The Voice of Universities

On June 25, 2021, the 101st regular session of the Slovak Rectors' Conference (SRC) was held on the premises of the Technical University in Zvolen. At the meeting, SRC members elected the president and three SRC vice-presidents.

Prof. Rudolf Kropil, Rector of the Technical University in Zvolen, was re-eelected as SRC President.

In his program statement, Professor Kropil emphasized the need for a cooperative atmosphere within the conference. "The rectors have shown coherence in the discussion on the form of the amendment to the Higher Education Act. We must continue to do this so that the final version of the law has a pro-European dimension, preserves academic self-governance and strengthens the autonomy of universities, " said the President of the SRC. He further emphasized the need to promote the priorities of the Rectors' Conference as adopted at the 100th session, in particular to create modern and attractive conditions for university students, to create an appropriate flexible legislative framework, and to create an environment stimulating development, growth and competitiveness. He also added the need to co-finance universities in the current year and the need for compensation in funding due to declining incomes caused by the pandemic. He stressed the need for fair communication with government and Ministry of Education representatives. "In this spirit, it is important to inform the public in order to objectify public opinion," added the president of SRC. At the end of the program statement, he called for the cooperation of all universities, regardless of whether it is a public, state, private, large or small university.

Professor Lucia Kurilovská, Rector of the state Academy of the Police Force in Bratislava and Professor Libor Vozár from the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra were confirmed as Vice-presidents of the SRC for the 2nd term of office. The newly elected SRC Vice-president was Professor Tomáš Lengyelfalusy, Rector of the private DTI University. The term of office of the Vice-Presidents began on the day of election. Professor Ferdinand Daňo, Rector of the University of Economics in Bratislava, has been the Vice-President of the SRC since 2020 and continues his two-year mandate.

For the first time in its history, the Presidium is composed of representatives of all types of universities, thus reflecting the diversity of the university environment.