The oldest agricultural university in Czechoslovakia, the school was established on 24 July 1919. Since the mid-1990s, the university has proudly borne the name of the founder of genetics and one of the world’s most important scientists, Gregor Johann Mendel.

Take a look at the most important milestones in MENDELU’s history.

  • 1864 – Efforts to establish an agricultural university in Moravia begin. However, political, economic, and ethnic obstacles stand in the way. Such a university could be founded only after the establishment of an independent Czechoslovak Republic.
  • 1919 – The University of Agriculture is established and offers two fields of study: forestry and economics. It keeps its name until 1994.
  • 1920s – The school acquires the School Forest Farm in Adamov and the School Agricultural Farm in Žabčice.
  • 1950s – The original fields of study are abolished, and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is created instead. The School Horticultural Farm in Lednice is also established. In 1959, the Faculty of Business and Economics is established.
  • 1980s – The Faculty of Horticulture in Lednice is established in 1985 with the separation of the horticultural disciplines from the Faculty of Agriculture.
  • 1990s – The university changes its name to Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, thus building on the legacy of G. J. Mendel. The Faculty of Forestry is renamed the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology.
  • 2000 – All school farms are merged into one School Farm in Žabčice.
  • 2003 – The Institute of Lifelong Learning, which has been a university institute since 2006, is established.
  • 2008 – The Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies is established to prepare experts on economics in regional, national and international contexts.
  • 2010 – The university adopts a new name, Mendel University in Brno (abbreviated MENDELU).
  • 2011 – With the establishment of the independent university institute CEITEC MENDELU at the Faculty of AgriSciences, the university becomes part of the Central European Institute of Technology, an interuniversity research centre of excellence.
  • 2012 – The university receives the prestigious ECTS Label and Diploma Supplement Label certificates from the European Commission, confirming that its study programmes and examination system are in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Declaration.
  • 2013 – To facilitate the work and family life of employees, Hrášek Kindergarten is established.
  • 2018 – Danuše Nerudová becomes the first woman to head the university. See pictures of all the university’s rectors in this gallery.
  • 2019 – The university celebrates its 100th anniversary.
  • 2020 – The university becomes the first university in the Czech Republic to switch to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All historical photos can be found in the photo gallery.