Our University

Matej Bel University (MBU) in Banska Bystrica is a public university which achieved university status in 2010 and is a member of the European University Association. Matej Bel University strives to be perceived as a strong national university of international importance due to its high quality of education, successful graduates on labour market, excellent co-operation with the practice as well as thanks to professional, sports and artistic presentation to the public. The primary purpose of higher education is not merely to PROVIDE students with skills and knowledge but also to DEVELOP a thirst for knowledge and create prepared minds.

 

Research priorities at the MBU have been defined on the basis of the MBU Action Plan 2015-2020 as well as on national research priorities and Horizon 2020. The university offers a range of university education opportunities in 444 study programmes at all three levels for almost 7,000 students. It has six faculties, five of them focus on SSH (socio-economic sciences, humanities, educational sciences, political sciences and law); one faculty is natural science oriented. In recent years a multidisciplinary approach and interfaculty collaboration have been strengthened. Internationalisation of research is an essential element of most research projects.

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MBU has been successful in Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships, FP7 and H2020 particularly in SSH fields (history and ethnology, humanities, law and international relations and economics and management) and has an ambition to be the best Slovak university in the SSH international research collaboration. MBU is also one of 12 Slovak universities in SCIMAGO Ranking. In an effort to increase international research collaboration, UMB has become a member of the Vision 2020 International Network of Research Universities: The Horizon Network. Matej Bel University was granted the HR Excellence in research award as the first Slovak institution.

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Most importantly, to prove the feasibility of the proposed project, we point to the fact that Matej Bel University is a member of Networking – GLOBSEC Academy Centre, a platform of the most renowned politicians, diplomats and strategists, which is built on four pillars of the current issues such as defence and security, energy, the future of Europe and the European neighbourhood. The platform brings new opportunities for interconnecting the academic sphere with practice and is another proof of quality, vitality, dynamics and positive energy of talented students and graduates of Matej Bel University. The GLOBSEC City Talks Discussion Event offers an opportunity to engage in discussions on the most interesting topics of Slovak and foreign policy, including cultural issues.

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Selected research priorities and topics, identified on the basis on existing interfaculty and international research collaboration:

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• Cultural heritage and creative industries

• Sustainable cities and regions

• Public sector innovation

• Secure societies

• Inclusive education, science with and for society

 

Official webpage: https://www.umb.sk/