| Study programme | EMMSP_AJ_D2 - Economics and Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises |
| Study | stupeň - II. - master, forma - full time, typ - Single degree study |
| The name of the university | Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica |
| The seat of the university | Národná 12, 974 01 Banská Bystrica |
| The name of the faculty | The Faculty of Economics |
| The seat of the faculty | Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica |
Knowledge:
A graduate of the second degree of university studies in the study programme Business economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises will acquire extensive professional and methodological knowledge in the field of economic and managerial theory and practice with an emphasis on specific economic and managerial concepts, procedures, categories and connections between them (expanding and enriching knowledge following the first level of higher education studies with an economic focus). He/she can use the acquired knowledge and the acquired conceptual apparatus in identifying problems in new or unknown environments, in broader contexts beyond the field of study. Regarding the acquired knowledge, practical experience and current knowledge, he/she can propose and apply suitable, original solutions to identified problems and draw adequate conclusions in various areas of economics and financing, management and marketing of enterprises, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises.
Skills:
The graduate is able to analyse complex economic relationships in business processes, propose and implement economic and managerial decisions related to the functioning of these processes and evaluate the impacts of these decisions. In managerial decision-making, he is characterized by a high degree of independence and creativity. He/she has the skills and abilities to integrate knowledge and acquired thought processes, manage the complexity of the problem and formulate decisions even with incomplete or limited information, while respecting the principles of social responsibility, sustainability and managerial ethics. He thinks strategically and analytically, approaches problem solving holistically, critically evaluates the investigated phenomena and creatively synthesizes new solutions in connection with the specific requirements of practice and the labour market. He/she has developed communication and presentation skills necessary for the performance of senior managerial and professional functions. He monitors strategic, tactical and operational management of companies.
Competence:
The graduate demonstrates a high degree of independence in solving economic and management problems and implementing projects and in making qualified managerial decisions at the level of small and medium-sized enterprises. He/she can work effectively as an individual, member or team leader, manages work and managerial communication even in an intercultural environment. Can continuously monitor, critically classify and implement the latest knowledge from various profile areas of the program. He applies economic, social, legal and ethical principles in decision-making. He has a proactive approach, is able to clearly and unambiguously present conclusions, knowledge and justifications to experts and the general public, defend his own opinions, even in a foreign language. He can take responsibility for the tasks or projects entrusted to him. He/she masters the principles of planning, implementation and evaluation of economic research with the application of mathematical-statistical methods and modern computing and communication technology, and creatively applies its original results in business practice.
A graduate of the second level of study can find employment at the middle and top level of management in the corporate sphere, but also in state and local government bodies, in project and consulting organizations, or can continue in further education in the third level of university studies. His knowledge, skills and competencies will allow him to start his career as a self-employed person.
The main objective of education in the study programme Business economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises is to prepare graduates for employment in various managerial positions at the middle and higher level of management in companies of various specializations and in various sectors, especially in market-dominant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is one of the most universal study programs within the field of economics and management, and at the same time, its cross-sectional character significantly reflects the main topics of the core knowledge of this field of study. The structure of courses within the program is designed to maximize this consistency while further developing and expanding the knowledge, transversal skills, and specific competencies of students acquired in the previous degree of study. The objective of the education is also to take into account and implement into the educational process current development trends in individual areas of the study programme (primarily economics of SMEs, management of SMEs, marketing of SMEs), essential knowledge of social responsibility, sustainability, ethics, ecology and especially the requirements of economic practice. Emphasis is placed on the development of critical and entrepreneurial thinking, communication and analytical skills, creativity, invention and active approach of students.
The main outcomes of education are:
At the level of knowledge:
- - acquired extensive professional and methodological knowledge in the field of economic and managerial theory and practice with an emphasis on specific economic and managerial concepts, procedures and categories and the connections between them,
- the ability to use this knowledge to identify problems in new or unfamiliar environments, both domestically and internationally, as well as in broader contexts beyond the field of study; and
- on their basis, the ability to propose and apply original solutions to identified problems and to draw adequate conclusions in the field of economics and financing of enterprises (especially small and medium-sized enterprises), their management and marketing.
