The study program is not joint study program.
The learning objectives achieved in the study program Environmental Sciences (Philosophiae doctor "PhD.") are based on the European Qualifications Framework in the European Higher Education Area, which defines the requirements for learning outcomes for knowledge, skills and competences. The graduate of the doctoral study program in Environmental Sciences (Philosophiae doctor „PhD.“) acquires extensive theoretical knowledge in the field of science. He will acquire methodological skills for team research work in solving the spectrum of research tasks, environmental issues, landscape changes and the impacts of these changes on biodiversity, in solving tasks arising from environmental legislation and will be ready to participate in international projects. He will also gain experience in presenting results at scientific conferences and publishing them in domestic and international scientific journals. The graduate systematically monitors the development of the scientific field on an international scale, masters scientific methods in environmental sciences and related fields, including information and communication technologies, which he creatively applies in basic and applied research. He scientifically researches and brings his own solutions to problems. He has the ability to formulate a scientific problem, develop a project and lead a research team. It is expected that several doctoral graduates will continue their postdoctoral studies at foreign universities. The graduate of the doctoral study is able to develop analytical and synthetic parts of environmentally and ecologically oriented projects with a high degree of independence and creativity. He is able to use not only analytical and synthetic knowledge about the components of the environment, but also other knowledge in the field of landscape ecological planning and management, landscape protection and utility, but also other disciplines, e.g., social, technical and economic sciences. The doctoral student knows the principles of scientific work, can formulate a scientific problem, knows the legal and environmental aspects of the problems, ethical and social aspects of scientific work, is able to present their results in a foreign language. In all these activities, the emphasis is on complexity and interdisciplinarity. This means that the doctoral student is able to lead a working team of experts of various professions, at a high professional and technical level. He is able to follow new knowledge in rapidly evolving disciplines, e.g. geographical information systems, spatial analyses of the landscape, landscape ecological planning, monitoring of components and risk factors in the environment, environmental management systems with a focus on e.g. for the management of the circular economy, remote sensing of the Earth, ecological and phytocenological research in the country, new knowledge about the use of energy resources, landscape ecological potential for optimal development of the territory in terms of sustainable development. The graduate can also perform scientific, research and consulting activities with a focus on environmental sciences. To do this, it is necessary to prepare it not only in terms of professional but also personnel, so one of the emphases is on independent, creative work throughout the study. The acquired expertise can be used especially in the scientific sphere, at various levels of state administration and self-government, in the field of environmental management, or pass on the knowledge gained from the doctoral study to the general public at various events or in environmental education centres. The graduate masters scientific methods of research focused on the analysis of ecological and environmental quality of landscape components, methods of ecological synthesis, which lead to the design of measures to protect and preserve biodiversity and the overall character of the landscape. He will gain the ability to independently, creatively and comprehensively address issues related to theoretical issues of the environment, ecology of the landscape, biodiversity and nature protection, the rational use of natural resources as well as the greening of selected industries.
The employment of graduates of the study program Environmental Sciences (philosophiae doctor "PhD.") can be generally divided into several sub-areas:
Following the classification of occupations set by the Decree of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic no. 449/2020 Coll. of 18 December 2020 and the ISCO – 08 Explanations issued by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic of December 2011, the graduate may apply e.g., in the position of a specialist, manager, designer, consultant, professional and researcher, etc. At the time of graduation, according to the above classification of jobs, he is ready to perform the following professions:
This is not a regulated profession. Comments on the compliance of the acquired qualification with the sector-specific requirements for the performance of the profession were provided by: Mgr. Dušan Kočický, PhD., Esprit, spol. s r. o., Banská Štiavnica, General Director, RNDr. Peter Gajdoš, CSc., Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, independent researcher, branch manager and RNDr. Radoslav Považan, PhD., Slovak Environment Agency, Department of Research and International Cooperation, Section of Environmental Studies, Head of the Department of Research, and International Cooperation.
Graduates of the study program Environmental Sciences (philosophiae doctor „PhD.“) who completed their doctoral studies applied in 2020 and work in the fields of nature protection, protection and creation of the environment in professions such as zoologists / botanists in various institutions and organizations focused on nature protection, GIS specialists, managers and assistant managers in the field of waste management have found employment in the private sector in various positions of planning and conservation practice, etc. The university portal (https://www.portalvs.sk/sk/) does not provide information on the employment of graduates of the study program Environmental Sciences – part-time form.
Successful graduates of the study program
Graduates in the study program Environmental Sciences in connection with the classification of occupations according to the Decree of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic no. 449/2020 Coll. applied in the following areas of work:
2133003 Nature protection specialist
scientific research area
practical protection of nature and landscape
2133006 Watercourse protection specialist
2133004 Waste management specialist
2133005 Forest protection specialist
3257002 Environmental Inspector
In the evaluation of the quality of the Environmental Sciences study program were involved the following:
Mgr. Dušan Kočický, PhD., Esprit,Ltd., Banská Štiavnica, General Director
RNDr. Peter Gajdoš, CSc., Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS, independent researcher, branch manager
RNDr. Radoslav Považan, PhD., Slovak Environment Agency, Department of Research and International Cooperation, Section of Environmental Studies, Head of the Department of Research and International Cooperation
Employers of study program graduates were involved in the study program modification process, who in the first phase received all the necessary materials on which the study program modifications were based (graduate profile, study program with marked profile subjects, study program information sheets, evaluation form and appointment decree for the evaluation of the study program). Employers were to comment on the profile of the graduate, the follow-up of individual subjects in individual years, the content / syllabus of subjects using information sheets, recommended literature and its supplementation. Subsequently, they filled in a form which, in addition to basic information about the external party and the study program, contains the evaluation of the study program itself. The evaluators focused on the strengths and weaknesses of the study program in relation to the profile and employment of the graduate. The evaluation included recommendations and suggestions for improving the study subject. After receiving the evaluation, comments were incorporated into the study program, graduate profile and information sheets. Students are indirectly involved in the preparation of the study program. The study program is not a new study program; therefore, it is possible to make adjustments based on previous experience from the teaching process. Based on the feedback from the evaluation of teachers and also the feedback from the taught subjects, the teacher proceeded to the modification of the information sheets. The modifications were focused mainly on the methods of study, the conditions for completing the subjects, the syllabus of individual subjects – their update reflecting the current state of the issue and the update of the recommended literature. Subsequent updates of the study program were approved by the guarantors of the study program.
Stakeholders highlighted the wide scope of the study program, which allows for the good employment of graduates in organizations within the scope of stakeholders. They positively assessed the complexity, strong interdisciplinary nature and approach to problem solving. They appreciate the inclusion of the subject of geographic information systems in ecology, which will enable graduates to better apply themselves within the field of the environment. Stakeholders also commented on the graduate's profile. They state that it corresponds to the requirements of current practice. In selected subjects, they recommend paying more attention to the methodology and ethics of scientific work and also focusing on geostatistical methods. However, students work on this as part of the dissertation. Overall, they evaluate the study program as appropriately designed - the graduate is well prepared to understand the problems of the environment in its entirety, is ready to flexibly adapt to the requirements of practice and solve assigned tasks independently, creatively and innovatively.
