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Rector’s and Dean´s day off

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 09:53:00 +0100

In the name of the Rector of Comenius University Bratislava prof. JUDr. Marek Števček, DrSc. and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Comeius University Bratislava Prof. Juraj Payer, MD, PhD., MPH, FRCP, FEFIM I hereby inform you that on April 17, 2025 (Thursday) is rector´s day off and also on April 22, 2025 (Tuesday) is dean´s day off.

Internationalisation can attract and retain top talent

nasa.univerzita@uniba.sk — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:21:00 +0100

But why is it important to approach internationalization strategically? What benefits can it bring, and what changes are necessary at Comenius University to achieve these goals? Daniel Casten, an international higher education consultant and member of the Audit Expert Panel, shares his insights. What can one imagine under the term internationalisation of a university? Internationalization is a means towards qualitative development of processes and outcomes in learning, teaching, and research — a set of intentional and strategically developed methods aiming to integrate best-practices to enhance both the learning experience of students, as well as didactic and research development. Common modes of internationalization include short-term and long-term mobilities for staff and students, full-degree students from abroad, research cooperation through individual partnerships and larger consortia, and enhancing curricula development. Internationalization helps connect students and staff with the world of knowledge. Why is it important for any university to think about internationalization? From a very practical standpoint - to keep pace. Internationalization at top universities is rigorously and proactively developed. Enhanced opportunity for students, academics, and administrative staff translates to qualitative gain, increasing relative attractiveness. Institutions that internationalise effectively are more able to attract and retain top talent. Studying and collaborating with people from diverse systems of learning, teaching, research, and management enriches all areas of an institution. It broadens our understanding of new methods and best practices, whether through international experiences or by integrating perspectives from related fields into classrooms and labs. What are the main prerequisites for a HEI to become an attractive place for foreign students and researchers? The most basic is a desire for qualitative development. Given the rapid pace of university development around the world, strategic development is necessary to maintain relative attractiveness. It takes goals, requires structures, staff, and coordination. Setting relevant, achievable goals is significantly aided by seeking input and involving a broad range of stakeholders to help unlock human potential. This allows for prioritization and for the disparate needs of different departments and programmes to be met. This provides a framework for unlocking the creative potential of individuals. Better quality universities tend to develop and follow long-term strategic approaches. This allows them to direct investments into people and processes in an effective way. A clear strategic vision for internationalization, leading to a consistent and well-defined set of operational goals and plans, can help an institution stay on track through changes in staffing and leadership. What aspects of Comenius University life did you look into during your visit? We approached internationalization through four key dimensions: the student experience; teaching; research (especially in relation to mobility and support); and the institutional and strategic framework for development of the above. We engaged over 100 stakeholders—including central and faculty management and staff, and both domestic and international students—and examined strategy, goals, and the ability to implement them at central, faculty, and departmental levels. A significant portion of our time was spent engaging with academics, students, and management, discussing what they feel would enable them and where they see obstacles. Our goal was not to recommend generic international best practices, but to tailor solutions that would best serve the needs of Comenius’ students, academics, and administrative staff. What are some of the best practices we should apply? Three examples that could bring significant impact:

Ensure academics can focus on core activities of teaching and research and spend less time on internationalization-related administration like visas, insurance, student recruitment, and other logistical matters. Proper support structures help attract and retain talented students and academics. Effective coordination between central and faculty levels is key.
Credit recognition - It should become very rare that a student must extend studies because they chose to have a valuable experience abroad. A student should know before they depart that the course will be recognized. The new national rules on “mobility windows” in Slovak universities should be a major step in solving credit recognition issues for students who go abroad on a mobility.
Set a long-term goal of ensuring an international experience for all students, which could come in the form of short or longer term mobilities or internationalization at home, e.g., by taking English-taught courses within Slovak study programmes. Comenius University has the necessary stature to raise these standards for graduation.

What was your opinion of Comenius University after your visit? Comenius University’s standing as a leading institution in Slovakia was evident. There is a clear desire to utilize the potential of internationalization to develop the university and bring benefit for students, staff, and broader society. There are areas of excellence across all the constituent parts of the institution, across faculties, research groups, and the student body. Some of the potential is still untapped due in part to atomization of highly decentralized units, but increased and effective organization is possible while still respecting legal or historic boundaries.

Substitute/Retake STATE EXAMINATION COMMITTEES

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:00 +0100

The Substitute/Retake date of the state examination of the study program in pharmacy in English in...

VBB RECONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:05:00 +0100

The reconstruction of VBB is progressing to the next stage. As with any major construction project, this will bring certain temporary restrictions: Parking Restrictions From March onward, the parking lot at CU Mlyny will no longer be accessible to students. Additionally, short-term public parking (ticket-based) will also not be available. If you currently have a parking permit, you can extend it only until the end of February. From March onwards, we recommend using parking areas at Cintorín Slávičie, Cubicon, or Manželáky. Change of Building Entrance The main entrance to Šturák will be closed from March/April. Access to UniK, UPeCe, Anwell, and the gym facilities will be available via the side entrance from the upper parking lot. All these facilities will remain open without restrictions. We appreciate your patience and cooperation and are glad to see the dormitory renovations progressing. Dormitory Administration

Unsociable Mice Were Looking for Friends: New Research Could Help Autistic People

nasa.univerzita@uniba.sk — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:05:00 +0100

Jakub Szabó, together with a team of experts from the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University, is investigating how autism spectrum disorders develop and exploring possible treatments. “Autism spectrum disorders are highly heterogeneous, both in their manifestations and their origins. We know that approximately 1% of autistic individuals suffer from a genetic deficiency of the protein SHANK3, which plays a crucial role in the brain by forming a structural ‘scaffolding’ between synapses. Alongside other proteins, it strengthens synaptic connections. This is why we focused our research on mice that also lack this protein,” he explains. Unsociable Mice One of the most significant challenges faced by autistic individuals is difficulty in forming social connections. Many struggle with social situations, have trouble communicating, reading between the lines, and understanding the intentions of others. These difficulties often compound other symptoms of the disorder. Mice with a SHANK3 deficiency exhibit a similar pattern of behaviour. “They possess an autism-like phenotype, which is expressed by avoiding contact with other mice,” says Jakub Szabó. The researchers assessed the social behaviour of these SHANK3-deficient mice using various behavioural methods. “In our test, a mice were placed with an unfamiliar ‘social partner’ while we observed how much time they spent interacting versus avoiding contact. If avoidance was significantly more frequent, we classified the mouse as having reduced sociability. Our findings confirmed that SHANK3-deficient mice displayed a profound social deficit. They showed no interest in interacting with others, often avoiding them, running away, or freezing—a defensive reaction sometimes seen in mice under threat. In contrast, control mice which were genetically intact exhibited typical sociable behaviour,” Szabó describes. How to Change Antisocial Behaviour? The next step was to explore how to “repair” these mice by identifying a substance that could improve their sociability. The researchers chose oxytocin, a hormone that has been extensively studied in relation to autism spectrum disorders. “We know that some autistic individuals have lower levels of oxytocin in their blood. Oxytocin itself has a well-documented prosocial effect. So, we decided to administer oxytocin to our mice in specific doses over an extended period,” explains Jakub Szabó. For 30 days, the mice received oxytocin intranasally (through the nose) - when their noses were tickled their reflex was to inhale the precise dose. The researchers then assessed their social behaviour after two and four weeks, as well as other traits such as anxiety-like behaviour, repetitive actions, and cognitive functions, including short-term and long-term memory. They aimed to determine whether oxytocin influenced these additional areas. They were pleased with the results. Previously solitary, unsociable mice started “making friends” with others. “The effect was remarkable. After just two weeks, the mice’s social deficits normalised, and their sociability levels matched those of control mice. Compared to SHANK3-deficient mice that did not receive oxytocin, the treated mice’s interaction rates nearly doubled,” says Szabó. Even more encouraging was the fact that the positive effects lasted for at least four weeks after the treatment ended, suggesting that prolonged stimulation was enough to activate the mice’s internal mechanisms. Oxytocin also helped reduce repetitive behaviours and anxiety-related symptoms. The Road to Human Therapy Although the results in mice are encouraging, the path to a viable treatment for autistic people remains long. According to Jakub Szabó, it is not as simple as administering oxytocin via a nasal spray to instantly improve sociability or eliminate repetitive behaviours. The reasons for this remain unclear. “As we mentioned, patients with autism are highly heterogeneous. However, I firmly believe that future research into human treatment will continue in this direction. It will be necessary to identify individual differences in autistic patients—potentially at the genetic level—and develop personalised therapies.” Interdisciplinarity is Key Jakub Szabó has followed an unusual academic and professional path. He graduated in psychology from the Faculty of Arts at Comenius University, earned a PhD in neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine, worked on an internship at New York University, as well as a data analyst for ESET. He is currently based at the Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University. In 2024, he was awarded the Ľudmila Sedlárová Rabanová Prize for an outstanding publication in the biological sciences at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. He believes that interdisciplinary collaboration is essential today. “In the 21st century, we cannot afford to work in isolated fields. The challenges we face are complex, and we need comprehensive solutions,” he says. According to him, many people at Comenius University are open to collaboration. “I have been fortunate to meet like-minded people during my studies and I continue meeting them now as a researcher at our university. Professor Heretik Jr. and Associate Professor Hajdúk at the Faculty of Arts guided me towards neuropsychology, while Professor Daniela Ostatníková encouraged me, as a non-medical graduate, to pursue a doctorate at the Faculty of Medicine. She also leads the Academic Centre for Autism Research, with which we frequently collaborate. My PhD supervisor, Professor Peter Celec, is a meticulous man of principles and values interdisciplinarity while conducting cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. Additionally, we have long-standing cooperation with Professor Ľubomír Tomáš from the Department of Genetics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.” True Value is Intangible The financial award associated with the Ľudmila Sedlárová Rabanová Prize will be reinvested into further research. Szabó sees the award as confirmation that his work is meaningful. “The greatest reward is not the prize itself, but the recognition that our research matters. Since receiving the award, I have had insightful discussions with fellow experts, allowing us to plan future projects and collaborations. I have also had engaging conversations with the general public, which helps keep me grounded. We have many brilliant scientists with great ideas and strong motivation to pursue research. I truly believe that doing science in Slovakia with such people makes sense.” Barbora Tancerová

