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CU HAS OPENED A NEW CONTACT POINT TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND WORKERS

pr@uniba.sk — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:12:00 +0200

The newly established contact point for international students, academics, and researchers aims to streamline their access to the university by providing comprehensive and centralised support. Its primary function will be to offer guidance and assistance with visa and residency matters—key prerequisites for a smooth start to studying or conducting research at the university. The centre will also provide help with finding accommodation, securing healthcare and insurance, and addressing various practical aspects of life in Slovakia. An integral part of its mission will be to support integration, ensuring that international visitors feel welcome, respected, and encouraged to fulfil their potential—something highlighted by CU Rector Marek Števček in his opening remarks. "A fundamental attribute of a modern university in the 21st century is internationalisation, and our university is deeply committed to advancing it. The launch of the Welcome Centre is a major step towards strengthening internationalisation in practice. It will serve as a unifying point of contact with relevant state authorities and will provide comprehensive support and assistance to students as well as to those who come here to teach, work, or conduct research," said Rector Števček. The establishment of the Welcome Centre will contribute to a more coherent communication between the university and international applicants for study and research, as well as to more effective coordination with the relevant state institutions. “The centre’s mission will be guided by the motto: enter, settle, belong. 'Enter' refers to visa-related issues; 'settle' covers health insurance, accommodation, and the practical logistics of living in Slovakia; and 'belong' reflects our commitment to helping the international community feel safe, supported, and at home at our university. We look forward to working with state institutions that support our efforts in the area of internationalisation,” added Vice-Rector for International Relations, Jozef Tancer. The opening ceremony was attended not only by the university leadership but also by representatives from the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of the Interior, the UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration. The Comenius University Welcome Centre was established in response to the needs of the faculties and based on recommendations from an expert panel. Its creation was made possible through support from the Ministry of Education's development project, “Audit of the Level of Internationalisation and Implementation of Internationalisation Projects at Higher Education Institutions and Public Research Organisations,” funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU. The construction of the Infocentre and the Welcome Centre was also supported by the ministry’s previous development project, the Comeniana Centre. The newly opened centre is coordinated by the International Relations Office of the CU Rectorate. It is located in the existing CU Infocentre premises at Štúrova 9 in Bratislava. It is open Mondays from 12:00 to 15:00 and Tuesdays to Fridays from 09:00 to 15:00. Online support is also available via email at welcome@uniba.sk.

JFMED CU at Prestigious Urology Congress in the USA

milos.hrabovsky@uniba.sk — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:07:00 +0200

Dr. Ján Švihra, MD, PhD, from the Urology Clinic, presented a poster during an interactive session on urinary stones, showcasing a meta-analysis on bilateral kidney PCNL surgery. “Our research was selected alongside contributions from institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Boston, and Stanford—marking a historic achievement. Very few from the Czech Republic or Slovakia have achieved this before,” remarked Dr. Švihra. The AUA 2025 Annual Meeting is the world’s largest gathering of urologists, offering access to groundbreaking research, new clinical guidelines, and the latest advancements in urological medicine.

Doctoral colloquium - Branislav Zigo (2.6.2025)

Damas.Gruska@fmph.uniba.sk — Thu, 15 May 2025 09:06:00 +0200

Branislav Zigo:
Visual Perception for Humanoid Robots
Abstract:
The ability of humanoid robots to perceive, interpret, and interact with complex dynamic environments is dependent on the development of robust and intelligent visual perception systems. The presentation offers a survey of the visual perception technologies for humanoid robotics. We begin with classical techniques such as Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (V-SLAM), which provide foundational capabilities for environment mapping and pose estimation. The discussion then progresses through modern advancements including self-supervised 3D representation learning, voxel-based spatial modeling, and vision-based reinforcement learning (VRL), all of which enhance the robot’s understanding of its 3D surroundings and its decision-making autonomy. A key distinction between visual perception in humanoid robots and conventional computer vision lies in the embodied, real-time, and action-oriented nature. While standard computer vision systems focus primarily on static tasks such as recognition and classification from fixed sensors, humanoid vision is integrated within a closed-loop sensorimotor architecture. It must function in real-time, fuse data from multiple modalities (e.g. stereo/RGB-D, IMUs, LiDAR), and support continuous state estimation, manipulation, locomotion, and social interaction. The perception system is not merely observational but is tightly coupled with motor control and environmental feedback, demanding higher levels of robustness, 3D spatial understanding, and adaptability. We tackle innovations in deep learning architectures, multi-view sensor fusion, and intrinsically motivated learning strategies. These advancements allow humanoid platforms to perform more reliably in complex tasks such as object manipulation, whole-body control, navigation, and human-robot interaction (HRI). Furthermore, we examine techniques for improving sample efficiency, sim-to-real transfer, and generalization — the key challenges in deploying learned models from simulation to the real world. More information Youtube channel

Spring Picnic

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:30:00 +0200

The Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, is organizing a Spring Picnic in...

