The election of the candidate for the office of Rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra for the term 2026 – 2030 was officially announced on 3 November 2025. The period for submitting nominations for the position of rector ran from 5 November 2025 until 9 February 2026.

The names of the nominated members of the academic community who provided written consent to stand for election by 13 February were published on the university’s official website on 16 February 2026. The candidates who accepted the nomination were Prof. PaedDr. Jana Duchovičová, PhD., Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, and Dr. h. c. Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., MBA, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics of the same university.

The electoral process continued on the morning of 3 March 2026, when a meeting of the Electoral Assembly took place under the chairmanship of Prof. PaedDr. Gabriela Pavlovičová, PhD., Chair of the Academic Senate of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra. In the university’s Aula, she welcomed the Rector of the university, Prof. RNDr. Libor Vozár, CSc., members of the Academic Senate, members of the University’s Board of Trustees, and other members of the academic community, including both university staff and students.

A key part of the Electoral Assembly meeting was the public hearing of the two candidates for the office of rector.

“I note that all procedures conducted thus far in connection with the election of the candidate for Rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra have proceeded in accordance with the applicable legislation, as stipulated in the official announcement of the election and the accompanying timetable,” stated Prof. PaedDr. Gabriela Pavlovičová, PhD. She then welcomed the candidates for the office of rector – Prof. PaedDr. Jana Duchovičová, PhD., and Dr. h. c. Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., MBA.

In their prepared presentations, both candidates introduced to members of the academic community their respective proposals for the strategic development of the university in the coming years.

   

Election Results
Following the presentations of the candidates for the office of rector, the Chair of the Academic Senate of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, Prof. PaedDr. Gabriela Pavlovičová, PhD., opened a public discussion. Questions from the audience, to which both candidates responded, addressed, among other issues, possible solutions to challenges related to the university’s student housing policy in its residence halls, the evaluation of the quality of the educational process by students, the preparation of teachers for the twenty-first century in the context of the ongoing curricular reform, and the role and perception of faculty-level academic self-governance.

Following the public part of the electoral process held in the Hall of the University of Constantine the Philosopher, a closed session of the Electoral Assembly took place after 1:00 p.m., during which the election of the candidate was conducted by secret ballot. According to the announcement by the Chair of the Academic Senate, Prof. PaedDr. Gabriela Pavlovičová, PhD., Dr. h. c. Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., MBA, was elected Rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra for the term of office from 3 July 2026 to 2 July 2030.

Diversity of Disciplines and Unity of Vision
In her address following the announcement of the results, the candidate for the position of rector, Prof. PaedDr. Jana Duchovičová, PhD., expressed her sincere gratitude to all those who had supported her candidacy by submitting nominations on her behalf. She emphasized that she deeply appreciates this expression of confidence and regards it as a reflection of satisfaction with her professional work. The trust placed in her by her supporters served as a strong motivation to stand for the position.

“Our university is exceptional for the breadth and internal diversity of its academic disciplines. Here, humanistic reflection meets the precision of the natural sciences; economic rationality stands alongside pedagogical responsibility; informatics-driven innovation engages with societal reflection; healthcare practice exists side by side with linguistics, and art and culture flourish alongside sport. Together, these fields create an intellectual environment that transcends the boundaries of individual disciplines. Yet diversity alone is not sufficient – if it is to become a genuine strength, it requires direction, a shared vision that connects the faculties, fosters cooperation, and creates strategic stability. The diversity of disciplines and the unity of vision constitute the principle upon which I would like to build the further development of our university,” stated Prof. PaedDr. Jana Duchovičová, PhD., at the beginning of her presentation.

She further emphasized that her electoral programme was not conceived as a list of what should be changed. Rather, her vision of improvement, modernization, and continuous growth is grounded in an assessment of the university’s current position, the direction in which it should move, and the means through which these goals may be achieved. In the subsequent part of her address, she elaborated in greater detail on the substantive content of the individual points of her presentation.

“My competencies for achieving the goals I have outlined stem from many years of managerial experience at the levels of department, faculty, and the central leadership of the university. They are also grounded in my experience as a responsible project manager within various research and development schemes, as well as in my guarantor roles within bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study programmes. Furthermore, they derive from my experience in guaranteeing habilitation and professorial appointment procedures and in coordinating the university-wide pedagogical core for all teacher-training study programmes, as well as a study programme focused on the management of education,” she added.

 

A University Where Learning, Creativity, Work, and Life Flourish
In his opening remarks, the candidate for Rector, Dr. h. c. Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., MBA, expressed his sincere gratitude to his supporters and colleagues for the trust they demonstrated by nominating him for the position. He emphasized that he deeply appreciates this support and affirmed his readiness and determination to serve the entire university community and to work for the benefit of all its employees and students.

Before presenting his electoral programme, he briefly introduced himself to the audience, outlining his academic background, professional trajectory within the department and faculty, and his achievements in teaching, research, and scholarly activities. He also referred to his managerial experience, particularly in the administration of research projects and in leading the faculty as dean. In this context, he recalled his support for the strategic decision in 2022 to rename the faculty as the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics.

“Over the past eight years I have been guided by these experiences in my role as dean of the faculty. I believe they have equipped me with the competencies that I can effectively employ for the benefit of the university. I enjoy leadership responsibilities, I value teamwork, and I see myself as a team-oriented person capable of motivating colleagues and guiding them toward shared goals,” stated Dr. h. c. Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., MBA, as he introduced his personal and professional qualities. He subsequently presented his Development Strategy for Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra for the next four years.

“Let us work together to build a modern research university where learning, creativity, professional work, and academic life thrive. My vision is that we will continue to develop as a research-oriented institution that serves as a stable and trustworthy partner for broad and diverse forms of cooperation. In the long term, I envision Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra as a strong and mature institution – competitive in both national and international contexts, autonomous in its decision-making processes, participatory in shaping its strategic direction, and cooperative in addressing the needs of society,” he stated while outlining his vision for the university’s future development.

He further emphasized his commitment to fostering an environment in which talent meets opportunity – where ideas and innovations are not only conceived but also implemented and provided with the conditions necessary for their practical application and commercialization for the benefit of all stakeholders: students, employees, and the university as a whole. He then elaborated on this vision by presenting the key strategic pillars of the university’s future development.

Text: Ing. Jana Černáková – Media Department
Photo: Lubo Balko – Media Department
English Translation: International Relation Office

 

Published: March 13, 2026