Mgr. Petr Soják, Ph.D.
department head, assistant professor and course director | sojak@ped.muni.cz
Since I was a child I’ve climbed mountains and felt a connection with water. This is why I decided that my mission is to be a guide (whether clients or students). I support them in finding meaning in their life, learning new things, solving problems. At the department I deal with personal and social development, experiential learning, psychotherapy, and leadership. My inner drive is T.R.E.K.:Trust myself and those I am guiding, Restraint = have skills and abilities in my power, Enthusiasm to receive and give strokes, Know = possess and be able to convey information. CV and publications
doc. Mgr. Michal Kaplánek, Th.D.
assistant professor | kaplanek@ped.muni.cz
In 1988 I secretly joined the Catholic Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco. In my scientific work, I try to create the methodological preconditions for at least some educational institutions to become at the same time "home, school, playground and church" (Don Bosco). In the years 2004 – 2022, I was the guarantor of the study field of Leisure Pedagogy at the Faculty of Theology of the University of South Bohemia. I currently teach the subject Social Pedagogy at the Higher Vocational School of Social Pedagogy and Theology JABOK in Prague and from 2021 I am trying to develop the philosophical aspects of social pedagogy at our faculty. In addition, from September 2022 I will be working again at the Salesian Youth Center in Pilsen, which I founded in 1990.
doc. Mgr. Dušan Klapko, Ph.D.
deputy head, assistant professor | klapko@ped.muni.cz
I have worked at the Department of Social Education since 2005. I teach social theory, social inclusion, history of social education, methodology, and courses of experiential learning. I focus my research on textbook analysis, power discourse analysis in the socialisation of Roma children, the use of theatre in teaching, and the applications of experiential learning. Among my successes I count the successful completion of GAČR and NAKI projects for which I won the Europa Nostra award. CV and publications
doc. PhDr. Jiří Němec, Ph.D.
assistant professor | nemec@ped.muni.cz
I delight in studying topics that concern games, creativity, and experiential learning. Among other things, I teach my students how to explore the world and social-educational affairs using qualitative and quantitative techniques. In my research I focus on leisure-time education and strategies of teaching socially disadvantage pupils. I love nature and travelling, and am a keen runner, hiker, and ski-mountaineer. CV and publications
Mgr. Lenka Gulová, Ph.D.
assistant professor | gulova@ped.muni.cz
I dedicate my professional and civil life to the support of individuals and development of communities. For many years, my most powerful tool has been project planning, which allows me to effectively bind theory with practice. I have experience in working with government institutions as well as NGOs, and in addition to my thirty years of experience in this field, I am also an active member of a leisure-time society with some activities in environmental studies. Spirituality and faith, activation and motivation towards a meaningful life, and respect for others give hope to my life. Project Open University | CV and publications
Mgr. et Mgr. Veronika Kolaříková, Ph.D.
assistant professor | kolarikova@ped.muni.cz
I graduated with a master's degree in Sociology at the Faculty of Social Studies (Masaryk University) and I have completed my university studies at the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University in the doctoral degree programme Education (field of Social Education). In my profession, I deal with topics related to the sphere of everyday social life, then I am interested in the construction of national identity, the issues of social discourses, social practices, norms and social pathologies. I also study the issue of education of pupils from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, I study the topic of Roma identity and the topic of Holocaust of Roma and Sinti is also a subject of my interest. In addition, I am actively engaged in museum pedagogy, in which I use years of experience as an educator in culture. My research interest is also in the field of museums as social institutions in which dominant social discourses can be mirrored, diverse identities can be constructed, and in which diverse educational activities take place. I continuously publish the results of my research activities in journals and also participate in lecturing activities. In my free time I like to paint and draw.
Olha Klopota, Ph.D.
assistant professor | klopota@ped.muni.cz
Apparently, I am a social pedagogue not only by profession, but also by lifestyle. In my scientific and international activities, I focus on processes of social inclusion, methods of forming the inclusive competence of teachers, conditions of integration and self-realization in society of people with special educational needs and disabilities. In my interaction with students, I try to support them not only in acquiring professional knowledge and skills, but most importantly - in personal development, motivation and inspiration of of themselves and others.
Mgr. et Mgr. Markéta Košatková, Ph.D.
assistant professor | kosatkova@ped.muni.cz
Social education has taught me to seek the limits of the (im)possible and awakened my interest in intercultural and international education, diversity, discourse, and people’s actions within it. Professionally, I focus on the personal development of student teachers and the education of special-needs pupils. My work has been published in the Journal of the Czech Pedagogical Society and Social Education. Besides my doctoral studies, I am also a learner of photography and an active member of the Faculty and University Senate. CV and publications
Mgr. et Mgr. Martina Kurowski, Ph.D.
assistant professor | kurowski@ped.muni.cz
I am a social educator, assistant professor and implementer of several community projects. My research interests include the education of children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, the introduction of the profession of social pedagogue into schools and the issue of diversity in schools. I enjoy travelling and networking, which is why I am active in our department's international projects. Supporting the development of education in Ukraine | Aktion | Biography and publications
Mgr. Veronika Nýdrlová, Ph.D.
assistant professor | veronika.nydrlova@mail.muni.cz
I teach applied drama, especially a form called Playback Theatre. I also bring my professional experience from experiential education and therapeutic work to courses devoted to the personal development of teachers to be. I consider it important to connect social-edu activities with foreign experts. That is also why my dissertation thesis is dedicated to a community project taking place in the occupied territories of Palestine.