We Are Preparing for Another Open Day!

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:09:00 +0200

Are you considering studying General Medicine or Dentistry? Start your professional journey in medicine at a top-tier educational and research institution – the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava. We warmly invite you to join us for our Open Day.

Come and explore a faculty that has been shaping future doctors and physicians for more than 100 years and is recognized as one of the leading medical education institutions in Slovakia.

You will learn all the details about the admission process, get information about study programs in General Medicine and Dentistry directly from experts in the field, enjoy an engaging program that will give you a first-hand experience of what it’s like to study medicine for yourself and get to know great people.

Tours will start at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, and 12:30. Due to capacity limits, registration is required via the following link or QR code:
https://doodle.com/group-poll/participate/ej6g27ze

If you prefer communication in English, please, notify us on e-mail address: dod@fmed.uniba.sk.
In case of further questions, feel free to contact us at dod@fmed.uniba.sk .

Be inspired and discover the beauty of medicine with us.
We look forward to seeing you!

International DNA Day Connects Secondary Schools and Universities

pr@uniba.sk — Tue, 13 May 2025 10:19:00 +0200

The event was held on the occasion of International DNA Day, commemorated annually on 25 April. It was organised by the Department of Genetics of the Faculty of Natural Sciences in cooperation with the Institute of Molecular Biomedicine of the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University Bratislava. FNS hosted a multi-hour programme featuring engaging lectures, interactive workshops and stalls, a discussion club, and competitions in its premises - all centred around the theme of DNA. The event offered an excellent opportunity for secondary school students to expand their knowledge in genetics, molecular biology, and biomedicine. The keynote speaker, Professor Petr Svoboda from the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, delivered a lecture in the faculty's auditorium, introducing the fascinating world of microRNA and its role in gene expression regulation and DNA protection. The programme also included interactive workshops designed for secondary school students, giving them a chance to conduct hands-on experiments and gain a deeper understanding of modern genetics. They learned about model organisms in genetic research, about how DNA is cleaved and how it is analysed using electrophoresis, followed the scientific process from hypothesis to publication, experienced a demonstration of rapid "mobile" sequencing methods, observed a simulation of cell division and chromosomal errors, and explored the analysis of the human skeleton and its significance in evolution and anthropology. Participants were also able to visit research facilities of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine, as well as the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Slovak University of Agriculture, all of which presented their work through posters and interactive booths. A discussion club ran in parallel, offering conversations with PhD students about research, academic studies, and scientific careers. Secondary school student Marína Kiliánová from Bratislava was one of the participants. She will take her final exams in two years and is interested in biology, although she has not yet decided whether she will pursue it at university. "An event like this can really help with making a decision, because you get the chance to go in depth - that is something for which there is no time at school. We also get to try out fully equipped laboratories, which secondary schools don't have," said Marína. Biology teachers also had the opportunity to take part in a workshop titled From DNA Analysis to Treatment, led by Dr Monika Baronová from the John Amos Comenius Lutheran Grammar School in Košice. The course, co-organised with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, aimed to explain the role of DNA analysis in personalised medicine. A total of 23 participants received educational materials including four classroom activities and one extracurricular activity. "We hold DNA Day to bring science closer to young people in a way that is interactive, comprehensible and inspiring. We are very pleased to see growing interest among secondary school students, but the support of their teachers is just as important to us. It is they who can spark an interest in science while students are still at school. That's why we aim to design a programme tailored to their needs as well - we offer new teaching materials, ideas for school activities, and links to current research. Science education is key to our future, and events like DNA Day help build bridges between schools, the university, and the world of science," said a member of the team of organisers Professor Andrea Ševčovičová. The event was initiated by geneticist Vladimír Ferák, and the first DNA Day took place in 2004 to mark the 65th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA structure. It was held in collaboration with a group of enthusiasts led by Peter Celec from the Faculty of Medicine and Andrea Ševčovičová from FNS. This year marked the sixth edition of the event. More about DNA Day

Algebraic Graph Theory Seminar - prof. Goulnara Arzhantseva (16.5.2025)

