Development of the University through Collective Effort
The electoral process culminated on 3 March 2026 with a meeting of the Electoral Assembly, which resulted in the election of Dr. h. c. Prof. RNDr. František Petrovič, PhD., MBA, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, as the candidate for the position of Rector of Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra for the term of office from 3 July 2026 to 2 July 2030. We spoke with the future rector about the goals and visions he intends to pursue in close cooperation with the entire academic community.
- How do you perceive your success in being elected as the candidate for Rector of UKF in Nitra? In what sense is this both a commitment and a challenge for the years ahead?
I perceive my election to the position of Rector of Constantine the Philosopher University primarily as an expression of trust from colleagues who have had the opportunity to observe and evaluate my work at the university. This experience encompasses my teaching activities at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies, as well as my eight-year tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics.
At the same time, I regard this trust as a profound responsibility. My ambition is to contribute to the stable and effective development of our university – a goal that can only be achieved through mutual cooperation, respect, and the collective effort of the entire academic community.
For this reason, I do not view the outcome of the election merely as a personal success, but above all as a commitment to the entire university community – its faculty members, researchers, staff, and students. It motivates me to continue fostering the systematic development of the university, to support high-quality education, research, and international cooperation, and to cultivate an environment grounded in open communication, mutual respect, and collaboration.
Allow me once again to express my sincere gratitude for the trust placed in me through my election to this position. I accept it with great respect and humility, but also with determination to work together on the continued development of our university. My ambition is to collaborate with the entire academic community in building a university that is strong, competitive, internationally recognized, and respected for both its scholarly achievements and its educational mission. I am convinced that only through collective effort can we fully realize the potential of Constantine the Philosopher University and further strengthen its standing within both the Slovak and the broader European academic landscape.
- Which of your personal qualities and professional skills would you like to bring to this position for the benefit of the university and the academic community?
During my tenure as dean, confronting changes in the external environment significantly strengthened my ability to seek solutions that enabled the faculty not only to overcome challenging periods but also to continue developing and prospering. The results achieved in recent years confirm that, thanks to joint effort and cooperation with my colleagues, we have been able to successfully pursue these objectives.
This experience has also provided me with valuable managerial and organizational competencies that I intend to apply responsibly for the benefit of the entire university. Leadership motivates me, and I view it primarily as a space for constructive collaboration. I strongly value teamwork and the cultivation of an environment based on mutual trust, open communication, and a shared commitment to clearly defined goals.
I offer the university my experience, energy, and a responsible approach to leadership. The development of our university can be achieved only through the collective effort and active cooperation of the entire academic community.
- What do you consider to be the main priorities after assuming office?
My objective is to strengthen the interconnection of research activities across the university in order to gradually establish a functional academic ecosystem grounded in the synergy of modern research infrastructure, ongoing research projects, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the complementary expertise and competencies of individual research teams. Such an environment can create the conditions for higher-quality scientific outputs, innovative solutions, and broader participation of the university in both national and international research initiatives.
I also regard the systematic support of project activities as an important priority, particularly through the modernization of the university’s project management office and its development into a professional unit with adequate staffing and expert capacity. Such a unit should actively identify grant opportunities, provide methodological support to project leaders, and relieve researchers of administrative burdens to the greatest possible extent. Researchers should primarily focus on scientific and creative work; high-quality project support should create the conditions that enable them to do so.
Alongside research activities, I consider the support of artistic creation to be equally significant, as it contributes substantially to enhancing the visibility of the university both nationally and internationally. Outputs in the fields of music and visual arts represent an important bridge between the university and the wider public, while also strengthening the institution’s identity as an open, cultured, and creative academic environment. My ambition is therefore to cultivate an atmosphere in which researchers and artists alike feel respected, supported, and provided with sufficient space to develop their potential.
An important component of the university’s development is also its public visibility and the manner in which it communicates with its surrounding environment. One of our ambitions is to strengthen the presentation of the university’s achievements in science, the arts, and education through modern web platforms and active communication on social media. The university website should be clear, visually attractive, and technologically advanced so that it appropriately reflects the dynamism and quality of our institution. It should not serve merely as a formal information platform but rather as a vibrant communication space for students, employees, prospective applicants, and institutional partners.
In the long term, we also aim to systematically develop the UKF as a symbol of quality, innovation, social responsibility, and internationalization in higher education, research, and creative activities.
An integral part of the university’s future development will also be the digital transformation of its processes. My goal is to progressively increase the level of digitalization and the efficiency of internal operations through the implementation of modern information and communication technologies. This transformation will enhance user comfort, improve access to educational resources, and strengthen the university’s technological adaptability within a rapidly evolving academic environment. Digital transformation will therefore represent one of the key priorities of the new university leadership.
- In your view, what makes UKF in Nitra unique within the landscape of higher education and research? On what pillars would you like to build further as rector in order to strengthen the university’s reputation?
Our university stands on solid foundations that have been systematically built by previous leaderships together with many members of the academic community. The achievements in research, artistic creation, internationalization, and the continuous improvement of education are the result of their long-term efforts, their courage to make responsible decisions, and the daily dedication of teachers, researchers, and university staff. For these accomplishments they deserve sincere gratitude and deep respect.
My ambition is to build upon these achievements, to further develop them, and to move the university forward—with emphasis on continuity, prudence, and openness to new challenges. Our goal is not to change what has already proven effective in practice, but rather to strengthen these values, expand them further, and complement them where opportunities for growth arise. Only through the integration of experience, the energy of the younger generation, scientific excellence, artistic creativity, and mutual trust can we fulfil the vision of a modern, respected, and confident university.
