Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University
The Faculty of Political Science and International Relations FPVaMV-UMB), (Slovak: Fakulta politických vied a medzinárodných vzťahov Univerzity Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici) is the public policy and international relations school of Matej Bel University. FPVAMV offers bachelor's degrees in political science and international relations, master's degrees in International relations, Security studies, and Political science and also grants doctoral degrees. It conducts research in subjects relating to politics, government and international affairs.
 | |
| Motto | Veritate et Legibus |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1995 |
Parent institution | Matej Bel University |
| Dean | Branislav Kováčik |
| Location | |
| Website | fpvmv.umb.sk |
The faculty is widely recognized as one of the leading international relations teaching and research institutes in Central Europe.[1]
Along with its Slovak taught programs the faculty also offers French dual degree programs in co-operation with the Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, and English taught Master's and PhD. programs.[2]
Since 2009 the faculty headquarters the National Center of Excellence for International Security Studies[3] funded through the RD Program of the EU.
Campus
The faculty campus is located in the historical city downtown of Banská Bystrica, bordering the branch office of the National Bank of Slovakia and the Matej Bel University Rector´s department. The campus consists of two buildings, which are set in a 4-acre urban park overlooking the river Hron. The main building is an early 17th-century chateau, which was completely reconstructed in 1995 and 2010. The second building is an early 17th-century servant's house, which served for many years as a headquarters for the faculty's various student organizations. Partially reconstructed by the Euro-Atlantic Center, it had been the headquarters for Globsec, until 2011 when the newly established Slovak-French university institute moved into this object.
Academics
The faculty has had a distinctive international reputation since it was founded in 1995. The faculty's graduates have, on average, one of the largest salaries in the country.[4]
Academic departments
The faculty consists of the following departments:
- Department of International Relations and Diplomacy
The Department of International Relations and Diplomacy deals with teaching activities related to the following subjects: Diplomacy, Diplomatic and Consular Law, European Studies, Geopolitics of the Slovak Republic, Humanitarian Law, Integration Processes and Basic Principles of European Law, Canadian Studies, etc. The department also offers a doctoral degree program in international relations and diplomacy.
- Department of Politics
The Department of Politics provides full-time bachelor's and master’s programs in "International Relations" and "Political Science" as well as a full-time doctoral program in "Theory of politics".
- Department of Security Studies
The Department of Security Studies focuses on applied political issues for example, globalization and regional problems, socioeconomic geography of regions in the world, geography of the Slovak republic and political geography.
Center of excellence
FPVAMV headquarters the National Center of Excellence for International Security Studies.[3] The Center is funded by the Operational Program for Science and Research of the European Regional Development Fund. Its main goals are to
- Produce cutting-edge academic research by encouraging integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to traditional and emerging challenges to security
- Develop the next generation of academics and practitioners by providing high quality postgraduate education in international security
- Broaden and deepen public understanding of the nexus between interstate conflict, transnational forces and human insecurity
- Produces original and impartial research of (key) modern security issues, and makes this analysis available to policymakers, scholars, journalists, and the public.[5]
Academic Publishing
The faculty publishes the Politické vedy journal which was run from 1998-2000 in cooperation with the Institute of Political Sciences at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, but since 2000 it has been exclusively administrated by the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations.[6]
Partnerships
As a part of its internationally focused education, it encourages students to add an international component to their studies by living in a foreign country. The school believes that the experience is a key part of an education in international affairs because it increases understanding of the world by providing students with a variety of new and unexpected perspectives. The program functions as bilateral partnerships with a number of schools.
Some of these include University of Bologna in Italy, University of Cologne in Germany, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbia) - Diplomatic Academy, Complutense University of Madrid in Spain etc. The faculty constantly looks for new partners and schools are added on a yearly basis.
In 2011, the faculty established the Slovak-French University Institute, in partnership with the French Embassy in Slovakia and two French Universities. The institute is headquartered on the school's campus and its main goal is to support scientific cooperation and academic mobility between French and Slovakian universities.[7]
Student life
Student body
There are about 600 full-time students and 100 part-time students at the faculty.
Greek life
The Faculty of Political Science and International Relations of Matej Bel University is home to the Sigma Phi Kappa[8] fraternity. However, there is no "Greek row" on campus, nor is the fraternity formally acknowledged by the faculty. Activities of SPK are wide-ranging and include the organization of sporting events, organizing student parties, participating in fund raising events and more. The Sigma Phi Kappa also publishes a newsletter called PARTA HREJ. SPK's symbol is a platypus, representative colors are yellow and light blue.
Student organizations at FPVaMV-UMB provide students with opportunities to get involved in a wide variety of interest areas including academic, social, religious, artistic, service-based, diversity and many more.
Administration
The school is administrated by the Dean's department. The school's scientific and research tasks are however determined by the Scientific Board. The main governing body of the school is the Academic Senate. The faculty's current dean is Associate Professor Branislav Kováčik. The first dean of the faculty was Peter Kulašik, formerly a senior scientist at the Political Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
- Dean- doc. Mgr. Branislav Kovacik, PhD., MBA
- Vice-Dean for Science, Research and Development: Dr.h.c. prof. Ing. Pavel Nečas, PhD
- Vice-Dean for Studies: doc. Mgr. Lucia Rysova, PhD.
- Vice-Dean for International and Public Relations: doc. Mgr. Jaroslav Ušiak, PhD.
- Secretary: PhDr. Klaudia Frankova
Notable Alumni
- Jaroslav Naď, Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic
- Martin Klus, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
- Danka Barteková, Olympic Medalist and member of the International Olympic Committee
- Róbert Vass, President of Globsec
- Hlobeň Roman, Slovak Ambassador in Montenegro
- Tomáš Ferko, Slovak Ambassador in Australia
- Ladislav Babčan, Slovak Ambassador in Lithuania
- Natália Šubrtová, Nine time Paralympic Champion
- Juraj Krúpa, Slovak MP, Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of the Slovak National Council
References
- "Prinášame rebríčky fakúlt vysokých škôl". tvnoviny.sk. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- "IUFS". Iufs.sk. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- "Centrum Excelentnosti Úvod" (in Slovak). Projekty.umb.sk. Archived from the original on 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- "Informácie o vysokých školách - Profil". Vs.iedu.sk. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- UMB BB. "Univerzita Mateja Bela - Projekty štrukturálnych fondov EÚ" (in Slovak). Umb.sk. Archived from the original on 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- "Politické vedy - 1998 - 2000". Upv.sav.sk. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- "International Day at Matej Bel University | ESN Slovakia". Esn.sk. Archived from the original on 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- "Sigma Phi Kappa". Facebook. 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-07-04.