UNITED STATES SPORTS UNIVERSITY (USSU) AND COMENIUS UNIVERSITY STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Comenius University Bratislava and the United States Sports University (USSU) officially launched their collaboration on Monday, building on the memorandum signed last year. USSU, based in the state of Alabama, is the only higher education institution in the United States focused exclusively on sports. This agreement will enable student and faculty exchanges, as well as the implementation of numerous joint academic projects.
The Memorandum was signed by Jozef Tancer, Comenius University Vice-Rector for International Relations; Viktor Bielik, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports; and on behalf of the American side, Cristian Zaharia, Director of International Sports Business Development at USSU, along with Brandon Spradley, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at USSU.
"Our academic collaboration with Comenius University represents a significant step forward in advancing sports education and research on a global level," said Brandon Spradley. "We look forward to working with the faculty and staff at Comenius University. Our goal is to promote innovation, share knowledge, and create new opportunities for our students."
Jozef Tancer emphasized the importance of developing sports science at the university: "Comenius University Bratislava has long emphasized sports and the holistic development of its students. I am pleased that cooperation with such a prestigious partner as the United States Sports University will contribute to the furthering the internationalization of our university."
Founded in 1972, USSU has been involved in the development of sports and higher education programs in many countries around the world. Signing the memorandum with Comenius University marks a significant milestone for USSU in building academic bridges to Europe. Thanks to this partnership, Comenius University students will be able to study at USSU through the ERASMUS+ program, and USSU students will participate in international exchange stays in Bratislava.
"I am proud of this unique and mutually beneficial partnership that brings together science and practice. Our goal is to expand academic exchange and research collaboration, open global opportunities for students and scholars, and support their professional growth," said Viktor Bielik. The Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports is set to travel to Alabama in early June to participate in a doctoral school.
The first step in building the partnership between Comenius University and USSU was a meeting of university delegations at the NAFSA conference in New Orleans, which resulted in the signing of the memorandum. The negotiations were significantly supported by the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the USA, Radovan Javorčík, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
The memorandum includes not only cooperation with the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, but also with the Faculty of Management and the Faculty of Law at Comenius University. This opens broader opportunities not only for students, but also for research partnerships, joint academic projects, and participation in international conferences and symposiums.