MgA. Lenka Polánková, Ph.D.
assistant professor and Drama Education profile director | polankova@ped.muni.cz
I focus on drama education; specifically on the Theatre of the Oppressed. Currently, I apply this method in socially excluded areas of the Czech Republic with an emphasis on the coexistence of majority and minority social groups; such as people brought up in institutional care and people without a home. I also implement a GAČR project which investigates family and school socialisation in socially excluded areas in the Czech Republic. CV and publications
Mgr. Barbara Strobachová, Ph.D.
assistant professor | strobachova@ped.muni.cz
I studied psychology and got my Ph.D. at the Faculty of Education, MU in Brno. I deal mostly with psychotherapy and personal development, but I also enjoy working with children and students, engaging in social entrepeneurship, projects, and communities. Visit me at Slunovrat School (for observations or teaching practice) or at the department if you need a consultation on personality psychology, developmental psychology, or psychodiagnostics. Or if you want to conduct your research using the not-so-common phenomenological methodology MCA. CV and publications
Mgr. František Trapl, Ph.D.
assistant professor, assistant and contact person for internationalisation and mobility | trapl@ped.muni.cz
As naturally as we link theory with practice, so do I wish to intertwine my life with my profession. Both of these combine into my pursuit of the global human (internationalisation), human dignity (values), human acceptance (inclusion), human respect (diversity) and the education of the human soul and spirit. CV and publications
Mgr. Tomáš Andrášik
asistent | andrasik@ped.muni.cz
Tomas is an educator and psychotherapist. At the Faculty of Education, he facilitates self-experiential personal development groups and teaches applied drama and improvisation. He is also a co-founder of the therapeutic center “Zázemí”, where he provides psychotherapy to individuals and groups. His research interests include Gestalt therapy, Gestalt Theatre, applied improvisation, and personality development in teacher training programs. He is also interested in the relationship between mental health, embodiment, and the educational processes and believes that the qualities of an educator are rooted within their own personality. CV and publications
Dana Jakubjanská DiS.
secretary | jakubjanska@ped.muni.cz
I graduated from the Higher School of Social Law in Brno, but for 21 years I worked for a private company where I was working with people. Students were always the alpha and omega for me. Since 2021, I have been returning to my field of study. My task in this institution is the position of secretary to the head of the Social Education department. I perform assistant work and administration. I am available for any questions related to the study and operation of our department.
Mgr. Lenka Ďulíková
doctoral candidate | lenkadulikova@mail.muni.cz
“Only he who nurtures the spirit of free thought and the sentiment of personal responsibility is fit to call himself a teacher.” (J. A. Comenius) My goal is to motivate others to realise their potential through hands-on experience and effective communication. I work as an instructor at adaptation courses, teach and explore channels of communication between teachers and teacher assistants. I coordinate the tutoring of socially disadvantaged children, co-manage summer camps and play the guitar. I draw fulfilment from these activities.
Mgr. Dagmar Krišová
doctoral candidate | krisova@ped.muni.cz
I work on gender-sensitive education and feminist pedagogy. My research focuses on students' awareness of gender equality and gender-sensitive education. As a member of the Theatre of the Oppressed Cabinet, I am involved in teaching and developing drama education and theatre of the oppressed in the department. Outside of academia, I collaborate with the associations Brno na Kole and Konsent. Towards gender sensitive education | The role of partnership approach and group work in preparing children for leaving the orphanage
Mgr. Žaneta Hrabcová
doctoral candidate | 515654@mail.muni.cz
I would like to live in a world where everyone is heard, regardless of age, gender or nationality. In order to contribute to such a reality, I focus on working with children and youths and try to build a safe space for them to express their authenticity to the fullest. I am also involved in non-formal education and I like to use non-traditional methods for this - given that football has been with me all my life, I am very close to the methodology of football3. All my professional activities take source from social pedagogy and offer me a variety of theoretical bases which to draw.
Zuzana Dvořáková
Practice coordinator | z.dvorakova@ped.muni.cz
I took my start to adulthood a bit from the other side. Instead of applying for university right after college, I decided to take a break from studies and while working, figure out what profession I would like to study in future. Wind took me to Glasgow, where I worked a few years in hospitality. Three years later, with better English and many stories to tell, I landed in Prague. I worked there as a babysitter and manager in one famous family, and I had the chance to have direct contact again with my culture after those years abroad. Two years later I moved to Spain, this time listening to the voice of my heart. However, pandemia made things very complicated over there. Consequently, I decided to come back to my hometown. As I promised myself, after a long break, I came back to academic life. I am currently studying Special Education at MU. I am also lucky enough to work for the same university. This combination of education and work makes me feel very implicated and satisfied.
Mgr. Margita Michaelová
doctoral candidate | racova.margita@mail.muni.cz
In my profession, I strive to build community life and inclusion in society. I am interested in the lives of Roma people who are ethnically stigmatized in our society. I offer these people cooperation and opportunities for their own self-realization in solving their problems. Studying at the Department of Social Pedagogy provides me with the best professional support in fulfilling my visions in practice. The basis of my work is social work education and religious education (Bahá'í teachings)