The study program Environmental Sciences (philosophiae doctor „PhD.“) is created in accordance with the conditions regulated by Act no. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and on Amendments to Certain Acts, as amended, Decree no. 614/2002 Coll. on the study credit system and Act no. 269/2018 Coll., Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education no. 244/2019 Coll. Decree of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic on the system of study fields of the Slovak Republic, on which the internal regulations of CPU in Nitra and FNSaI CPU in Nitra are based:
Doctoral study programme at the Faculty is a study programme of higher education of the third level, which is carried out pursuant to Article 54 of the Act. It is carried out in accordance with the Decree of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic No. 614/2002 Coll. on the credit system as amended by the Decree of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic No. 155/2013 Coll.
Doctoral studies in a given field of study are monitored and evaluated by a departmental committee established in accordance with the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies at FNSaI. The study, pursuant to Article 65 par. 2 of the Higher Education Act, does not exceed the standard length of study determined by the decision on granting accreditation to the relevant study programme by more than two years, while the study is carried out according to the student's study plan under the guidance of a supervisor.
In accordance with the Dublin descriptors and the National Qualifications Framework, graduates of the study programmes will be awarded level 8 qualifications.
The study programme Environmental Sciences, the recommended study plan, the individual study plan of the doctoral student and the standard length of study are set according to the Higher Education Act. The study programme follows the rules of the European system for the transfer and accumulation of credits and the student workload per academic year, in accordance with the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies (available at: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/fakulta/uradna-tabula/vnutorne-predpisy-fakulty).
The study plan is defined in Article 7 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies of the FNSaI.
The study plan for the entire study is prepared by the supervisor within one month after the doctoral student starts his/her studies. The study plan is approved by the chair of the doctoral study departmental committee and is part of the doctoral student's personal file (https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/fakulta/uradna-tabula/vnutorne-predpisy-fakulty).
The study plan for study program Environmental Sciences consists of a study part, a pedagogical part and a scientific part.
The recommended study program Environmental Sciences (philosophiae doctor „PhD.“) consists of a study part, which has 2 compulsory subjects, 12 compulsory optional subjects and 12 optional subjects. The student must obtain at least 20 credits for the study part. The scientific part consists of several blocks: publishing activities, responses, active presentation of results, projects and other activities of the doctoral student. The student must obtain at least 60 credits for it. The student completes the pedagogical part by obtaining at least 30 credits for the implementation of pedagogical activities and also activities in the field of dissemination and application of the results of science and technology in practice. A part of the study program is also the elaboration of a written work for the dissertation exam, which is defended by the doctoral student in the first stage of study together with the successful completion of 3 subjects (1 compulsory and 2 compulsory optional). In the second stage, the doctoral student defends the dissertation. Some subjects at the 3rd level of university study are defined only in a framework, their focus and content are closely related to the issues addressed and the goal of the dissertation. The subjects have a broader content, which is adapted to the variability of the topics of doctoral students. Of the total number of courses (26), 3 profile courses are included in the study program. The profile courses is one of the compulsory subjects – KEE / DSEZE / 16 Ecological Basement of Environmental Sciences and two of the compulsory optional courses – KEE / DSKE / 16 Landscape Ecology and KEE / DSOVKR / 16 Landscape Protection and Utilization. The profile subjects can be considered as cross-cutting and important for the achievement of the goal of education in the study program Environmental Sciences for the student, despite the fact that the doctoral student creates an individual study plan. The learning outcomes, criteria and evaluation rules were designed to meet the learning objectives of the study program. In each subject, educational activities (lecture, seminar, exercise, field practice, state exam) are defined in the appropriate range of contact hours. Methods and forms of implementation of educational activities (full-time, distance, combined, syllabus / syllabi of the course, student workload, "scope" for individual subjects) are specified in detail in the information sheets of subjects. The structure of the study program consists of subjects, the content of which will ensure that the doctoral student acquires knowledge and insights that are based on the profile of the graduate. The profile of the graduate includes the acquired knowledge, abilities and skills that the doctoral student will acquire by successfully completing the study program. The profile of the doctoral student is formed during the study and is influenced by the initial choice of topic and focus of the dissertation.
The doctoral student obtains credits separately for activities during his/her studies:
a) study activities (min. 20 credits),
b) teaching activities (min. 30 credits),
c) research and development activities (min. 60 credits),
d) successful completion of the dissertation examination, including the defence of the written dissertation (20 credits),
e) defence of the dissertation (30 credits).
Credits for study activities, teaching activities, research and development activities are the minimum values that a doctoral student must obtain in each part of his/her studies in order to successfully complete his/her studies. The condition for the proper completion of the studies is the obtaining of the necessary number of credits according to the standard length of studies as defined by the Higher Education Act. In case that a doctoral student has obtained more than 40 credits in the study part, a maximum of 40 credits shall be counted towards the number of credits according to Article 1, par. 5 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies at the FNSaI.
Clear criteria, rules and conditions for passing the course, considering the verification of learning outcomes and the fulfilment of the objectives of the study programme are clearly defined in the infosheet and known to the doctoral student in advance (infosheet availability in the AIS, the obligation to announce the assessment rules by the lecturers at the beginning of the semester).
According to the superior Study Regulations of the CPU, a doctoral student must fulfil the conditions for obtaining credits for a course completed by examination in the regular exam date or in a resit (maximum two resits possible) by the end of the semester in which he/she enrolled in the course. In accordance with the Decree on credit studies, a compulsory course which has been unsuccessfully completed may be re-enrolled during the course of study.
A student may also re-enrol in a compulsory elective course or elective course that he/she has failed or may choose another compulsory elective course or elective course instead.
The student shall be informed in due time of the dates of assessment and possible resit dates, both for interim assessments and for all examination dates.
The dates of examinations shall be set by the teacher in a reasonable number and timing no later than two weeks before the end of the lecture period of the semester in question. The student has the right to withdraw from the examination date not later than one day before the date for which he/she has registered.
The student also has the right not to accept the assessment of the examination and to register for the relevant resit examination date. In justified cases, the student has the right to request in writing to the Dean of the Faculty a board examination. Based on the proposal of the head of the department providing the relevant course, the dean shall determine the date of the examination and the three-member examination board, usually consisting of the lecturer, the person responsible for the study programme (the chair of the board) and the head of the department concerned.
Further details of the conditions for taking courses, awarding and recording assessments and obtaining credits are regulated by the Study Regulations of the CPU in Nitra.
A specific feature of the verification of learning outcomes in the case of doctoral studies is the annual evaluation of the doctoral student by the committee, which is specified in Article 8 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies. The evaluation committee shall, on the basis of the results of the doctoral student's studies, clearly state whether it recommends the continuation of the doctoral student's studies in the following academic year. In the event of a negative opinion, it shall give reasons for its decision.
Every doctoral student has the right to feedback on the assessments provided for all parts of the doctoral student's interim assessment or examinations or annual evaluation.
As part of the periodic monitoring in the form of anonymous questionnaires, the student has the right to comment on the processes of lectures provision, the processes of providing assessments, as well as the professional and didactic competences of the lecturers. The details are set out in Internal Guideline no. 8/2018 Principles of evaluation of education and teachers by students at the University.
In cases where a student has been expelled from his/her studies, he/she may apply for a review of the decision to expel him/her from the studies. The dean may grant the request or forward the request to the rector within 15 days from the date of its receipt, together with the attached file material and a written opinion on the applicant's comments and objections.
Based on a written request to the Dean of the Faculty, the doctoral student may apply for recognition of credits and assessments, whereby the following categories are distinguished: recognition of assessments from completed motilities and internships within exchange study programmes, recognition of credits and assessments obtained from the student's previous, unsuccessfully completed studies, or recognition of credits and assessments of a student applying for transfer (from another university or in case of change of study programme).
The rules of transfer are defined by the Study Regulations of the CPU in Nitra, as well as by the organisational guidelines of the FNSaI of the CPU in Nitra, namely: the Organisational Guideline on the Recognition of Credits and Assessments from Previous Studies,
Organisational Guidelines on the Recognition of Credits and Assessments from Mobility.
The guidelines are discussed in the FNSaI Academic Senate, publicly available at https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/fakulta/uradna-tabula/usmernenia-platne-na-fakulte and known to students in advance before applying for mobility or internship.
The topics of dissertations are regularly updated and published in the AIS Academic Information System (https://ais2.ukf.sk/ais/start.do). Topics of current dissertations, from which the student of the study program Environmental Studies can choose the topic of the final thesis are published on https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/doktorandske-studium/141-studium/aktualna-ponuka-studijnych-programov/doktorandske-studijne-programy/938-environmentalistika, also on http://www.kee.fpv.ukf.sk/studijne_materialy/zaverecne_prace/TemyPhD_KEE_UKESAV_2021_22.pdf. Annotations on individual topics of the work can be found on the link. The student chooses from the offer of topics provided by the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences FNSaI CPU in Nitra, Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Regional Development FNSaI UKF in Nitra or from the offer of topics published by an external educational institution Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS Bratislava.
Topics of current dissertations, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences FNSaI CPU in Nitra:
prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD. (jhresko@ukf.sk)
Environmental assessment of the current state of the tarns in High Tatras Mts. (consultant doc. Ing. Melánia Feszterová, PhD.)
prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD. (fpetrovic@ukf.sk)
The influence of Covid_19 on the development of Slovakia's hotel industry and cultural ecosystem services
doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD. (vpetlusova@ukf.sk)
The dynamics of landscape structures evaluation in the conditions of the current use of hilly landscape
Topics of current dissertations, Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Regional development FNSaI CPU in Nitra:
doc. RNDr. Matej Vojtek, PhD. (mvojtek@ukf.sk)
Spatio-temporal changes and flood risk prediction
Integrated flood risk assessment
Topics of current dissertations, Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS Bratislava (branch Nitra):
RNDr. Ľuboš Halada, CSc. (lubos.halada@savba.sk)
Landscape ecological evaluation of agricultural landscape vegetation changes (consultant doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD.)
Landscape ecological evaluation of changes in the vegetation of an agricultural landscape (consultant doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD.)
Topics of current dissertations, Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS Bratislava:
Ing. Jana Špulerová, PhD. (jana.spulerova@savba.sk)
Habitat assessment and their role in determining the biocultural value of the landscape (consultant Prof. RNDr. Zuzana Krumpálová, PhD.)
Agricultural landscape diversity and its ecosystem services (consultant doc. RNDr. Peter Mederly, PhD.)
RNDr. Róbert Kanka, PhD. (robert.kanka@savba.sk)
Functional diversity of forest communities and its relation to physico-chemical properties of soils (consultant Prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD.)
rules for the assignment, processing, opposition, defence and evaluation of final theses in the study programme
The topics of dissertation theses for the respective academic year are published by the faculty at least two months before the deadline for the submission of applications for doctoral studies. The name of the field of study, the name of the study programme, the name of the supervisor and the form of study (full-time, part-time) are indicated for each topic. The thesis topics together with the above-mentioned requirements are published via the faculty's website. Applicants shall apply for studies electronically or in writing in accordance with the instructions published on the faculty's website. The dean shall invite the applicant to the entrance examination at least fourteen days before the examination and shall inform him/her of the content of the examination. The propositions of the entrance examination are published on the Faculty's website.
Dissertation topics are provided by potential supervisors who are approved by the Faculty's Scientific Council. They propose dissertation topics usually in relation to a project within which the doctoral student may carry out research, development or other creative activities.
After a successful admission procedure, the admitted applicant continues to be professionally guided and supervised by a supervisor or consultant throughout his/her studies. With the dissertation examination and the defence of the dissertation examination, the doctoral student demonstrates that he or she has profound knowledge in the relevant field of research, is capable of independently acquiring and presenting new knowledge of science and practice and can apply the acquired knowledge in a creative way in practice and research. In the written thesis, the doctoral student shall also indicate the state of development of the dissertation, its further direction in the form of a dissertation project, as well as the results of research, development and other creative activities obtained during the doctoral studies. The supervisor shall comment on the dissertation project in his/her opinion on the written dissertation for the dissertation examination.
Under the supervision of the supervisor, the doctoral student shall prepare the dissertation thesis in accordance with the Guideline no. 13/2021 on final, rigorous and habilitation theses. The dissertation defence itself is public, its preparation and course are characterised by Article 11 and especially paragraph 3 of Article 12 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies at FNSaI.
At the dissertation defence, the chair of the examination committee shall give a brief curriculum vitae of the doctoral student, provide information on the topic of the dissertation, essential information from the supervisor's opinion and any written statement from the head of the doctoral student's department, an overview of the doctoral student's scientific or artistic works and the responses to these outputs. The doctoral student shall briefly state the content of the dissertation, its concept framework, results and contribution. The opponents (at least two) shall present the essential parts of their reports; in the absence of an opponent, the chair or a member of the examination committee designated by him/her shall read his/her report in its entirety. The doctoral student shall provide a view on the opinions of the opponents, comment on all the objections and comments made and answer their questions. The chair of the committee shall open a discussion in which all presents may participate.
Anyone who is interested in the subject under study and the defence of the dissertation may submit their comments to the chair of the examining committee at least one week before the defence or may make their comments orally at the defence. At the defence of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral student shall take a position on such statements or remarks.
The discussion verifies the correctness, validity, scientific originality and relevance of the findings contained in the dissertation. It is the doctoral student's responsibility to respond to all questions raised during the discussion. The result of the dissertation defence shall be announced by the chair of the committee at a public meeting.
opportunities and procedures for participation in student mobility
Pursuant to Article 8 of the Study Regulations of the CPU, the supervisor submits a proposal to the Dean of the FNSaI for a doctoral student's study stay in other domestic or foreign scientific research and university departments.