The acquired skills are reflected into:
- the ability to analyse complex economic relationships in business processes, to propose and implement economic and managerial decisions concerning the functioning of these processes, including the assessment of the impact of these decisions,
- a high level of creativity and independence in managerial decision-making, the ability to integrate knowledge and acquired thought processes,
- managing the solution of complex problems and formulating decisions even with incomplete or limited information, while respecting the principles of social responsibility, sustainability and management ethics,
- strategic and analytical thinking, a holistic approach to problem solving, the ability to synthesize new solutions in relation to the requirements of practice and the labour market,
- developed communication and presentation skills necessary for the performance of senior managerial and professional functions,
- the ability to understand new development trends, identify their possible impacts and apply them appropriately to strategic, tactical and operational management of enterprises.
Competencies profiling the graduate
Graduate of the second degree of study:
- is competent to solve economic and management problems and implement projects independently or in teams,
- is able to make qualified managerial decisions in the environment of small and medium-sized enterprises and is ready to take responsibility for them, also taking into account the wider societal consequences,
- can work effectively individually or coordinate procedures in teams,
- manages the work and communication of a manager even in an intercultural environment,
- continuously monitors, selects and implements into practice the latest knowledge from individual economic and managerial disciplines, with an emphasis on economic, social, legal and ethical principles,
- is able to plan, implement and evaluate economic research, applying mathematical and statistical methods and modern computer and communication technology, and creatively applying original research results in business practice,
- has a proactive approach, clearly and unambiguously formulates and communicates information about the progress and results of solving tasks; He is able to present conclusions and justifications and defend them in communication with experts.
The specific objectives and outcomes of education in relation to individual profile courses are elaborated in detail in Annex No. 13 of the UMB Directive No. 1/2021 entitled Learning Objectives and Outcomes.
The study programme Business Economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises prepares its graduates for employment in various managerial positions at the middle and higher level of management in companies of various specializations and in various industries. The orientation towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provides a wide range of opportunities for employment in the labour market due to the dominance of this type of enterprises in our domestic conditions, as well as in all developed countries. Although the graduate of the study programme is primarily prepared for employment in the corporate sphere, the acquired knowledge, skills and competencies create space for a successful career in large enterprises, in multinational corporations at home and abroad, in state and local government bodies, in consulting and project organizations, or they can continue in further education at the third level of higher education. Finally, a graduate of the study programme can set up their own business as a self-employed activity based on the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired during their studies.
Since this is a new study programme that is identical to the EMMSP study programme carried out in the Slovak language, we base the applicability on its data.
In 2022, 64 graduates successfully completed their studies in the study programme Business Economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (in Slovak language) (70 in 2021). Of these, 93.8 % worked in permanent employment or as a self-employed person after graduation (96.5 % in 2021). For a long time, the share of graduates working abroad remained at 2-3 %, in 2022 it was 6.3 %.
51 % of graduates are employed in three dominant sectors – industrial production, wholesale and retail trade, and professional, scientific and technical activities (industrial production dominated in 2021).
The data come from the portal of the Institute of Social Policy (Employment of Graduates - ISP (gov.sk)).
Examples of successful graduates can be found on the website of the faculty (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/alumni/stories-of-successful-graduates/). Successful graduates were also included among the stakeholders.
Ing. Mgr. Peter Brozman – graduate from 2016, BP consult, s.r.o., Managing Director/Partner
Ing. Richard Zima – graduate from 2012, project manager/consultant, IBM
Ing. Martin Vlčko – 2005 graduate, SOFTIP, CFO, Member of the Board of Directors,
Ing. Adam Dudič – absolvent z roku 1999, US Steel, General Accounting and Financial Reporting Manager
In the process of creating the study programme, the following employer participated in the evaluation of its quality (is also a member of the Study Programme Board):
Ing. Mgr. Ondrej Ďurják, PhD., Sudolabs, Director of Proposals and AI-Powered Product Development
The employer commented on the quality of the study programme by preparing a report on the evaluation of the study programme by the interested party. During the preparation of the internal accreditation file, the employer continuously communicated and gave feedback on selected characteristics of the study programme. The person responsible for the study programme prepared a separate report on the scope of processing of comments. The evaluation reports as well as the opinion of the person responsible for the study programme on the incorporation of the comments of interested parties are annexes to the submitted accreditation file.
The rules for the formation of study plans in the study programme of programmes are defined in the UMB Directive No. 1/2021 Creation, modification and approval of study programmes and submission of applications to the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education. They are also defined in the Study Regulations of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/study-rules-and-other-documents/study-rules-of-the-faculty-of-economics-mbu-in-banska-bystrica/) .
