Web address
http://www.uniag.sk/en/

University accreditation applies to courses from this institution

Description

Rector's welcome

The Slovak University of Agriculture operates since 1952 in the ancient city of Nitra, sometimes also called the Mecca of Slovak agriculture. Right from the beginning the university was destined to be a centre of agricultural education, research and development in Slovakia in the priority area of human activity - sufficient production of safe and wholesome food in harmony with environmental protection, the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable development.

The scientific and educational performance and historical traditions of the institution is recognized at home and abroad. Achieving comprehensive accreditation in 2009, SUA ranked among higher education institutions of university type. In 2010,  as the first university in Slovakia, SUA was awarded the prestigious ECTS Label by the European Commission for the provision and implementation of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System for student mobilities. The name Green university has become a part of the identity of our university.

At its six faculties SUA offers a wide range  of study possibilities not only in the field of  agriculture, but also biology, economy and technical sciences. This paves the way for the graduates in various areas of the economy. The content structure of higher education and scientific research at our university covers the functions of the agro-food sector, in terms of sustainability of production and quality of food (technology and biotechnologies) but also  eco-environmental terms (agro-ecology) and social status of society (economics, renewal and rural development , country culture, agro-design). The range of research activities indicates the university´s  adaptability to new directions. Three active Centres of Excellence operate at SUA. The Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources manages the Centre for Protection and Use of Agricultural Biodiversity (ECOVA), the Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering runs the Centre for Integrated River Basin Management in Changing Environmental Conditions and  the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences  operates the Centre for White and Green Biotechnology. Excellent Centres   at HLEF and  FBFS cooperate with research institutes  which are the main partners in the project.

SUA provides training in 88 accredited programmes of study including three in  English with a view of granting the joint degree or double diploma. At present, SUA has the right to award degrees in 38 bachelor , 31 master and 22 doctoral degree programmes. It also offers other forms of lifelong learning. Annually, SUA resolves  about 250 research, educational  and other projects. During its existence the university has educated more than 60 thousand graduates. The number of students studying at 56 departments of our university  has stabilized at 10-thousand in recent years. The majority of the bachelor degree graduates continue at master degree study and the best of them at the doctoral one.

The university puts fundamental emphasis on the internationalization of education and research. Through involvement into international programmes LLP - Erasmus, CEEPUS and others, SUA currently has 136 bilateral agreements within the Erasmus programme (in the European educational area) and over 50 inter-university cooperation agreements worldwide. The amount of study stays and internships at partner institutions in many countries around the world  as well as an ever increasing number of foreign students at our university  creates  an international dimension, thereby increasing the attractiveness of the university to potential applicants. Out of 28 universities participating in the Erasmus programme in Slovakia we ranked second in the number of outgoing students sent to practical placements. SAAIC - National Agency for Lifelong Learning Programme awarded SUA a QUALITY ERASMUS MOBILITY mark 2012 for quality organisation of university student and staff mobility.

SUA is a member of several international organizations: VUA (Visegrad University Association), where SUA is the founding university, EUA – European University Association, DRC – Danube Rectors´ Conference, ASECU - Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, IAU -  International Association of Universities, ICA - Interuniversity Consortium for Agricultural and Related Sciences in Europe, GCHERA - Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture.

In addition to theoretical training, practical preparation is an important area of professional education for a SUA graduate. This section of education is mainly provided through the SUA University farm Kolíňany, Ltd, that belongs  to the top farms in Slovakia. SUA  is one of the few Slovak universities offering practical placements for graduates in nine European countries within the European programme Leonardo da Vinci. Apart from the University farm, there are other departments and institutions at SUA such as  Slovak Agricultural Library depositing 520-thousand documents, providing more than 200-thousand loans per year, Archive, Centre for Information and Communication Technology, Editorial and Publishing Centre, Agricultural Expert Institute, Baltic University, Botanical Garden, University vivarium, Equestrian centre, Congress centre as well as 6 student dormitories and canteens  currently providing accommodation services for our students.

SUA students have the opportunity to spend their free time in 6 sports sections of the SUA Slavia and 15 hobby groups and organizations.

Our university is an institution that eliminates the barriers  caused by health problems of people with disabilities. As a result of these activities there is an improvement in the overall accessibility and comfort of the university premises as well as the access to information technologies, respectively  information for the visually and hearing impaired. A humane approach to solving everyday concerns of disabled students is a matter of course.

I firmly believe that no matter if you are interested in studying at SUA, cooperating with us, or just want  to learn more about our activities, your expectations will be met. We always give an opportunity to young ambitious people  because they are the guarantee of development in every field of human activity and knowledge-based society.

Dr.h.c. prof. Ing. Peter Bielik, PhD.