Each faculty department has a designated departmental mobility coordinator who provides initial information about mobility opportunities to students of the respective study programme and at the same time provides advice and assistance in the administration of the mobility application. At the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences is coordinator doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD. Departmental coordinators are managed and guided by the faculty mobility coordinator – the Vice Dean for External Relations and Development doc. Mgr. Martin Drlík, PhD. Mobility is most often implemented based on Erasmus + bilateral agreements signed with partner higher education institutions abroad. The departmental and faculty coordinator is responsible for drafting the Erasmus agreement, selecting students for mobility and recognizing the results of their mobility. To participate in the mobility, the student chooses the receiving foreign institution, creates an application through the StudyAbroad application. All required documents (application form, acceptance letter, CV, motivation letter, confirmation of the length of the internship) will be sent online via the StudyAbroad application. The student prints the documents and hands them over to the department coordinator. Subsequently, the student will participate in the selection process at the department. The department coordinator will process the minutes of the selection procedure and deliver them together with other documents to the faculty coordinator who manages the application in the system. If necessary, the coordinator will return the application for completion. The student is automatically informed about changes in the application via e-mail or directly in the system. The Erasmus + mobility application deadline is usually set for the spring months (the main date) for mobility scheduled for the following academic year but calls for additional applications are usually announced during the year. In case of interest, UKF students can participate in extracurricular activities within the volunteer student organization ESN CPU in Nitra and help incoming foreign students in arranging the requisites for their stay at UKF. The implementation of mobilities is provided by the Department for International Relations represented by Ing. Katarína Bútorová, PhD., Mgr. Michaela Ivaničová and Mgr. Pavel Vakoš.
The conditions for academic mobility within exchange programmes (Erasmus + or offered by SAIA) are defined in the Study Regulations of the CPU in Nitra (Art. 20), the Strategy of Internationalisation of the CPU in Nitra for the years 2019-2025 (available at: https://www.ukf.sk/images/univerzita/medzinarodne_vztahy/Strategia_internacionalizacie_UKF_SK_web.pdf) and Organisational Guidelines on the Recognition of Credits and Assessments from Mobility for students of the FNSaI (available at: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/images/uradna_tabula/usmernenia/1_Org_usmernenie_mobilita.pdf ).
The possibilities and procedures for participation in student mobility are regulated by the internal Guideline on the implementation of mobility within the Erasmus+ programme, other scholarship programmes and bilateral agreements
Information for students about mobility at CPU in Nitra is available at: https://www.ukf.sk/granty/erasmus/erasmus-bilaterarne-dohody, https://www.ukf.sk/granty/erasmus or https://www.ukf.sk/granty/ine-mobilitne-programy
The Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences has current agreements on mobility with workplaces from universities and colleges in the Czech Republic – MENDEL UNIVERSITY IN BRNO, PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY IN OLOMOUC, in Austria – LEOPOLD-FRANZENS UNIVERSITY INNSBRUCK, in Poland UNIWERSYTET KAZIMIERZA WIELKIEGO/ AKADEMIA BYDGOSKA HIGH SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND ECOLOGY, in Turkey – DUZCE UNIVERSITY.
The students of the doctoral study program Environmental Sciences completed internships within several institutions in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Spain, Netherland, Germany, Slovenia, Poland, either based on concluded bilateral agreements and also internships at institutions that enabled them to complete mobility in order to gain new knowledge and experience for the elaboration of dissertations. Students completed internships in institutions of their own choice that are relevant to the focus of the study. Doctoral students have completed or are undergoing their mobility in the current school year to:
HIGH SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND ECOLOGY, Poland – internship, Štefan Straňák, Maroš Záhorský, Renáta Rákayová, Jozef Petrikovič
rules for adherence to academic ethics and rules for drawing consequences
CPU in Nitra has rules of compliance with academic ethics embodied in the Code of Ethics of CPU in Nitra, as well as in the Study Regulations of CPU. The Code of Ethics of the CPU in Nitra defines some principles of professional ethics in teaching and creative activities. Consideration of complaints concerning compliance with the Code of Ethics falls within the competence of the Ethics Committee of the CPU in Nitra.
The full text of the Code of Ethics (as of 26.9.2016) is available at:
https://www.ukf.sk/images/univerzita/O_univerzite/2016-Eticky-kodex-UKF.pdf as well as the Statute of the Ethics Committee of the CPU in Nitra at: https://www.ukf.sk/images/univerzita/organy_univerzity/2017-Statut_etickej_komisie.pdf .
Prevention and detection of potential plagiarism in students' theses is addressed through the obligation to send theses for originality checking via AIS. Offences related to unethical activities are dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee for Students in accordance with the applicable regulations (Disciplinary Regulations for Students of the FNSaI, Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committee of the FNSaI), as well as the Disciplinary Regulations of the CPU for Students, Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committee of the CPU for Students.
Disciplinary Committee for Students https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/fakulta/samospravne-organy/disciplinarna-komisia, Disciplinary Regulations for FNSaI Students, Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committee for FNSaI Students https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/fakulta/uradna-tabula/vnutorne-predpisy-fakulty
procedures applicable to students with special needs
Counselling and activity support services for students with special needs are provided by the CPU Student Centre, which also provides career, financial, legal and health counselling to other students at the university. In this way, the University creates a generally accessible academic environment and appropriate study conditions for all its students.
Procedures aimed at supporting students with special needs are regulated by the internal regulation aimed at supporting and ensuring a generally accessible academic environment for students with special needs 28/2015 Internal guideline on ensuring a generally accessible academic environment for students with special needs
Support services are provided by the CPU Centre for Students https://www.ukf.sk/sc or https://www.ukf.sk/sc/poradenstvo-a-podpora-pre-studentov-so-specifickymi-vzdelavacimi-potrebami
With its statutes, regulations and other regulations the CPU in Nitra ensures optimal conditions for the study of both students without and students with specific needs. http://www.centrumpodpory.pf.ukf.sk
Support activities for students are provided in the centre directly by the teachers of the study programme of special pedagogy and pedagogy of persons with learning disabilities - counselling.
The counselling also includes work by the faculty coordinator for students with specific needs (the Vice Dean for Education at FNSaI), as well as a departmental counsellor, the so-called tutor, who provide students with advice and consultation, especially in the field of study. The above-mentioned persons assess the possibilities / limitations / and level of risks of studying the respective study programme for students with specific needs. They propose specific reasonable adjustments and support services for the student with specific needs and carry out counselling and mediation activities. They participate in the development of a special hybrid system of education and support for students with specific needs.
procedures for filing complaints and appeals by students
Any student of the CPU in Nitra may approach the supervisor, the head of the department, the study department of the faculty, the dean's office, the Disciplinary Committee of the FNSaI of the CPU in Nitra, the Ethics Committee of the CPU, or the Department of Control at the CPU in Nitra, depending on the nature of the complaints or appeals.