In addition to the above documents, the following rules were also taken into account when creating the recommended study plan:
The recommended study plan is available in AIS2 and also on the faculty website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/accredited-study-programs-in-foreign-language/master-s-programme-economics-and-management-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.html).
The recommended study plan is part of the internal accreditation file of the study programme as Annex No. 12 (UMB Directive 1/2021). In addition to AIS2, the recommended study plan is also available on the faculty website -Recommended study plan.
The recommended study plan contains the names of compulsory subjects, compulsory elective subjects, the credit subsidy of the subject, basic educational activities and their area in lessons, the recommended semester, the workload of the student in classes and the teachers of the subject. Profile subjects are separately marked in the study plan.
Learning outcomes, rules for their evaluation, educational activities, teaching methods, syllabus, workload of the student are part of the course information sheets. Course information sheets are available in academic information system AIS2 and also at the website of the faculty: https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/accredited-study-programs-in-foreign-language/master-s-programme-economics-and-management-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.html.
The structure of the recommended study plan in the study programme Business Economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises has been created in such a way as to maximise the compliance of the study programme with the main topics of the core knowledge of the field of study Economics and Management, with the areas and scope of knowledge, skills and competences that profile the graduate of the second-cycle study programme in accordance with the relevant level of the national qualification framework. It also reflects the current needs of the labour market, as well as the available results of the survey of employers' requirements or internal student surveys.
In the group of 11 compulsory courses (with a total subsidy of 74 credits), there are 7 profile courses (Financial Management; Corporate planning in small and medium-sized enterprises; International Management and Marketing; Corporate logistics; Socially responsible business; Strategic management; Strategic Marketing).
The specificity of the study program is the possible "specialization" during the study by choosing from a wide range of compulsory elective courses. During the entire engineering study, the student must successfully complete at least 6 compulsory elective courses with a credit subsidy of 5 credits/subject.
The student can focus on subjects oriented on:
- economics of SMEs (oriented on financial and economic issues, financial decision-making and management, controlling, international financial management),
- management and marketing of SMEs (emphasis is placed on various managerial disciplines in the field of quality, customer relations, innovations, communication, digitization and online services).
The offer of courses in the study programme is completed by elective courses that the student enrols in according to his/her choice from the faculty or university offer of courses (in the range of at least 16 credits, i.e. 4 elective courses).
Number of credits for compulsory courses required for proper completion of studies/completion of a part of studies:74 (of which 20 for the Diploma Thesis with Defence)
Number of credits for compulsory optional courses required for the proper completion of studies: 30
Number of credits for compulsory optional courses required for the proper completion of studies: 16
Number of credits for the final thesis and the defense of the final thesis required for the proper completion of studies: 20
The rules for the verification of learning outcomes and the evaluation of students and the possibilities of remedial procedures are defined in the UMB Study Regulations in Article 14 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/).
Methods of verification of the achievement of learning outcomes, criteria and conditions for completing the course are specified in the information sheets of the courses of the study programme and communicated to students at the beginning of the semester. As a rule, students are also evaluated on an ongoing basis, while the acquisition of knowledge acquired through all forms of teaching and independent study is monitored, and the level of elaboration of assigned works is also monitored, if they are part of their study obligations. The results of the interim assessment are an important part of the evaluation of courses (if such type is defined in the conditions for the completion of the course). The final evaluation takes place in the period after the end of the study obligations. Regular and resit dates are specified in the AIS2 academic information system in advance.
The results of student verification and evaluation are published to the student in the academic information system. At the request of the student, the teacher is obliged to provide the student with feedback on the result of the assessment.
The possibilities for correcting the assessment are defined in the UMB Study Regulations, Article 14 and Article 27 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/).
In addition, students can contact the person responsible for the study programme, Study Advisor, the Head of the Department or the Vice-Dean for Pedagogical Activities, who are obliged to deal with every suggestion.
The conditions for the recognition of studies or parts of studies are defined in the UMB Study Regulations in Article 7, 16 and 17 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/).
In accordance with the quality culture at EF UMB, the life cycle of study programme as an educational service is limited by the standard length of study, and therefore this section provides a list of theses’ topics for the last two academic years, which represent the length of study. The list of topics in the study programme Business Economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises is in the appendix, which is part of the internal accreditation file.
