I am ENLIGHT

My name is Anna Pilková. I am a professor and head of the Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Management.

Why did you choose your field of teaching/research?

Since my childhood, I have been engaged in teaching. However, due to personal reasons (health issues), I couldn't go to study pedagogy, but I went to study secondary commercial school and then the University of Economics.  I realised, and my professors assured me that I also like research. During my university studies, I have participated in students' science activities and won national and international awards. In the last year of my university studies, I received an offer to work as an assistant professor and do my PhD studies at the University of Economics. I accepted this offer and started to work on different research projects related to managing companies and industries.  I interrupted my teaching and research career for 15 years, working in top managerial banking positions. However, after returning to Comenius University, Faculty of Management, I discovered that many managerial practice topics deserve in-depth research. This was a good inspiration for me to start researching issues related to banking regulations and entrepreneurship.

What do you like the most about your current occupation?

I like teaching very much, particularly sharing my practical experiences with young students. I also like to develop new teaching and learning approaches during which students can obtain practical experiences and skills. Of course, working on research topics either in interdisciplinary teams or international teams is very challenging and interesting for me, too. 

How did you hear about ENLIGHT?

We got this information from the rectorate when they looked for partners from topics we are involved in our research and teaching areas..

What motivated you to participate in ENLIGHT?

I like to work in international teams and gain new knowledge from my colleagues, which we can then apply here and thus get even closer to the international level

Did participating in ENLIGHT grow your professional network?

Definitely, yes. I found exciting and good contacts and friends in the ENLIGHT arena.

What is your biggest takeaway from your experience with ENLIGHT?

That our knowledge, but also what we do is competitive and we can contribute to the development of the ENLIGHT club.

How do you feel participation in ENLIGHT has changed your perception of collaboration/research/education?

Participation in the ENLIGHT project has reinforced my experience so far that the international dimension, both in the field of collaborative research and teaching, significantly multiplies the creation of added value in these areas, which would require several times more effort and time to achieve if handled by a single institution. And much of the knowledge would not even be available in such a short time.

How would you describe ENLIGHT in two sentences?

ENLIGHT is an association of very interesting and highly professional European higher education institutions. It provides a great opportunity for students and teachers to take advantage of the European knowledge potential for the acquisition of knowledge, but also for further research.

If you were to recommend ENLIGHT to a colleague, what would you say?

Take advantage of the opportunities offered by the ENLIGHT project, in particular to find partners for your research topics, to learn about new methods and approaches to teaching, and last but not least to visit major European universities as part of the collaboration.

What is the best book you read/listened to in the past year?

Unfortunately, I don't have much time to read novels, fiction etc., but I have friends who I admire for being able to find time to follow the "news" on this book market in addition to their workload. And they give me tips, which I usually ask them for twice a year: before Christmas and before the holidays. However, last year, off the recommended list, I read with interest Lee Kuan Yew's “From the Third World to the Elite. The Success Story of Singapore”. It is admirable where Singapore has come from and where it has gone in a generation thanks to the leader Lee Kuan Yew.

I’m Damián, I study at the Faculty of Law at CU and as of right now I am in my final year of the master’s programme. My field of study is focused on more obscure topics as regards law, mainy the regulation of new technology, such as the legal regulation of artificial intelligence. I am also dedicate myself to international law.  

✔️Why did you decide to join the ENLIGHT mobility programme?

I am very interested in new technologies from a regulation standpoint, and an international environment is very comfortable for me. That is why I instantly signed up when I found I could apply for the course „AI for non-IT students“ at the University of Tartu.

✔️How would you evaluate your work in an international team?

Every group project was very interesting and at the same time specific, and almost always beneficial. My team in particular was comprised of students from various universities and social backgrounds, which contributed to our creativity. I advise everybody to experience this kind of diversity, because it really aids on developing a deeper understanding of the activities and the different ways people think. Naturally, good teamwork was harder to achieve during the online part of the course, however we really enjoyed the in person group activities at the University of Tartu.

✔️What did you like most about the ENLIGHT mobility?

I liked the interactive method of teaching the most. For instance, we had to create a design of an application whose goal was to help a household conserve energy and at the same time had to meet modern standards of user interfaces. I found the way seminars were held to be innovative, and the individual lecturers were erudite in their subject, with high quality lessons. Outside of educational activities, the thing I liked most was the diverse community, where we got to know each other better through a couple of nice group activities.