The procedures for filing and investigating complaints and petitions are regulated by internal Guideline No. 12/2017 on Complaints and Petitions at the CPU in Nitra. https://www.ukf.sk/intranet/vnutorne-predpisy/73-moja-ukf/3072-vnutorne-predpisy-2017
The review of student and applicant complaints and appeals is carried out at the level of the Rector's Office by the Department of Control https://www.ukf.sk/univerzita/vnutorne-predpisy/vnutorne-predpisy-univerzity/14-univerzita/2198-organizacny-poriadok-ukf
Course information sheets of the study programme form a separate annex to the description of the study programme (https://ais2.ukf.sk/ais/start.do). The information sheet of each subject of the study program defines verifiable learning outcomes in the form of knowledge, skills and competences that the student acquires by completing the subject. The information sheet contains a limited time range for direct contact teaching for the week and for the total period of study during the semester, a limited time range for other educational activities (eg independent work, independent study, seminar work, exam preparation, portfolio creation, student work product creation) , essay creation, time for the exam, continuous assessment, etc.), forms and methods of evaluation of learning outcomes, rules and conditions for completing the course, a brief syllabus, which defines the content standard, which guarantees access to current knowledge, skills, competences and recommended and regularly updated information sources that enable the acquisition of specified learning outcomes. The information sheet lists the teachers who teach and evaluate the learning outcomes.
The schedule of the academic year is regularly updated. The current schedule of the academic year 2021/2022 is available at https://www.ukf.sk/studium/organizacia-studia/harmonogram-akademickeho-roka. For the study program Environmental Sciences (Philosophiae doctor „PhD.“) the schedule is not created by standard inclusion of the schedule event for a specific time in a specific room, because the doctoral student completes compulsory and optional subjects individually at the agreed time after consultation with the teacher. The Seminar for doctoral students (as an individual schedule event) is included in the timetable, at which doctoral students and dissertation supervisors meet at regular weekly intervals. The aim of regular meetings is to monitor the level of processing of dissertations in individual years of study and to guide doctoral students in solving problems related to research and processing of results. Prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, Ph.D. and prof. Mgr. Ivan Baláž, PhD. are responsible for creating the program of individual meetings within the Seminar for PhD student also lead the meetings and organize them.
A person responsible for the delivery, development, and quality of the study programme (indicating the position and contact details).
prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., functional position as profesor, e-mail: fpetrovic@ukf.sk
Persons providing profile subjects meet the criteria for filling a position and work as a professor in the field of Ecological and Environmental Sciences for a set weekly working time. The average age of persons (54 years) providing profile subjects of the study program corresponds to the sustainability of the study program. Age average of evaluated persons (54.2 years), five teachers (Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., Prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., Prof. Mgr. Ivan Baláž, PhD., Prof. RNDr. Zuzana Krumpálová, PhD., doc. RNDr. Peter Mederly, PhD.) also corresponds to the sustainability of the study program.
prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., e-mail: fpetrovic@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10748
subjects: KEE / DSEZE / 16 Ecological basement of Environmental sciences
prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., E-mail: jhresko@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10509
subjects: KEE / DSEZE / 16 Ecological basement of Environmental Sciences, KEE / DSKE / 16 Landscape Ecology, KEE / DSOVKR / 16 Landscape Protection and Utilization
Research/art/teacher profile of a person profiles of subjects and Research/art/teacher profile of a person, five teachers (Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., Prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., Prof. Mgr. Ivan Baláž, PhD., Prof. RNDr. Zuzana Krumpálová, PhD., Peter Mederly, PhD.) can be found in a separate appendix. The scientific and pedagogical characteristics of other teachers are available at the Faculty or at https://ais2.ukf.sk/ais/start.do.
prof. Mgr. Ivan Baláž, PhD., e-mail: ibalaz@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10518
subjects: KEE/DSEBE/16 Ecology and Biodiversity of Ecosystems
doc. PaedDr. Stanislav David, PhD., e-mail: sdavid@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10522
subjects: KEE/DSEBE/16 Ecology and Biodiversity of Ecosystems, KEE/DSEM/16 Environmental monitoring, KEE/DSVE/16 General Ecology Mgr. Henrich Grežo, PhD., e-mail: hgrezo@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10756
subject: KEE/DSEZ/16 Energetical Resources, KEE/DSEMS/16 Environmental Management Systems
prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., e-mail: jhresko@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10509
subjects: KEE / DSEZE / 16 Ecological basement of Environmental Sciences, KEE/DSEZ/16 Energetical Resources, KEE / DSKE / 16 Landscape Ecology, KEE / DSOVKR / 16 Landscape Protection and Utilization, KEE/DSPPZ/16 Natural Environment and Resources
Ing. Regina Mišovičová, PhD., e-mail: rmisovicova@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10513
subjects: KEE/DSEPLA/16 Environmental planning, KEE/DSKE/16 Landscape Ecology (co-teacher with prof. Hreško)
doc. RNDr. Peter Mederly, PhD., e-mail: pmederly@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/22417
subject: KEE/DSEMS/16 Environmental Management Systems, KEE/DSEPLA/16 Environmental planning
RNDr. Peter Petluš, PhD., e-mail: ppetlus@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10689
subjects: KEE/DSOVKR/16 Landscape Protection and Utilization (co-teacher with prof. Hreško)
doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD., e-mail: ppetlusova@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10516
subjects: KEE/DSESK/16 Environmental Systems of Landscape
prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., e-mail: fpetrovic@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10748
subjects: KEE/DSEZE/16 Ecological basement of Environmental Sciences, KEE/DSGISE/16 GIS in Ecology and Environmental Science
Mgr. Zuzana Pucherová, PhD., e-mail: zpucherova@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10514
subjects: KEE/DSEM/16 Environmental monitoring
prof. Ing. Zdenka Rózová, CSc., e-mail: zrozova@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10515
subjects: KEE/DSESK/16 Environmental Systems of Landscape
Mgr. Jana Kamenická, PhD., e-mail: jkamenicka@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/33984
predmety: KLIS/dCJPr14/16 Professional English for PhD students 1
The topics of the dissertations are available in the Academic Information System of the University (https://ais2.ukf.sk/ais/start.do).
