Tomas Bata University in Zlín

SVOČ

As in every year, the Faculty of Humanities (FHS) at Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín organised a Student Scientific and Academic Activities (SVOČ) competition during the 2022/2023 academic year.

This initiative supports talented students and plays a crucial role in preparing future candidates for academic work. It helps young researchers establish their profiles, offers opportunities for self-realisation in the scientific field, and serves as excellent preparation for writing and defending bachelor’s or master’s theses. This year, students from the Institute of Health Sciences (ÚZV), the Institute of School Pedagogy (ÚŠP), and the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences (ÚPV) participated in SVOČ.

Students enrolled in the full-time Bachelor’s degree programme in General Nursing from ÚZV presented research projects focusing on healthcare issues under the guidance of Dr Anna Krátká. In the category of healthcare and non-medical fields, the following students competed: Kateřina Ančincová, with her project The Role of the Nurse Mentor in the Practice of General Nursing (opponent: Dr Jitka Hůsková), Nikol Kosková, with her project Meeting the Needs of Seniors in Residential Facilities (opponent: Mgr Sylvie Chvatíková), Aneta Smetánková, who addressed issues related to The Importance of Biographies in the Care of People with Alzheimer’s Disease (opponent: Mgr Silvie Svobodová). The competition took place on 10 May 2023 at FHS. The jury, composed of doc. Jaroslava Pavelková (SVOČ guarantor and professional guarantor of the Health and Social Care programme), Dr. Pavla Kudlová (director of ÚZV and professional guarantor of the General Nursing programme), Dr. Věra Vránová (organisational guarantor of the Midwifery programme), and Dr. Anna Krátká (academic staff member), evaluated the projects and awarded first place to the project by Kateřina Ančincová.

Mentoring is one of the roles of general nurses and can also be utilised in supervising students during their professional practice. Students in the aforementioned programme at ÚZV must complete at least 2,300 hours (in compliance with the Qualification Standard for the Preparation of Healthcare Professionals) under the supervision of general nurses. However, nurses in healthcare facilities are currently under significant work pressure, facing staff shortages and excessive administrative tasks. Based on these circumstances, the author of the project examined how general nurses fulfil the role of mentors and their subjective perceptions of this role. In the theoretical part of the project, the author defines concepts from the field of nursing mentorship, focusing on the role of the general nurse, their personal prerequisites, competencies, including educational activities supported by legislative documents, qualification standards, and opportunities for lifelong learning. The project also addresses their collaboration with the management of healthcare facilities and educational institutions. The results of a quantitative study conducted with respondents—general nurses from selected hospital departments—yielded interesting insights into the current state of the mentor nurse role and recommendations for facility management regarding ways to motivate mentoring within clinical practice. This project highlights a significant issue faced by educators in healthcare fields in the Czech Republic.

On 8 June 2023, SVOČ project presentations were held by five students from the Primary School Teacher Training programme of the Institute of School Pedagogy and one student from the Social Pedagogy programme of the Institute of Educational Sciences. The projects presented were of a very high standard. First place was awarded to Anna Měkutová for her project Assessment of Pupils Through the Eyes of Parents: What Did You Get in School? The student convincingly and professionally presented the results of research conducted with parents of primary school pupils. The topic provides teachers with a new perspective on their work, which is reflected in pupil assessments. Second place was awarded to Michaela Maděrová for her project Using the STEM Concept in Primary School Nature and Science Lessons. Third place was won by Michal Svoboda, a fourth-year student at Primary School Teacher Training, with his presentation on Using Comics in Nature and Science Lessons: A Pupil’s Perspective. Other successful competitors included: Gabriela Ducháčková with Paths to Literacy Through the Eyes of Younger Primary School Children, Veronika Janštová with World War II: Natives and Citizens of the Zlín Region We Must Not Forget, Andrea Maděryčová with An Analysis of Primary School Textbooks. We greatly appreciate the active and creative approach of the participants in preparing their SVOČ projects and congratulate them on their achievements. We appreciate the active and creative approach of the students to the preparation of SVOČ projects and congratulate them on their success.