Robert.Jajcay@fmph.uniba.sk — Fri, 09 May 2025 19:23:00 +0200

prof. Goulnara Arzhantseva (University of Vienna):
Origami expanders Abstract:
We construct the first measure-preserving affine actions with spectral gap on surfaces of arbitrary genus g > 1. We achieve this by finding geometric representatives of multi-twists on origami surfaces. As a major application, we construct new expanders that are coarsely distinct from the classical expanders obtained via the Laplacian as Cayley graphs of finite quotients of a group. Our methods also show that the Margulis expander, and hence the Gabber-Galil expander, is coarsely distinct from the Selberg expander. A joint work with Dawid Kielak (Oxford), Tim de Laat (Kiel), Damian Sawicki (Leuven).

Seminar of Graph Theory - prof. Goulnara Arzhantseva (15.5.2025)

Robert.Jajcay@fmph.uniba.sk — Fri, 09 May 2025 19:16:00 +0200

prof. Goulnara Arzhantseva (University of Vienna):
Metric approximations of infinite groups
Abstract:
We discuss various still open questions on approximations of finitely generated groups, focusing on finite-dimensional approximations such as residual finiteness and soficity. We survey our results on the existence and stability of metric approximations. We suggest a few conjectures, e.g. on Gromov hyperbolic groups and their infinite monster limits. The setting is rather general and the involved concepts are transversal to various areas of mathematics. Based on joint works with Liviu Păunescu (Bucharest).

Medical International Day in the Spirit of Cultural Diversity and Solidarity

Fri, 09 May 2025 09:18:00 +0200

The event was held under the patronage of Vice-Rector Associate Professor Jozef Tancer and our Dean, Professor Juraj Payer, and was organized by international students from the @SCOIS Club under leadership of Afonso Carracha, student representatives from ŠČAS, and the Study Department, all under the guidance of Vice-Dean Professor Ľudmila Podracká. Special thanks also go to the Institute of Medical Education and Simulations at the Faculty of Medicine and several other theoretical departments that contributed to the organization of the event. The program included a variety of educational activities, such as lectures on AMBOSS, artificial intelligence and its application in medicine or everyday life, and on combining research with clinical practice. Participants also attended a workshop on mental health, as well as practical demonstrations from various medical fields. They had the opportunity to try out laparoscopic techniques, sonography, basic nursing procedures, first aid, and patient’s care. The atmosphere was further enriched by generous snacks and the ever-popular goulash, which helped create a warm and friendly mood throughout the event. We thank everyone who contributed to organizing this event. Medical International Day has become not only a celebration of international spirit but also a place where medicine and humanity come together. We believe this is the beginning of a new tradition, and that Medical International Day, connecting Slovak and international students from around the world, will become an annual event at the Faculty of Medicine.

Comenius University Expands Partnerships in Japan

Thu, 08 May 2025 22:50:00 +0200

At the end of April 2025, Comenius University in Bratislava (CU) carried out a working visit to Japan aimed at strengthening its international cooperation. The delegation included Assoc. Prof. Jozef Tancer, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Mgr. Lucia Vilčeková, Vice-Dean for International Relations at the Faculty of Management CU (FMUK), and Prof. Vladimír Frecer, Vice-Dean for Science, Research, and International Relations at the Faculty of Pharmacy CU.

In Tokyo, the CU representatives met with officials from the prestigious Tokyo Foundation, an organization renowned for supporting scholarship programs for international students, including those from CU.

Another key meeting took place at the Japan University of Economics (JUE), where the discussion focused on the potential development of double-degree programs. Both institutions expressed strong interest in deepening their cooperation, with FMUK expected to host representatives from JUE in Bratislava in August 2025.

On April 28, the CU delegation held talks at Kyoto Sangyo University (KSU) about student and research exchange opportunities. The meeting was attended by the deans of three faculties: Prof. Fumihiro Ushitake (Faculty of Science), Prof. Hidehiko Okada (Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering), and Prof. Seisuke Kimura (Faculty of Social Studies). The discussion took place in a friendly and constructive atmosphere.

The final stop of the visit was Hiroshima University, where the CU representatives were officially welcomed by three Executive Vice Presidents – Prof. Junko Tanaka, Prof. Seiichi Miyazaki, and Prof. Kazuhiro Tsuga. The meeting laid the groundwork for the upcoming visit of Hiroshima University representatives to Slovakia in June.

This visit represents a significant step in the internationalization of Comenius University and opens new avenues for cooperation with leading Japanese institutions.