Rules for the assignment, processing, opposition, defense and evaluation of final theses in the study programme
The rules concerning the final theses are defined in Directive S-03-23 Formating Seminar Papers, Final Theses and Habilitation Theses (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/state-exam-and-final-thesis.html) and in the Study Regulations of the EF UMB Art. 14, 18 and Art. 36 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/).
Information about the selection of theses and the defense of theses is available on the department's website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/departments/department-of-corporate-economics-and-management/current-information.html).
Opportunities and procedures for participation in student mobility
Support for individual student mobility is one of UMB's strategic priorities in the field of internationalization. This priority is detailed in the document Strategy of Internationalization available at https://www.umb.sk/en/international/strategy-principles-and-goals/ and in Directive no. 4/2025 on Erasmus+ mobilities at UMB (https://www.umb.sk/medzinarodne-vztahy/referat-medzinarodnej-spoluprace-14927/erasmus/erasmus/). Information on mobility abroad is currently published on the EF UMB website in Slovak (https://www.ef.umb.sk/fakulta/medzinarodne-vztahy/informacie-pre-studentov/) and in English language (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/student-mobilities/.
Rules for adherence to academic ethics and rules for drawing consequences
Students are continuously acquainted with the principles and rules of adherence to academic ethics in the first year of study within the subjects Introduction to University Studies and Intellectual and Industrial Property Organization; in the assignment of seminar papers and projects; and within the seminars for the bachelor's thesis. Teachers thoroughly check the originality of the submitted seminar paper, study or project. In the Study Regulations of the EF UMB Art. 2, par. 10 and 11, fraud in the performance of a study obligation is considered a disciplinary offense (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/). Disciplinary offenses are dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee of the UMB, its position and activities are regulated by the Disciplinary Rules of UMB in Banská Bystrica for students and the Rules of Procedure of UMB in Banská Bystrica for students (https://www.umb.sk/student/know-how-pre-studenta/studijne-predpisy/disciplinarny-poriadok.html). The Ethics Committee is established at UMB, which addresses issues and problems related to the observance of academic ethics by both employees and students. Relevant information related to the Ethics Committee and its scope is published on the university's website (https://www.umb.sk/univerzita/univerzita/o-univerzite/akademicka-etika-umb/eticka-komisia/).
Procedures applicable to students with special needs
The university and its components provide applicants and students with special needs with appropriate adaptations and support services and create an environment for equalizing opportunities to study at UMB. EF UMB has established the function of coordinator for work with students with special needs, who provides support to these students in their adaptation to the university environment as well as in solving various situations related to study (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/students-with-special-needs.html).
Procedures for filing complaints and appeals by students
Procedures for filing complaints and appeals by students are defined in Directive on handling complaints (https://www.umb.sk/univerzita/verejnost-a-media/podnety-peticie-a-staznosti/staznosti/). Students have the opportunity to submit suggestions and complaints via an anonymous questionnaire on the faculty website: https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/podnety-od-studentov/. The suggestions are addressed to the Vice-Dean for Educational Activities.
The list of courses and course information sheets are available in the AIS2 and are publicly available at the website of the faculty https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/accredited-study-programs-in-foreign-language/master-s-programme-economics-and-management-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.html.
The schedule of each academic year is available on the faculty's website https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/schedule-of-academic-year.html
The current timetable is accessible through the AiS2 academic information system (PLEASE NOTE: AiS2 is only available to students and staff with an assigned access name and password).
prof. Ing. Zdenka Musová, PhD.
Department of Corporate Economics and Management Faculty of Economics UMB
Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
+421 48 446 2724
prof. Ing. Zdenka Musová, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
doc. Ing. Ľuboš Elexa, PhD.
Department of Corporate Economics and Management Faculty of Economics UMB, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
Course: Corporate Planning in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
doc. Ing. Ľuboš Elexa, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11532
doc. Ing. Denisa Malá, PhD.
Department of Corporate Economics and Management Faculty of Economics UMB, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
Course: Corporate Logistics
doc. Ing. Denisa Malá, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11242
prof. Ing. Zdenka Musová, PhD.
Department of Corporate Economics and Management Faculty of Economics UMB, Tajovského 10, 975 90 01 Banská Bystrica
Course: Socially Responsible Business, Strategic Management
prof. Ing. Zdenka Musová, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11460
doc. Ing. Janka Táborecká, PhD.
