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

2. Slovak Academic Association For International Cooperation 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.

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

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

5. 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 km 2 Population:5.4 million Population density:109/km 2 Some facts on Slovakia

6. 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...more facts

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

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

9. 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 public HEIs – university type At present – new law under the preparation – 3 types: university, HEI, professional HEI The overview of Higher Education Institutions in the Slovak Republic

10. Choose the field of the study

11. 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) Bologna process in the Slovak Republic

12. 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 System of Higher Education

13. 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 System of Higher Education

14. 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). System of Higher Education

15. 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: 1.Quality of HE as the priority of the Slovak HEIs; 2.Creation of the system of QE/separation of the accreditation; 3. Institutional evaluation and self-evaluation. System of Higher Education

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. 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) What will the students need?

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

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