CU Bratislava introduces a new study program in hockey coaching
Officials from Comenius University Bratislava and representatives of its Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of Comenius University are continuing negotiations with the Finnish Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences on the creation of a joint study programme focused on ice hockey coaching. The project will also involve the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, represented in the talks by Slovak hockey legend Miroslav Šatan. The first students are expected to be admitted in the 2027/2028 academic year.
A delegation from a Finnish university visited the premises of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports at Comenius University, where talks continued on a joint degree programme in ice hockey coaching. The partners agreed that most of the terms of cooperation had already been settled and that, once the remaining technical details are finalized, the agreement on the study programme could be signed by the end of May this year.
“With the Ice Hockey World Championship just around the corner, we all know the old saying — every Slovak is a hockey coach. But what we truly need are real professionals in the field of coaching. That is why I am extremely pleased that we have managed to establish cooperation with experts from both the Slovak and international sports community. The Faculty of Physical Education and Sports at Comenius University has been developing sporting talent for decades, so it is only natural that it should also educate the people who will guide these talents on their path to victory,” said Comenius University Rector Marek Števček at the opening of the meeting.
The programme will operate as a double degree scheme, meaning graduates will receive diplomas from both universities, and is expected to launch in the 2027/2028 academic year. The Finnish side described the project as an extension of an existing study programme, while the Slovak side still faces an accreditation process, which the university expects to complete by autumn 2026.
The Slovak Ice Hockey Federation will also join the project
The partners aim to strengthen the practical component of the programme, including professional internships and cooperation with clubs. According to participants at the meeting, linking university education, the national sports federation and hands-on practice could create a unique model of sports education in Central Europe.
Representatives from both countries also discussed differences between the Slovak and Finnish systems of coach and youth development. They agreed that high-quality coach education is one of the key prerequisites for smaller hockey nations to remain competitive against major powers such as the United States and Canada.
In the future, cooperation between the universities is not expected to be limited to student exchanges alone. The partners also plan to develop staff mobility and joint research activities. The Finnish representatives described the planned programme as a significant opportunity for both countries, which share a long-standing hockey tradition and a common interest in advancing sports education.