Solemn Conference in Honour of Erasmus Programme

National Lifelong Learning Institute organized conference in honour of the 25th anniversary of the programme Erasmus in Europe and the 15th anniversary of the programme in Slovakia. Taking place in one of the most famous hotels in Bratislava on 17th May 2012, the conference was attended by prominent deputies of universities from all around Slovakia, together with university and faculty co-ordinators.

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The conference was opened by the president of the national agency; Mgr. Irena Fonodová, and followed by short speech of State Secretary from the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of Slovak Republic, Ing. Štefanovi Chudobovi, Phd.

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Later on, National Coordinator of Erasmus PhDr. Denisy Filkornová with her presentation brought to the attention of history of Erasmus Programme. She emphasized that Erasmus programme belongs to the most successful student exchange programmes in the world. As mobility, it has helped to support internationalism of European academic learning, to modernize the academic learning and to support implementation of Bologna process (1999) for purpose of progressing in harmonisation of academic learning together with increasing of academic systems´ compatibilities. 

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Prof. Ing. Marián Dzimko, PhD presented “Contribution of Erasmus Programme in Slovakia to Academic Learning”, which was a very interesting presentation. Despite advantages of the programme and increasing number of incoming student from abroad to Slovak universities, the situation of students in Slovakia is on a long term basis unfavourable.  

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After a short coffee break Erasmus ambassador Ing. Jany Vitvarovej, PhD. Presented “My Erasmus”, a story about her own Erasmus experience and how it changed her life. The opportunity to introduce Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra as the university was given to Prof. Dr. Ing. Elena Horská. The University was awarded with ECTS label last year and highlighted results and contribution of Erasmus Programme at their university. Participants of the conference could have learnt about another aspect of Erasmus Programme captured in presentation “ERASMUS – Key Factor of Globalisation” performed by Doc.PhDr. Jana Lenghardtová , CSc., vice-principal of University of Economics in Bratislava. 

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Last speech at this solemn conference was held by Mirko Hajnoš, a student and president of ESN Slovakia, who briefly presented the structure of ESN, its activities, National project ErasmusWeek 2012, and emphasized that ESN is a representative of informal education and deals with various activities for incoming as well as outcoming students. Before moving to dining room for lunch, deputies of National Lifelong Learning Institute awarded three universities with the “Erasmus Quality Label 2012”, namely to University of Economics on Bratislava, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra and University of Žilina in Žilina. We kindly congratulate and wish lots of success in future.

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Members of ESN Slovakia also attended the gala conference in the following formation:  Mirko Hajnoš, Miroslav Janek, Janka Gašperová, Julia Bodnárová and Lucia Lopošová for Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA).