we see room for growth. I consider open communication, transparent decision-making, and active involvement of the academic community to be essential. I want the Senate to remain a respected partner to the university management while preserving its independence and critical perspective.
Are there topics the Senate should focus on more in the coming years?
I believe we should pay greater attention to the environment we create at the university.
We often discuss strategies, budgets, and regulations, but we should not forget that behind all of these are real people, students and employees, who spend a significant part of their lives here.
A university should not only be an excellent educational and research institution. It should also be a good place for the people who make it what it is.
What motivates you in your work within the Senate? And how do you balance Senate duties with your work at the Department of Management, teaching, and supervising students?
I am motivated by the opportunity to influence certain things and to see the university from a different perspective than the one I have in my everyday work at the department. Balancing all these roles is not always easy. Sometimes I wish the day had a few more hours. Working with students reminds me who we are here for, while the Senate helps me better understand the university as a whole. And I still enjoy it. If I did not, I probably would not have run for a second term.
Over the years, you have met many people from across the university through your work in the Senate. How has this experience influenced you professionally and personally?
It has taught me to look at things from multiple perspectives. Each faculty has different needs and priorities, and you quickly realize that what seems obvious in your own workplace may be completely different elsewhere. I have learned to listen more and not assume that my first opinion is automatically the best one. I have also become more aware that every decision affects real people and their work. Thanks to the Senate, I have met many interesting and inspiring people throughout the university, and among them I have even made new friends.
If there were one thing you would like students and employees to know about the Academic Senate, what would it be?
That the Academic Senate is not some distant institution that exists on its own. It is their Senate. The people serving in it were elected to represent their interests. Students and employees can approach them not only with problems, but also with ideas, suggestions, or alternative viewpoints. Because meaningful change often begins with a simple question: “Could this be done differently?”
At the end of our interview six years ago, you said you wished people would communicate, listen to one another, and bring forward constructive ideas. Does that wish still hold true today?
It does. Perhaps even more so than back then. Over the years, I have become convinced that communication is not just about having the opportunity to express your own opinion. Above all, it is about the willingness to listen to opinions we disagree with. I hope we do not lose the ability to have open discussions, to ask questions, and to accept that things will not always go our way. And I would add one more thing: I hope we do not become indifferent. Because a university is not made up of buildings, strategies, or regulations. It is made up of people. And what kind of place it becomes depends, above all, on us.
Text: Barbora Urbanovská
Photo: Petr Šimčík