The SLIDE project

Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (MBU) is a public university and in 2010 defended the status of a university. It is a member of the European University Association and provides quality tertiary and further education in line with the development of science and practice needs, and develops new knowledge through creative scientific and artistic research. At the moment, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica (UMB), is the leading university in Central Slovakia. It consists of 6 faculties (Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Political Sciences, and International Relations, and Faculty of Education). The university offers a classic range of university education opportunities at all three levels and forms of studies in the areas of education, social issues, economy, law, politics, humanities, and natural sciences, in the fields of international relations, economic specializations, and mathematics. In addition, it also provides Anglophonic and partially Francophonic studies. MBU develops joint study programs and has contacts with major foreign universities, where the students have the opportunity to complete part of their studies. Therefore, MBU graduates are efficient in finding their place in the labor market not only at home but also abroad. MBU is the first university in the Slovak Republic whose study programs are part of the international CFA Institute University Recognition Program. It runs a Globsec Academy Center, a young leader incubator, supported by the worldclass think tank of the same name, and the Talent and Research Center. Education at MBU, which is assessed positively by both students and employers, is provided by professionals and practitioners. The University has almost 600 university teachers and researchers, and around 7,000 students. International cooperation has been rapidly developing in recent years mainly through numerous EU programs including the Framework Programmes. Most of the research projects focus on multidisciplinary research especially in the fields of socio-economic sciences and humanities (sociocultural anthropology, sociology, economics, history, political sciences, and education) and natural sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, and environmental sciences). As the first Slovak institution, Matej Bel University was granted the ‘HR
Excellence in research award. MBU implements lifelong learning in various study programs and forms from the MBU Children’s University to MBU’s Third Age University. In their leisure time, a student can create a space for the various social activities provided by the sports clubs, artistic groups, and student organizations which are run at the MBU. Among the MBU’s graduates and educators are several Olympic winners and their trainers, outstanding artists, and scientists.