List of dissertations completed in the period 2016 – 2021:
prof. Mgr. Ivan Baláž, PhD., e-mail: ibalaz@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10518
Molecular markers of adaptive mechanisms to environmental load in the population of Apodemus flavicollis, Mus musculus and Ursus arctos (Ján Graban) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007CC2C&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., e-mail: jhresko@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10509
Contamination and soil pollution of selected localities in the cadastral area of the village Močenok (Jozef Straňák) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007D1A0&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Relationship between morphodynamic processes and vegetation in the context of the development of the High Tatras Mts. (Slavomír Celer) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007D64A&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Evaluation of water quality in the Nitra river in connection with the operation of WWTPs (Iveta Vrábelová) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007D7CC&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Current development of trends in the field of electrical waste treatment in the EU and the Slovak Republic (Štefan Straňák) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007E3F7&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
doc. RNDr. Alfred Krogmann, PhD., e-mail: akrogmann@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10475
New elements of recreational urbanization and their impact on the landscape (Jela Galková) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007ED2C&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
prof. RNDr. Zuzana Krumpálová, PhD., e-mail: zkrumpalova@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10868
Landscape diversity of the Súčanská vrchovina Highlands (White Carpathians Mts.) (Stanislav Derneš) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0007FA94&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., e-mail: fpetrovic@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10748
Diversity of landscape ecosystems as a potential for the development of the rural region in the Čadca District (Magdaléna Bezáková) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild000806CB&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Socio-economic indicators of sustainable development in the conditions of agricultural landscape (Sylvia Eliášová) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild00081074&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Changes in the intensity of agricultural land use in the cadastral area of Oravská Polhora and Levice (Peter Koleda) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild00081539&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Evaluation of the development of current trends in waste management in the Slovak Republic (Maroš Záhorský) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild00081AB2&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Cross-sectional issues of integrated prevention and control of environmental pollution (Katarína Ličková) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild00081B3E&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
Evaluation of the treatment of pollutants in the model area and their impact on water quality (Marcela Domčeková) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild00081E28&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD., e-mail: ppetlusova@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10516
Forest potential in environmental education (Dana Chlpošová) https://opac.crzp.sk/?fn=ResultFormChild0008240E&seo=CRZP-Zoznam-z%C3%A1znamov
List of current supervised dissertations
prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., e-mail: jhresko@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10509
Potential use of knowledge about landscape structure in environmental education of primary and secondary education (Jarmila Lehotayová)
prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., e-mail: fpetrovic@ukf.sk, https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/10748
Evaluation of selected cultural ecosystem services of the Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area as a starting point for landscape management (Renáta Rákyová)
The Impact of Covid-19 on the Development of Slovak Hospitality and Cultural Ecosystem Services (Jozef Petrikovič)
Ing. Jana Špulerová, PhD., e-mail: jana.spulerova@savba.sk, https://www.sav.sk/?lang=sk&doc=user-org-user&user_no=5756
Habitat assessment and their role in determining the biocultural value of the landscape (Csaba Kulcsár)
Research/art/teacher profile of a persons of the trainers are accessible in the Academic Information System of the University (https://ais2.ukf.sk/ais/start.do).
The study programme of doctoral studies in a given field of study is monitored and evaluated by a departmental committee established in accordance with the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies at the FNSaI. The function of the study advisor in matters of the doctoral student's studies and scientific direction is performed by the doctoral thesis supervisor, whose duties are specified in Article 4 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies at the FNSaI. In case that the doctoral supervisor is unable to fulfil his/her duties, for example, due to long-term absence, termination of employment or other serious reasons, the dean, based on the proposal of the chair of the departmental committee, shall appoint another supervisor for the doctoral student.
In cases where the study is carried out in cooperation with an external educational institution, the dean also appoints a dissertation consultant who is a teaching staff member of the Faculty.
The study advisor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences is Ing. Regina Mišovičová, PhD., Email: rmisovicova@ukf.sk, which is available to students during the consultation hours published at the office door, resp. by email. The list of study advisers is published on the FPVaI – Study Advisers website: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/organizacia-studia. The AIS lists the consultation hours, resp. possibility to arrange a meeting / consultation by email, resp. via meet.ukf.sk. Information for studies in the study program Environmental Sciences will also be provided to doctoral students by their dissertation supervisors, as well as by the head of the department, prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD. and prof. Mgr. Ivan Baláž, PhD., who provide regular meetings for doctoral students every week during the semester.
FNSaI has staff assigned to individual departments: the FNSaI Study Department for Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral and Extension Students, the Department for Scientific Research Activities, which are adequately staffed, professionally and financially provided for.
The FNSaI Study Department cooperates closely with the Rector's Department of Social Scholarships of CPU in the administration and provision of data relevant to the awarding of scholarships, as well as with the Secretariat of the CPU Student Housing in advising on the provision of accommodation for students. https://www.ukf.sk/studium/sluzby-studentom
Professional support staff provide tutoring, counselling, administrative and other support services and related activities for tudents. Responsibilities and authority are regulated in the Faculty's organizational regulations: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/images/uradna_tabula/vnutorne_predpisy/FPV_organiz_poriadok_1_9_2019.pdf
Advice for students https://www.ukf.sk/studium/poradenstvo-pre-studentov
Accommodation
Canteen and cafeterias
Scholarships - Ing. Dana Buchová, +421 37 6408 161, dbuchova@ukf.sk, https://www.ukf.sk/stipendia
IT support also for university students
Other services
Students of the Environmental Science study program have 1 lecture room for 90 students (THC03050), 2 seminar rooms (THC03090 and THC0380), each for 37 students, all equipped with a computer and a ceiling data projector. An interactive whiteboard is available in room THC03080. The Environmental Laboratory is a part of the spatial and material provision used in solving the scientific-research tasks of employees and students. The laboratory is used in solving scientific research tasks of the staff of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, FNSaI CPU in Nitra. It is used in the processing and evaluation of various abiotic and biotic material obtained in the field research, as well as in practical teaching at the department, in solving selected bachelor's, master's and dissertation theses. It is equipped with devices for data processing and collection in the areas of:
Students use specialized classrooms for software applications (B-25, A-224) to process geospatial data through geographic information systems (to evaluate spatial analysis and landscape synthesis, digitization of map works - historical and contemporary topographic maps, processing and interpretation of aerial and satellite images , georeferencing, processing of GPS data from field mapping, statistical analysis and synthesis, spatial and temporal modelling of landscape ecological phenomena). Licenses for CorelDRAW graphics software, AutoCAD technical software, CANOCO statistical software, ArcGIS Desktop 10 Teaching & Research Lab Kit application software - ArcInfo Single / Concurrent Use are purchased annually with extensions: Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Geostatistical Analyst, Network Analyst, Publisher, Schematics, Tracking Analyst, Data Interoperability; CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 Education License ML graphics software. The Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies is provided with a sufficient amount of computer technology not only for teachers but also for students and doctoral students; has laptops, PCs and workstations, tablets, printers, travel data projectors, scanners, copiers, plotters and computer accessories (external drives and USB sticks).
Within the joint workplace of the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences has premises (offices and laboratories) at ILE SAS Nitra and Research Station in Východná, which are used for field exercises and field research of employees throughout the year. Several centers and facilities in Slovakia are used for short-term study purposes: Dropie Environmental Education Center in Zemianská Olča, Recreational facility Areál zdravia in Jedľové Kostoľany; workplace of the Research Institute of Alpine Biology in Tatranská Javorina, for short-term courses and excursions there are recreational facilities Drozdovo near Nova Baňa town, or Accommodation and training centres ŠOP – Varín (NP Malá Fatra) and Kohútka – Javorníky (PLA Kysuce).
Students have access to the study literature listed in the information sheets primarily through the University Library of the CPU in Nitra and the department's separate book collection and collection of journals and proceedings.
The University Library of the CPU in Nitra enables to provide all the basic library and information processes and services that are required of a modern library. The library provides internet access and wifi coverage throughout the library premises.
The University Library of the CPU in Nitra also includes the Study Room (studying books, journals and final and qualification theses, possibility of scanning documents, copying, wifi connection, access to databases).
