2020

Creation of the new Act on higher education

The Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic is planning to bring forward a new act on higher education next year. The current act on higher education was approved in 2020 and has since been amended more than fifty times.

Impact of COVID-19 on higher education

Education at higher education institutions was significantly affected by COVID-19 pandemics. Due to the pandemics, education was suspended from 16th March 2020 and it was substituted with distance learning. 

In relation to the start of school year 2020/2021, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic prepared guidelines for schools and school facilities which define the organisation and conditions of education for the school year and the academic year 2020/2021.

The documents aim to define the basic operation conditions for schools during COVID-19 pandemics so that counter-epidemic measures and recommendations be followed. 

They govern only those basic operation conditions that differ or that are defined beyond the framework of the standard requirements set in the school, hygiene, labour and other regulations. Guidelines are created for each category of schools and school facilities.

• Kindergartens (SK)
• Primary school and school facilities (SK) (School children clubs, Leisure-time centres, Basic schools of arts, Language schools)
• Secondary schools (SK)
• Special schools and facilities of educational counselling (SK)
• Special educational facilities (SK)
• Higher education institution and school dormitories (SK)
• Leisure-time centres (SK)

Source:  Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic of the Slovak Republic, 2020. Guidelines for schools and school facilities (Manuál opatrení pre školy a školské zariadenia ). Bratislava: Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic of the Slovak Republic (last accessed 20/08/2020). 

Higher education institutions

• The academic year starts on 1st September 2020. 
• The start of the teaching part of the term is defined by each higher education institution.
• It is recommended that classroom instruction be supplemented or substituted with distance learning methods according to individual stages (green – orange – red).
• It is recommended that procedures be prepared in case that the epidemiological situation worsens and classroom instruction is suspended in the whole higher education institution.
• Students and the staff wear face masks on higher education institution premises.
• It is not recommended to organise academic ceremonies, social or other events with mass attendance.
• Students and the staff will contact their doctor over the phone and follow his/her instructions if an illness is suspected. Students will excuse themselves from participation in the education process.
• R-O-R principles are followed (Ruky-Odstup-Rúško / hands-distance- face mask) and care is taken that all spaces are cleaned thoroughly.
• Have overview of each group of students in each subject and stabilize them where possible.
• Provide students with contact details to be used to inform the higher education institution about them having suspicion on COVID-19 and waiting for the test results, or about them having a positive COVID-19 test result
• etc..

Source:  Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic of the Slovak Republic, 2020. Guidelines for schools and school facilities-Higher education institutions and school dormitories (Manuál opatrení pre školy a školské zariadenia-vysoké školy a školské domovy ). Bratislava: Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic of the Slovak Republic (last accessed 20/08/2020). 

2019

Act on Higher Education

In 2019, several amendments to the Act on higher education became effective.

The most significant changes in the act concerned:

• the new system of study fields containing study fields (in which higher education can be provided in the Slovak Republic) and their descriptions,
• interdisciplinary studies,
• register of study fields,
• use of the register of students in compliance with  GDPR,
• addition of periodic evaluation of research, development, artistic and other creative activities of higher educational institutions, results of which entitle the higher education institutions to use title “research university” for 6 years,
• changes in the provision of subsidies from the state budget for other activities related to higher education,
• organisation of the Slovak Academy of Sciences,
• remuneration of employees,
• information technology in public administration,
• placement scholarship,
• register of higher education institution consortia,
• from 1 July 2019, the same person may candidate as a rector, vice-rector, dean or vice-dean repeatedly, without any restriction.

2018

Preparation of the amendment to the Act on Higher Education

Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the SR has submitted an amendment to the Act on Higher Education Institutions for public comments in December. The amendment will govern the withdrawal of obtained higher education titles.

Higher education institutions will still be responsible for the quality of study and higher education theses. The amendment will also define the circumstances under which a title can be withdrawn. Reasons for the withdrawal will include final conviction for a criminal offence, infringement of intellectual or industrial property, falsifying research results, or the fact that a thesis was written by another person.

Adoption of the new Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education and of the Amendment to the Act on Higher Education Institutions

In November, a new act became effective: Act No. 269/2018 on Quality Assurance in Higher Education and on the amendment and supplement of Act No. 343/2015 Coll. on Public Procurement and on amendment and supplement of some acts, as amended by subsequent provisions (SK).

The Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education introduces a new system of accreditation in higher education, which will now be covered by an independent public service Slovak accreditation agency for higher education (SK). The present Accreditation commission, which is an advisory body to the Government of the Slovak Republic, will continue in its current activities until 31. December 2019. As of 1. January 2020, the Accreditation commission will be canceled and its rights and responsibilities will be taken over by the Slovak accreditation agency for higher education.

Another act that became effective in November is Act No. 270/2018 which amends and supplements the Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and on amendment and supplement of certain some acts, as amended by subsequent provisions, and which amends and supplements some acts (SK). The amendment simplifies the creation and changes of study programmes, including interdisciplinary study programmes and joint study programmes. In addition, it introduces a new type of study programme – interdisciplinary studies.

New Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education

The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic presented a new Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education, which is now in the legislative adoption process.

The new act will govern the internal system of quality assurance in higher education and its verification.

Higher education institution’s procedures will be overseen by a newly founded Slovak accreditation agency for higher education - an independent public service institution - which will decide on higher education institutions‘ applications, monitor the quality of higher education and the way higher education institutions improve quality of the study provided.

Preparation of the amendment of the Act on Higher Education Institutions

The Ministry is preparing an amendment of the Act on Higher Education Institutions (Act No. 131/2002 Coll.).

The amendment should increase the openness of the higher education system when filling positions of assistant professors and professors from abroad.

Creation of and changes in study programmes will be simplified, including interdisciplinary study programmes and joint study programmes. In addition, a new type of study programme will be introduced – interdisciplinary studies. This type of a study programme is suitable for the implementation of the educational concept that is also called liberal studies.

It will enable higher education institutions to offer students, within their study programme, a broader range of subjects from more study fields. As a result, students will obtain a degree in a specific study field or a combination of two study fields depending on the specific curriculum. It is not necessary for the applicant for the study to select a specific study programme connected to the study field at the beginning of higher education study but only after getting acquainted with the context details in the course of his/her study.

Legislation references

National Council of the Slovak Republic, 2018. Act No. 269/2018 on Quality Assurance in Higher Education and on change and supplementi to Act No. 343/2015 Coll. on Public Procurement and on change and supplement of some acts as amended by subsequent provision (Zákon č. 269/2018 o zabezpečovaní kvality vysokoškolského vzdelávania a o zmene a doplnení zákona č. 343/2015 Z. z. o verejnom obstarávaní a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov v znení neskorších predpisov) (last accessed 20/08/2020).

National Council of the Slovak Republic, 2002. Act No. 131/2002 on higher education and on the change and supplement to some acts (Zákon č. 131/2002 o vysokých školách a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov) (last accessed 20/08/2020).