Department of Corporate Economics and Management Faculty of Economics UMB, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
Course: Strategický Marketing, International Management and Marketing
doc. Ing. Janka Táborecká, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11520
doc. Ing. Miroslava Vinczeová, PhD.
Department of Corporate Economics and Management Faculty of Economics UMB, Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
Course: Financial Management
doc. Ing. Miroslava Vinczeová, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
Research art teacher profiles of persons responsible for the profile courses of the study programme are published in academic information system AIS2 and also publicly available at the faculty website: https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/accredited-study-programs-in-foreign-language/master-s-programme-economics-and-management-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.html
The list of teachers of the study programme includes all those who participate in the teaching of compulsory and compulsory elective courses in accordance with the recommended study plan and course information sheets. The list of teachers is available at the faculty website: https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/accredited-study-programs-in-foreign-language/master-s-programme-economics-and-management-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.html
The list of supervisors of final theses with the assignment to topics is available at the faculty website: https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/accredited-study-programs-in-foreign-language/master-s-programme-economics-and-management-in-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.html
Research art teacher profiles of the supervisors of final theses are available in the AIS2 and published on the faculty website for each supervisor of the final thesis.
Bc. Gabriela Kunová - stakeholder-student [email protected]
Student representative is also a member of Study Programme Board.
At the Faculty of Economics and Business of MBU, a network of study advisors/teachers has been created, who are in charge of counselling activities. A separate advisor is designated for each year of study. A special function is given to the coordinator for students with special needs.
Advising teachers provide courses in the 1st or 2nd year of study, which gives them direct contact with students. They are also available to students within announced consultation hours published on the profile page, or after agreement via e-mail. A list of advisors with contact details is published on the website: Aktuálne - pre študentov | Štúdium | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
doc. Ing. Ľuboš Elexa, PhD.
Advisor for the 1st year of master studies in the study programme Business economics and Management of Small and Medium Enterprises
Department of Corporate Economics and Management
Faculty of Economics UMB
Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
doc. Ing. Ľuboš Elexa, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela
doc. Ing. Denisa Malá, PhD.
Advisor for the 2nd year of master studies in the study program Business Economics and Management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Department of Corporate Economics and Management
Faculty of Economics UMB
Tajovského 10, 975 90 Banská Bystrica
doc. Ing. Denisa Malá, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)
Study department officers:
Ing. Lucia Horvátová, Head of Study Department, [email protected], 048 446 6127
Ing. Alena Dobrotová, Study Department Officer for study programme Economics and Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, a[email protected] +421 48 446 6125
Social Affairs Officer: Jana Löbbová, [email protected], 048 446 1152
Coordinator for applicants and students with special needs: doc. Ing. Radoslav Kožiak, PhD., [email protected], 048 446 2014
International Relations Officer: Mgr. Jana Prašovská, [email protected], 048/446 2123
Other supporting staff of the study programme
Mgr. Terézia Petková - officer of the Institute of Automation and Communication (UMB ID office, helpdesk), [email protected], [email protected], 048 446 6514
Ivana Kapustíková - manager, AIS administration officer, helpdesk, [email protected]; 048 446 6213)
Ing. Pavol Lupták - Section of Computer and Communication Technology (e-mail accounts, LMS Moodle, helpdesk), [email protected]; 048 446 2165)
Milan Lichý - ICT administrator, helpdesk, [email protected]; 048 446 2169)
Michal Kindl - ICT administrator, helpdesk, [email protected]; 048 446 2166)
EF UMB is constantly striving to innovate and modernize the technical equipment in classrooms and auditoriums, as well as the equipment of employees. It currently has a total of 410 desktop computers. Classrooms, lecture halls or seminar rooms and meeting rooms, which are used by teachers in their teaching, are equipped with 50 desktop computers. Students use 92 RDS clients in classrooms through which they connect to school servers and 88 computers in computer rooms. The rest of the desktops are used by employees in their offices. The faculty also has approximately 200 laptops, which are primarily used by employees for work at home or during business trips, or some meeting rooms are equipped with laptops.
All lecture halls, classrooms and meeting rooms are equipped with video projection technology in the form of projectors (45 pcs.), TV (12 pcs.), 55 "and 65" touch screens (3 pcs.), interactive boards (3 pcs.), touch monitors for PCs in classrooms and lecture halls (15 pcs).
The classrooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms and special seminar rooms are also equipped with video and audio devices that enable smooth online or hybrid teaching – video conference sets (7 in total), webcams (50 pcs), omnidirectional microphones (50 pcs). At the same time, employees also have webcams, omnidirectional microphones or sets of headphones and a microphone in their offices, as well as graphics tablets with a stylus or tablets with pens.
The faculty has 8 computer rooms (7 in Banská Bystrica and 1 at IMS in Poprad), of which 3 are equipped with so-called RDS clients (a total of 92), through which students connect to the RDP Server and 5 computer rooms that are equipped with desktop computers (a total of 87 computers).
The students and staff of the faculty can also use remote access to UMB servers from their private desktops or laptops using an encrypted VPN (via RDP client on their PC they connect to the faculty RDS server) and thus have the opportunity to use the necessary software for distance learning unlimited.
The employees of the faculty have at their disposal 10 multifunctional large centrally managed printers with scanner and copier - in addition, they have a total of another 106 printers and multifunction devices (printer, scanner and copier).
All computers and laptops are connected to the Internet by cable. There are a total of 77 WiFi AP devices deployed at the faculty – 32 CISCO and 45 Ubiquiti, which are used by the staff and students in the process of education. On the premises of the faculty, students can use a copy center, a self-study center for the study of foreign languages, a branch of the university library with a study room, which is supplemented by 2 other study rooms.
In the faculty’s facilities, students have access to four relaxation zones (with additional spaces currently undergoing modernization), as well as a branch of the university library with a study room, complemented by two additional study rooms. As part of the development of modern digital skills, a Smart Lab is also available for educational purposes, where teaching takes place using virtual reality (VR).
Characteristics of the study programme information management
All information about the study program, including information sheets of individual subjects, is available in the Academic Information System (AiS2). Basic information and the recommended study plans of individual study programs are available on the faculty's website and in the study guide. Course syllabi, criteria for obtaining credits and qualitative evaluation are part of the courses created for each subject within the e-learning portal LMS Moodle (LMS).
LMS is on the Moodle platform, and is intended as the primary tool for managing distance learning (materials, lectures, scripta, tasks, tests, deadlines, evaluations, etc.). Within the courses for individual subjects in LMS, students get all study materials necessary for successful completion and mastery of the subject.
Access to study literature according to Course information sheets, access to information databases and other information sources
In addition to the traditional print study materials available in the university library, students also have access to electronic book resources, scientific articles and other publications through the university library. From each school PC, it is possible to access 20 licensed databases of publications (e.g. ProQuest eBook Central, Emerald, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library or HST and other). Students also have access to the above- mentioned online databases from the comfort of their home via a VPN connection. Scientific monographs, textbooks and scripta of the faculty teachers are gradually digitized and available to students through the Virtual Study Room and the UMB Repository within the open access policy of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica. UMB University Library has 5 study rooms, one self-study center, a department of absence lending and the Matej Bel training center. Students can use a self-study center directly at the Faculty of Economics where they have access to language and professional databases, 317 printed professional publications, encyclopedias and dictionaries, 8 computers with standard software with a webcam, headphones with a microphone with internet connection, TV, data projector, 1 multifunction device and WiFi.
The University Library of UMB (https://kniznica.umb.sk/en/) provides students with absence and presence lending, user registration, counseling and bibliographic information, reprographic services, the possibility of returning the book through the bibliobox, 32 292 book documents and 37 titles of periodicals in the form of scientific and professional journals, daily press, weekly and monthly magazines.
Access to information technologies
The Faculty of Economics students have a rich and very flexible access to information technology. In case of technical problems with information systems, students and staff can contact the technical support page helpdesk.umb.sk (https://helpdesk.umb.sk/en) where they can find general information, instructions and procedures for user accounts, accounts Office 365, AiS2, LMS Moodle, internet connection and WiFi in the faculty and dormitories and student ID cards.
Schedules are available in AiS2, through which students apply for final and mid-term exams, receive mid-term and final assessments. Teachers communicate with students through student mailboxes, or through bulk e- mails via AiS2 or the respective course in LMS Moodle.
Each student and teacher has access to five Office 365 licenses via their student or employee university account (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerBI, Teams, Whteboard, and more).