The library collections of the CPU in Nitra currently comprise 275 658 book units and 338 titles of subscribed periodicals, of which 201 are Slovak and 137 foreign. Three periodicals are subscribed on-line in electronic form (https://www.uk.ukf.sk/sk/kniznicny-fond).
The total fund of the CPU University Library in Nitra as of October 28, 2020, is 323,751 library units. In 2020, UK UKF ordered 195 periodical titles in Nitra, of which 72 were foreign. The University Library has 285,199 library units at its disposal in its collection, of which 61,812 are final and qualification theses.
CPU in Nitra is an active member of the nationwide project of the National Information System for Support of Research and Development in Slovakia - Access to Electronic Information Resources (NISPEZ IV), which allows to provide information support, including centralized access to the most important electronic information resources, reflecting the current situation in the field of open access to information (Open Access) in the world.
The library also provides additional services such as the Interlibrary Loan Service (ILS), the International Interlibrary Loan Service (ILLS), bibliographic information and research services, and educational services for the staff and students of the CPU. Licensed and unlicensed electronic information databases are available for searching publication resources (e.g. Gale Virtual Reference Library: Art, Knovel Library, ProQuest Central + ebrary education collection, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Springer eBooks, SpringerLink, Web of Knowledge – Current Contents Connect, Web of Knowledge – Essential Science Indicators, Web of Knowledge – Journal Citation Reports, Web of Knowledge – MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge – Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, EBSCO), on-line catalogue, or publishing and artistic activities of CPU Nitra employees.
An overview of library services: https://www.uk.ukf.sk/sk/sluzby, https://www.uk.ukf.sk/sk/studovne
The library also offers the sale of publications through a brick-and-mortar shop and an e-shop. Through its website (www.uk.ukf.sk) it informs about new book additions, information resources and databases, the library's services and activities.
The basis of the technical infrastructure of data and telecommunication networks is a fibre-optic network, through which all CPU departments and student houses are connected, which allows students to have continuous access to Internet information resources.
and databases. Wireless signal coverage is currently available in all University buildings via the Eduroam network. The Eduroam wireless (wifi) network is used for students and staff of the CPU to access the CPU wireless network and at the same time to connect guests and students from other universities participating in the Eduroam project. In order to provide basic information support for studies, each student has his/her own university email account for official communication with the institution. In addition to e-mail communication, communication is ensured via the university (www.ukf.sk), faculty (www.fpvai.ukf.sk) and department (www.kee.fpvai.ukf.sk) websites and via the distribution of messages in the AIS system and via large screens integrated into the university's information system. This technology enables the provision of up-to-date information, multimedia presentations and departmental presentations at the most frequented locations of the University. CPU in Nitra operates a number of information systems and information and communication technologies serving the students and staff of the University. We specify only those systems that serve for information provision of the study programme, or by means of which students can access information resources, technologies, etc.:
Education at the doctoral level is carried out primarily in the presence form of lectures and consultations. In case of special conditions of study (e.g., regulation of pandemic measures), the transition from full-time to distance education is enabled through the own systems of CPU in Nitra or other platforms. The basic means of communication within distance education includes the student email account, which is assigned to each student upon entering the first year.
One of own systems of CPU in Nitra is the MEET videoconferencing system (meet.ukf.sk), which can also be used via mobile phone. This system can be used especially in lectures, seminars, examinations or consultations on students' final theses. The MEET videoconferencing system allows online video/audio communication (camera, microphone), chat - messages, screen and audio sharing, call recording, live streaming, or sharing of YouTube videos. Students can access the videoconferencing system with the same login credentials as, for example, the Academic Information System (AIS). Other videoconferencing platforms used for distance education include Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams or Cisco Webex.
Another system used for distance education is the Education Portal (EDU) (edu.ukf.sk), which is an e-learning portal based on LMS Moodle and is a full-fledged substitute for the full-time form of study. Through this portal, the teacher can create his/her own courses, supplement study materials, check the solutions of assignments and outputs of seminar papers, test students' knowledge online and communicate with them. Students have access to the system with the same login details as, for example, to AIS. Tutorials on how to use the portal can be found in the videos in the Course creation and management menu in the portal or directly on the Moodle YouTube channel.
The e-learning portal of the CPU in Nitra allows students to access study materials, watch videos from lectures, engage in online feedback, be notified of upcoming deadlines, monitor progress in their studies, communicate via messages, send e-mails, submit assignments via PC, mobile and tablet, discuss projects, lectures and test the acquired knowledge.
Partners from other institutions who participate in the implementation of final theses, are external members of commissions, or otherwise enter the educational activities of the SP (consulting activities, research activities, project cooperation) are regularly involved in the provision of educational activities. These include: Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS Bratislava (also employer of graduates), State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (also employer of graduates), Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (also employer of graduates), National Forest Center Zvolen, Arboretum Mlyňany SAS Vieska nad Žitavou, Slovak Environment Agency Banská Bystrica, Slovak National Museum – Andrej Kmeť Museum in Martin (also graduate employer), Institute of Zoology SAS Bratislava, Municipal Office Nitra city (also graduate employer), Raptor Protection of Slovakia, Bratislava (also graduate employer), Bratislava Regional Conservation Association – BROZ (also employer of graduates), Jaguar Land Rover Slovakia, Ltd. (also the employer of graduates).
The Department has signed framework agreements with the following institutions, where it is possible to carry out professional practice by agreement: Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS – branch Nitra and Bratislava, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic – Protected Landscape Area and National Park Administration, Center for Environmental Education of Slovak Environmental Agency – Dropie Zemianska Olča, Arboretum Mlyňany SAS.
CPU in Nitra supports cultural and sports activities of students. Student activities are also concentrated in university associations and clubs, which are mainly the Student Parliament of the CPU in Nitra. (https://www.ukf.sk/univerzita/studentske-kluby-a-zdruzenia).
Culture
Sport
Spiritual activities
Social, cultural and sporting events
The Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences has current agreements on mobility with workplaces from universities and colleges in the Czech Republic – MENDEL UNIVERSITY IN BRNO, PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY IN OLOMOUC, in Austria – LEOPOLD-FRANZENS UNIVERSITY INNSBRUCK, in Poland UNIWERSYTET KAZIMIERZA WIELKIEGO/ AKADEMIA BYDGOSKA COLLEDGE OF TOURISM AND ECOLOGY, in Turkey – DUZCE UNIVERSITY. The selection procedure for the cast is announced by the departmental ERASMUS coordinator, which is doc. Ing. Viera Petlušová, PhD. The selection of students for mobility is ensured by a three-member commission, which considers the study results of the applicants, participation in student activities in which students represented the school, as well as the language skills of the applicants. The Commission of Successful Mobility Students proposes to the Rectorate Commission.
Doctoral students, on the recommendation of their supervisor or programme guarantor, apply for a foreign mobility or internship through the www.studyabroad.sk application. The requirement to complete at least one internship or study stay of at least 14 days is defined in Article 7 of the Regulations for Doctoral Studies at FNSaI. The completion of the internship or mobility forms part of the doctoral student's studies and is the subject of the doctoral student's annual evaluation according to Article 8 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies at FNSaI.
