Representing UCM at the international fair NAFSA 2024 in the USA
We are among one hundred foreign institutions and thousands of educators from all over the world. The Expo is an opportunity to create a new network of contacts for scientific and educational cooperation.
At NAFSA 2024 we are represented by the Rector of UCM Katarína Slobodová Nováková, Vice-Rector for International Relations Andrea Čajková and Vice-Rector for Development and Public Relations Andrej Brník. The study programmes and scientific research activities of our university will be presented in the joint stand of Slovakia together with 16 other universities and the Minister of Education.
The event is taking place this year from 28 to 31 May in New Orleans and its aim is to establish relations between Slovak universities and potential partners from abroad, but also vice versa. "It is about creating new opportunities for students and scientists of Slovak universities to work abroad, but also to attract talent to our universities and create interesting research networks," Čajková emphasises. The conference also offers opportunities for networking and learning about the latest innovations in academia. "Attending NAFSA is a great opportunity to expand our contacts for the benefit of both students and staff, which is one of our strategic goals," concludes Čajková.
At the same time, during the week spent in New Orleans, the Rector of UCM together with the Minister of Education Tomáš Drucker, State Secretary Róbert Zsember and representatives of two other Slovak universities signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. UCM, Faculty of Natural Sciences, has been cooperating with this American university for more than two years, but informally. The signing of the Memorandum formalizes the cooperation and will open new opportunities for other UCM components.
External environment
Social responsibility is a final but equally important area. Fostering cooperation with non-profit and charitable organizations, active participation in regional and national development through education and volunteer activities, and the implementation of sustainable policies at the university are key to the university's positive impact on society.
UCM also focuses on forming strategic international partnerships, supporting research activities and engaging with global challenges. The university plans to improve infrastructure and create an inclusive environment for all its members. "I believe that it remains a valid imperative for a community such as our university to not only share a common vision as an academic community, but also to be cohesive and united in today's challenging, predatory and often university-unfriendly environment," says the Chancellor.
