The Covid-19 pandemic changed the way many higher education employees work. Martina worked at Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlín, Czechia, but when the University’s site closed she had to work from home.  

Like many others, Martina struggled to manage her work in this new home environment. Her childcare responsibilities were particularly demanding during the lockdown. Balancing her childcare responsibilities during the pandemic made it more challenging for Martina to work, develop her skills, and stay motivated. 

Luckily, Martina found the UTB DUO project. Backed by the European Social Fund, the project offered a workshop to university staff working from home. The course helped her develop time-management strategies and resources, allowing her to work off-site more effectively while juggling her family commitments. 

The UTB DUO project has several aims. The project aims to develop the skills of teachers and non-academic staff at TBU through educational events (like courses and workshops) for teachers and non-academic staff. The project also offers personalised tailored support to university students, as well as to staff members like Martina – promoting equal access to education, particularly those with specific needs (such as a disability). 

Students and graduates of TBU also get to have a say about how the study programmes and support services could be more inclusive and better adapted to their needs. This engages graduates in the evaluation and further development of TBU´s study programmes for the future. 

The final aim of the project is to reduce the student dropout rate. The University has already achieved this by working closely with students to understand how to give them a better experience. The project then implements appropriate changes to the existing programmes or develops new programmes to meet these needs. 

Despite the pressures of the pandemic, Martina now feels more at ease while working from home or elsewhere. Because of UTB DUO, the challenges of staff and students are made more manageable by participation. On reflection, she said ‘The training was very beneficial for me.’