„Dobrý deň!“ *

1. „Dobrý deň!“ * * means „Good afternoon“ in the Slovak language

2. Non-governmental association (members are Slovak higher education institutions) • Support and Coordination of International Cooperation of Slovak universities • Information, consulting and advisory services about international educational programmes (LLP, Tempus, Erasmus Mundus and other EU programmes and projects) • Publish information materials and promote Slovak education abroad. Slovak Academic Association For International Cooperation

3. Where can you find Slovakia?In the heart of Europe

4. Take a closer view Poland Germany Ukraine Czech Republic Hungary Austria Romania Slovenia Croatia Bulgaria Slovakia

5. Some facts on Slovakia Establishment: January 1st, 1993 (former part of Czecho-slovakia) State organisation: Republic Political system: Parliamentary democracy Official language: Slovak Capital city: Bratislava Area: 49,035 km2 Population: 5.4 million Population density: 109/km2

6. ...more facts Ethnicity of the population: Slovak (85.8%), Hungarian (9.7%), Romany (1.7%), Czech (0.8%), Ruthenians, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish and others (2%) Population by religion: Roman Catholic (68.9%), Evangelical Lutheran (6.9%), Greek Catholic (4.1%), Reform Christian (2%), Orthodox (0,09%)Jewish (0, 04%), without denomination (13.7%) Currency: Slovak crown (1EUR = 33,4 SKK) Climate: continental character with warm summers and cold winters

7. Take a walk in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia

8. Take a deep breath in High Tatras, the picturesque mountains

9. The overview of Higher Education Institutions in the Slovak Republic • 20 public HEIs (mainly state budget) – • in all regional capitals Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, • Trenčín, Žilina, B.Bystrica, Prešov, Košice) • 10 private HEIs (mainly own financial means) • 3 state HEIs (mainly state budget) • Until today – all publicHEIs – university type • At present – new law under the preparation – 3 types: • university, HEI, professional HEI

10. Choose the field of the study

11. Bologna process in the Slovak Republic Slovakia is among the first countries which signed the Bologna declaration – today 46 countries signed Implementation of BP Legislative changes: Act on HE introduced 3 cycle system in 2002 (it was already declared before the Bologna declaration) Separate decree introduced the credit system in 2002 Starting academic year 2005/2006 all new study programmes have to follow the new legislation completely (3cycle and credits)

12. System of Higher Education • According the Higher Education Act adapted in April 2002 : 3-cycle system of HE: • Bachelor – 3-4 years (180-240 credits) • Master- 1,5-2 years (90 – 120 credits) • PhD study- 3 years (180 credits) • Starting 2005/2006 – long-cycle study programmes have been phased out (there are exceptions – theology, medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy) • New study programmes – according to the new legislation

13. System of Higher Education ECTS – starting 2002 the credit system has been implemented (for both transfer and accumulation purposes)and the information packages issued by all HEIs starting the academic year 2005/2006 as obligatory at all 3 levels. ECTS – academic year/2 semesters/60 credits Diploma supplement – to be introduced for the graduates starting to study in 2005/2006 Recognition – individual study/Erasmus mobility diplomas/ NARIC

14. System of Higher Education • Accreditation & Evaluation • Accreditation Commission (state body) – gives the opinion on ability of the HEI to carry out: • the study programmes, change of the field of study • PhD study programmes; • habilitation procedures and nomination of the • professors; • classification of the HEIs (e.g. research university); • complex accreditation of HEIs (every 6 years).

15. System of Higher Education • External evaluation • Accreditation Commission – using internal evaluation • processes, peer reviews • Project of the Institutional evaluation of the HEIs: all 20 public HEIs, 2 state and 1 private HEI participate in the cooperation with EUA: • Quality of HE as the priority of the Slovak HEIs; • Creation of the system of QE/separation of the accreditation; • 3. Institutional evaluation and self-evaluation.

16. Internationalization of Slovak Higher Education 1990 – change of the HEIs position & new possibilities opened to the Western countries Tempus – support to the development of HE multilateral cooperation projects; 1998 - Socrates/Erasmus new dimension /not only outgoing students but incoming (very low amounts, after 2004 rapidly increased bilateral agreements – with all EU, EFTA and candidate countries; 2007 - Life-long learning Programme/Erasmus, Comenius, Grundtvig, Jean Monet;

17. Internationalization of Slovak Higher Education TEMPUS -EU countries with 3 regions - former countries of UdSSR, West Balkan and Mediterian coast countries, Erasmus Mundus – joint masters courses of EU countries – individual scholarships for all 3rd countries (students and scholars) EM - External Cooperation window – projects and mobility with 3rd countries HEIs EU – USA, Canada, Australia, Japan AsiaLink, Alban, ALFA (South Amerika) CEEPUS, bilateral programmes (AT, DAAD, Norway),

18. What will the students need? • Admission to Higher Education Institutions • secondary school leaving certificate • demonstration of skills required for the appropriate study in HEI • Entrance examination • depending on field of study • mainly written (tests) • talent examination (art universities)

19. Useful links • www.saaic.sk • www.eurydice.sk • www.saia.sk • www.srk (Rectors conference) • www.slovakia.sk • www.tatry.sk

20. Thank you for your attention! Contact: Viera Farkašová Head of Unit of Academic programmes and projects SAAIC, Stare grunty 52, Bratislava e-mail: viera.farkasova@saaic.sk T: +421 2 654 12 336