I hold in high regard the development of education in the helping professions at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care, which has successfully established itself through professionally oriented study programmes. At the same time, teacher education has historically held a special place within the identity of our university. In this field, UKF occupies a unique position in Slovakia – particularly due to the synergy of several faculties that contribute to the preparation of future teachers. The university offers one of the broadest and most comprehensive portfolios of teacher education programmes in the country, complemented by the important provision of teacher training in the Hungarian language.
At the same time, it is essential to continuously expand and innovate the study portfolio so that it reflects current scientific knowledge, societal needs, and international trends within individual disciplines. An important step in this direction was the introduction of a study programme focused on the application of artificial intelligence, which we accredited as the first public university in Slovakia and in which the first students have already begun their studies. I consider this initiative a significant contribution to positioning the university as a modern and innovative institution.
Finally, strengthening the international dimension of education is also one of the key priorities. This includes the preparation and accreditation of high-quality study programmes taught in foreign languages, the development of joint and double degree programmes, the creation of international study programmes in cooperation with foreign partners, and the systematic development of summer and winter schools with international participation. Our ambition is not only to increase the number of international students but also to establish the university as an attractive academic environment for visiting professors, researchers, and postdoctoral scholars from abroad.
- Internationally recognized education and research at UKF, together with opportunities for graduates to pursue careers both domestically and abroad, are undoubtedly attractive for students. However, the university’s infrastructure and the spaces where learning, creativity, and research take place – and where students also live and build their community—are equally important. What measures, in your opinion, could enhance the attractiveness of the university environment and student life?
From the perspective of both professional and personal development, I consider it essential to cultivate a dynamic community of students at Constantine the Philosopher University and to actively support the activities of student associations. Our ambition is to shape a generation of graduates who will not only be academically well prepared but also technically proficient, analytically minded, creative, and capable of transforming acquired knowledge into practical solutions. An important part of this effort will be to encourage students to actively participate in university life both during their studies and after graduation, while also creating opportunities for collaboration, mentoring, and career development. In cooperation with student representatives, we also intend to prepare a proposal for a new, transparent, and equitable methodology for allocating accommodation capacities in university dormitories.
An integral part of this vision is the systematic improvement of opportunities and the overall quality of students’ leisure time. We plan to support and further develop the activities of the University Student Centre, cooperate with the University Pastoral Centre, renovate and modernize campus cafés and buffets, expand and more effectively utilize relaxation zones within university buildings, and enhance the quality of student housing, sports infrastructure, and catering services. At the same time, we aim to support student organizations and events that contribute to strengthening the university’s identity and community life, such as the University Ball, the traditional spring festival (Majáles), UKF Fest, and other social and cultural events.
One of my personal visions is also the revival of the University Folklore Ensemble Ponitran, which for many years represented a significant and proud component of the university’s identity. The ensemble represented the university not only on domestic stages but also internationally and became a bearer of tradition, cultural identity, and a strong sense of belonging. It brought together students from different faculties, academic disciplines, and generations, creating a vibrant community that extended beyond the boundaries of the academic environment. Restoring its activities could once again contribute to strengthening the cultural life of the university and fostering the creative potential of our students.
- Which investments do you consider crucial for the strategic development, modernization, and further internationalization of our university’s education and research?
It is essential to continue the modernization and optimization of the operation of university buildings, dormitories, and the overall infrastructure of Constantine the Philosopher University so that they correspond to the requirements of contemporary higher education and research. At the same time, this process must respect the principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility. In this regard, we intend to actively utilize available funding mechanisms supporting renewable energy sources, for example through the installation of photovoltaic panels or the use of heat pumps, with the aim of reducing the seasonal energy consumption of university facilities.
These steps should lead to the systematic creation of a long-term investment plan that will include both the development of new infrastructure and the modernization of existing university spaces. Among the important investment priorities are the reconstruction of the roof of the Faculty of Arts building, addressing parking capacities in the vicinity of university facilities, the modernization of the Zobor student dormitory, and the renovation of the university auditorium as a significant academic and social venue.
Above all, however, I consider investments in the quality of education and in the creation of a modern academic environment for both students and academic staff to be of paramount importance. In recent years, for example, a research centre of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics was established more than eight years ago. I am therefore particularly pleased that another important project is currently being prepared – the Simulation Centre for Health Sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care, which has the potential to significantly enhance the practical training of students in healthcare professions.
An integral component of the university’s strategic development is also the strengthening of its international cooperation and participation in European academic initiatives. Over the past eight years, Constantine the Philosopher University has twice taken part in the demanding process of applying for membership in a European University Alliance (EUA). This process included the extensive preparation of a project proposal, intensive collaboration with international partners, and ultimately the presentation of the university before an international evaluation panel in Finland. Although we have not yet become part of such an alliance, I consider this experience extremely valuable – it confirmed our ability to cooperate within the international academic environment and to prepare projects at a high European level. As rector, I will strive to ensure that the university once again seeks membership in one of the European university alliances in the future, as these alliances represent an important platform for the development of joint education, research, and the mobility of students and staff.
At the same time, I intend to systematically develop the potential of the Erasmus+ programme, which represents one of the most effective instruments for the internationalization of the university environment. My ambition is to further strengthen its implementation in both education and research, support the mobility of students, teachers, and researchers with an emphasis on tangible academic outcomes, and expand cooperation with partner universities both within Europe and beyond. The Erasmus+ programme can therefore continue to play a significant role in enhancing the openness of the university, improving the quality of education, and strengthening its international academic environment.
Text: Ing. Jana Černáková – Media Department
Photo: Lubo Balko – Media Department
English Translation: International Relation Office
Photo: Lubo Balko – Media Department
English Translation: International Relation Office
Published: March 13, 2026