The process of approving the study stay also includes defining the additional courses that the student will take during the mobility. The awarding of credits and the recognition of assessments for courses studied on mobility beyond the established framework of study is decided by the relevant Head of department on the basis of the recommendations of the guarantor and the supervisor. The recognition of credits and the assessment of a course which does not correspond to any course at the CPU, but which is in accordance with the student's study programme at the FNS, is decided by the study programme supervisor or the head of the department.
Further information is available at: https://www.ukf.sk/granty/erasmus/erasmus-bilaterarne-dohody
The process of administration of student mobility is regulated by the 26/2020 Guideline on the Recognition of Erasmus+ Mobility of CPU Students and staff affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and on the recognition of the costs of such mobility is available at: https://www.ukf.sk/intranet/vnutorne-predpisy/73-moja-ukf/3952-26-2020-smernica-k-uznavaniu-erasmus-mobilit-studentov-a-zamestnancov-ukf-ovplyvnenych-pandemiou-covid-19
Basic information on the conditions of application, application deadlines, the date and scope of the entrance examination, as well as a list of accredited study programmes offered by the faculty, including the requirements for the required abilities and prerequisites necessary for admission to the study are published on the faculty's website: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/prijimacie-konanie1
and in the document Principles for the evaluation of applicants for doctoral studies (https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/images/Studium/prijimacie_konanie/Zasady_hodnotenia_uchadzacov_o_doktorandske_studium_2022_2023.pdf)
All information and conditions of admission to doctoral study programmes at FNSaI are updated annually, approved by the AS of the FNSaI and regularly published within the statutory deadline - at least three months before the last day for submission of applications (31 May of the relevant year).
The propositions of the entrance examination are published on the faculty's website under the relevant study programme https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/doktorandske-studium
Applicants are admitted to the study who demonstrate the highest level of abilities and personal prerequisites for the study. The basic condition for admission to doctoral studies in the Environmental Studies study program is a completed second-level university education. Applicants who have the necessary skills and prerequisites must meet additional conditions. The applicant will prepare a brief idea of the study (in writing, max. 3 pages) – Project of the dissertation according to the assignment and annotation of the topic of the work, which he will choose from the list published on: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/ponuka-studia/hladam/doktorandske-studijne-programy/141-studium/aktualna-ponuka-studijnych-programov/doktorandske-studijne-programy/938-environmentalistika and http://www.kee.fpv.ukf.sk/index.php/sk/studium. The project should include the rationale for the solution of the dissertation, its goal, knowledge of the expected methods that will be used in the work, information about what knowledge will expand and what practical results the dissertation will bring. The applicant must have basic knowledge in the field of ecological and environmental sciences (natural resources, general ecology, biodiversity and its protection, nature and landscape protection, landscape ecology and landscape planning, environmental management, geographic information systems and remote sensing, environmental legislation and its performance in practice). Another condition for admission is an active knowledge of English. The conditions for admission to study are regularly updated, approved by the FPVaI Academic Senate and published in accordance with the Higher Education Act on the faculty's website: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/doktorandske-studium/141-studium/aktualna-ponuka-studijnych-programov/doktorandske-studijne-programy/938-environmentalistika.
The conditions of the admission procedure are regulated by Article 5 of the Study Regulations for Doctoral Students at the FNSaI
At least two months before the last day set for the submission of applications for doctoral studies, the Faculty will publish the topics of dissertations that can be applied for within the admission procedure. The topics of the dissertations are published together via the faculty's website and also on the website of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies. The applicant applies for the study electronically or in writing according to the instructions published on the faculty's website. The dean invites the candidate to the entrance exam. The entrance examination is held in front of the admissions committee, which consists of the chairman, at least two members of the union committee and the head of the faculty department at which the candidate's studies are to be carried out. The proposed trainer can also take part in the entrance exam. If he is not a member of the admissions committee, he has an advisory vote. The Admissions Committee evaluates the result of the entrance examination in a closed session. It determines the order of candidates according to the success in the admission procedure. The ranking also considers the scope and quality of the applicant's research or professional activities, as evidenced primarily by his / her publishing activities, language skills and the results of the applicant's other creative activities (e.g., results in student scientific and professional work competitions). The Admissions Committee will draw up minutes of the result of the admission procedure, in which it will record the course of the admission procedure, including the method of determining the order of candidates. In the minutes, the Admissions Committee clearly determines the order of the candidates according to the success in the admission procedure and determines which candidates it recommends being accepted and the chairman submits the proposal to the dean of the faculty. Based on the results of the admission procedure, the Dean shall decide whether or not to accept the applicant within thirty days from the date of the admission examination. The admission of a candidate to a topic offered by an external educational institution shall be subject to the approval of the head of the institution. A copy of the admission decision shall be included in the applicant's file.
For the other period in the range of the academic years 2015/2016 – 2021/2022, the results of the admission period in the study program Environmental Sciences were as follows:
Academic year / Applicants / Applicants accepted / Registered students
2015/2016 / 2 / 2 / 2
2016/2017 / 1 / 1/ 1
2017/2018 / 2 / 2 / 2
2018/2019 / 7 / 7 / 7
2019/2020 / 2 / 1 / 1
2020/2021 / - / - / -
2021/2022 / 2 / 2 / 2
Summary / 82 / 45 / 45
In accordance with the Guideline no. 5/2009 Principles of evaluation of education and teachers by students at the University and internal Guideline 21/2013 Quality Assurance of Education at the CPU in Nitra (as amended), the FNSaI conducts a regular survey of students' opinions on the quality of the educational process in the form of an anonymous questionnaire via AIS, which is open to students of doctoral studies as well.
The pedagogical activity of doctoral students (to the extent determined by law) is also part of the above-mentioned questionnaire survey organised by the faculty.
A special way of monitoring students' opinions includes informal meetings of the faculty management with student representatives from the student sections of the academic senates of the faculty and the university, which are usually held at the beginning of each semester.
The results of the evaluation questionnaire can be viewed by the lecturers evaluated by students as well as PhD students through the AIS. The overall processing of the questionnaire is an agenda developed by student representatives and members of the student section of the Faculty Academic Senate. The results are presented at the meetings of the College of the Dean of the FNSaI, as well as at the working sessions of the departments and are discussed by the Academic Senate of the FNSaI. The measures taken are aimed at creating better conditions for study and improving the quality of study at the Faculty.
The results of graduate feedback, or their suggestions and subsequent measures to improve the quality of the study programme can be obtained through personal contacts, conferences of the department, which are also attended by the graduates, their lectures within the study programme, activities of the Student Centre (e.g., Career Days, career counselling). It is also possible to use the potential of university/faculty/department social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
Study guide: https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/organizacia-studia
Accommodation:
Guideline on fees https://www.fpv.ukf.sk/sk/studium-fpv-ukf/organizacia-studia
Guidelines for student loans:
Student services: https://www.ukf.sk/studium/sluzby-studentom
Current regulations in force for the quality system