Comenius University welcomes new Erasmus+ students

pr@uniba.sk — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:30:00 +0100

"At Comenius University, we believe that internationalization and the presence of international students enhance the quality of education and research. Together, as a large international academic community, we contribute to the development of our shared European House, founded on the principles of freedom, peace, collaboration, and fair competition," said Vice-Rector Tancer in his opening speech. The students participated in an oath ceremony, and listened to presentations about Slovakia, Bratislava and the University. They were provided information about Slovak language courses offered by Studia Academica Slovaca. They also learned about the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) at CU, which organises extracurricular activities for Erasmus+ students. In the 2024/2025 summer semester, nearly 150 students will study at our university under the Erasmus+ and similar programmes. This brings the total of international students at CU to 620 in this academic year, including those who arrived in the winter semester. The largest number from any single country are from France (28), followed by Portugal (20), Italy and Spain (19). However, there are also several students from Uzbekistan, Brazil, Taiwan, and Pakistan. The largest number of international students applied to study at the Faculty of Management, followed by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Arts.

Professor Blažo is part of the research project of the European University Institute in Florence

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:45:00 +0100

[Translate to English:]

S radosťou oznamujeme, že profesor Blažo z našej fakulty je súčasťou výskumného projektu COMPO 1.0. Tento projekt, nedávno financovaný prostredníctvom prestížneho programu EUI Widening Programme 2025, sa zaoberá vývojom politík hospodárskej súťaže v krajinách strednej a východnej Európy (SVE).

Za posledné tri desaťročia prešli krajiny SVE pozoruhodnou hospodárskou transformáciou a prešli od centrálne plánovaných k trhovo riadeným ekonomikám. Napriek týmto zmenám projekt COMPO 1.0 spochybňuje predstavu úplnej transformácie ekonomickej kultúry, najmä vo vzťahu ku kontrole kartelov vnútroštátnymi orgánmi pre hospodársku súťaž.

Tento výskum poukazuje na to, že mnohé vnútroštátne orgány pre hospodársku súťaž v krajinách strednej a východnej Európy čelia pri odhaľovaní, stíhaní a sankcionovaní kartelov značným problémom. Tieto ťažkosti naznačujú pretrvávajúci vplyv kolúzneho správania zdedeného z éry centrálneho plánovania, ktorý ovplyvňuje účinnosť presadzovania práva hospodárskej súťaže.

Cieľom projektu COMPO 1.0 je prostredníctvom svojich zistení zmeniť vnímanie hĺbky kultúrnych zmien v hospodárstve krajín strednej a východnej Európy a navrhnúť stratégie na zlepšenie kontroly kartelov ako kľúčového kroku k podpore silných trhových ekonomík.

Registration Now Open for Our 2025 Summer Institute!

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:06:00 +0100

Are you interested in U.S. Law? Would you like to spend time this Summer in one of the most vibrant cities in the world? Apply now for the 2025 Fordham Law Summer Institute! This 3-week program is geared towards foreign-trained lawyers and law students, providing insight into the U.S. legal system. Topics of U.S. law covered in past programs include: Constitutional Law, Contract Drafting and Negotiation, Defamation and Privacy, Evidence and Trial Practice, Information Technology Law, International Arbitration, and many more.

Throughout the program, participants will have opportunities to expand their professional networks and experience all that New York City has to offer - from cultural institutions to sports!

The Summer Institute is open to international law students and graduates with an interest in U.S. law. There are no specific academic requirements in order to apply for this program. We hope to see you this summer!

ONE STEP CLOSER TO APPROVING MODEL STRATEGIES TO REDUCE REOFFENDING!

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:47:00 +0100

From 27 to 31 January 2025, the second meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental expert group on model strategies to reduce reoffending of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was held in Vienna. The Slovak Republic was also represented at the negotiations by our colleagues JUDr. Lenka Miklóssyová and JUDr. Lucia Vasilik, PhD., nominated by the General Directorate of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard (ZVJS), as well as JUDr. Barbora Klúčiková, nominated by the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic. How is the UNODC Expert Group negotiation conducted? - The drafting of the document is preceded by a series of informal negotiations between delegations of the Member States. - The negotiations are led by the chairperson, H.E. Kaifu Atsushi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna. - The negotiation itself lasts five days, during which each disputed paragraph is analysed in detail. - The negotiation pursues the important goal - to reach a compromise acceptable to countries with diverse cultural and political backgrounds. - Each Member State and interested parties concerned, such as the European Union or non-governmental organisations, have the right to express their views. - Negotiations are conducted in a sophisticated and respectful manner, with a gender-balanced expert group.

MOOT COURT AT THE FACULTY OF LAW, COMENIUS UNIVERSITY

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:46:00 +0100

From 31 January to 2 February 2025, the Faculty of Law of Comenius University hosted the Moot Court event, organised by secondary school students associated with Iuvenum Iuris o.z. The cooperation of the faculty with this association was officially confirmed by the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation, which was signed by the Dean of the Faculty the day before the event. The event was solemnly opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Law of Comenius University, Eduard Burda, and the distinguished guests included: · JUDr. Boris Susko, PhD., Minister of Justice of the Slovak Republic · JUDr. Rastislav Remeta, PhD., Prosecutor of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Bratislava · Prof. JUDr. Juraj Vačok, PhD., Judge at the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic · Mgr. Lukáš Štefánik, LL.M., Representative of the SOUKENÍK-ŠTRPKA Law Firm The Moot Court provided young law enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to experience court proceedings in practice and enhance their argumentation skills. Over three days, participants tried out the roles of judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, gaining valuable legal experience. We thank all participants and look forward to the next edition!