Each department operates departmental sections on the faculty website, in which they inform students about important information, news, etc.
In addition to the applications available in Office 365 or MS Office 2016/2019, R and R-Studio, IBM SPSS 28 statistical software, SAP, Power BI, SQL, Inkscape are part of the software available to students in the educational process. CorelDRAW, 7Zip, WinRAR, JAVA, Adobe Reader (in some cases Adobe Acrobat Pro), QGIS, Notepad ++, Windows Explorer or Edge web browsers, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, IrfanView, VLC player,Total Commander, PC Translator, Abbyy Fine Reader or video recording software (in some classrooms it is Camtasia, in most cases Open Broadcaster Software) and other.
Distance learning is delivered mainly through regular video conferencing online meetings according to the schedule for the semester through the MS Team application, which allows the use of audio lectures, document sharing, chatting, creating separate study groups. Each subject has a separate team created in the given semester, whose members are the teachers and students of the subject. Simultaneously with MS Teams, LMS Moodle is used as a tool for providing study materials in the form of study materials, lectures, assignments, data files, solutions and video presentations. LMS Moodle is also used for continuous and final submission of student assignments and providing control in the form of tests and providing feedback to students. In addition to MS Teams, teachers use Zoom or Google Meet or Cisco Webex in some cases. They have the opportunity to use an education license from Slido for better interaction of students in online teaching or obtaining feedback.In case students need special software installed in computer classrooms, they can use secure remote access to these computers via an encrypted VPN (via an RDP client on their PC they connect to RDS server) and thus have the opportunity to use the necessary software in distance learning without restrictions.
Access, manuals of e-learning portals
In the case of distance (or hybrid) learning, online teaching takes place through the MS Teams application all students will be gradually added to the subject team, to whom the teacher then gives online lectures, exercises, seminars, consultations, etc.
Instructions for full-time teaching are available to students and teachers at Helpdesk.umb.sk (Slovak and English versions of support are available) (https://helpdesk.umb.sk/en) – the instructions also include videos (which are also available for teachers and students in the IT Services course in LMS (IT Services) in LMS https://lms.umb.sk/course/index.php?categoryid=183 or also on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxzjGZonsfzV7RTjvqlUizBMq8WeORF_ N). Students and staff can also contact ICT administrators at EF UMB (Administrators of IKT (umb.sk)) , who can also help them through remote access.
Procedures for the transition from contact teaching to distance learning
The transition from presence to distance learning can be done immediately thanks to the classrooms and lecture halls equipment with the necessary technology to enable the transmission of audio and video via the Internet. LMS Moodle courses are created for all subjects of the study program. The use of the portal by students and staff is governed by Directive No. 3/2016 on the use of e-learning at UMB, which is available at the beginning of the environment (https://lms.umb.sk/). Each student gets detailed instruction at the beginning of the study (1st year of study) in the use of e-learning support and other necessary tools and systems at the introductory meeting (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/doplnujuce-informacie-pre-studentov/rady-a-tipy-pre-studentov.html). In case of problems and questions, he/she can use additional consultation hours given by teachers. At the beginning of the semester, each teacher updates the course and sends students information about accesses (passwords). In addition to the syllabi and conditions for completing the course, the courses also include links to online lessons via MS Teams or ZOOM, videos of lectures with explanations, various assignments, support forums and discussions, surveys, study materials and other activities.
The cooperating institutions are mainly involved into lectures within individual courses, provide internships, trainings and excursions, as well as are integrated into joint research and project activities. If necessary and possible, representatives of selected institutions participate in the state examinations as external members of the examination committees. Some of them assign students to process/solve business problems in the form of thesis topics or case studies. Graduates of the study programme can find their employment in these entities.
From the cooperating organizations, we list specifically:
UMB offers students rich opportunities for social sports, cultural, spiritual and social activities (brozury.umb.sk/books/ujid/). In the field of sports activities, it offers the opportunity to participate in several sports clubs (athletics club, women's basketball team, gymnastics club, hockey university team, mountain club, karate club, judo club). The sports club for all offers students the following physical activities: swimming pool, sports games - floorball, football, volleyball, fitness - gym, Power Zumba, Country dancing, jumping, classical and sports massage.
In the field of artistic performance, there are three artistic ensembles working directly at UMB: University Choir Mladosť (https://youtu.be/aIUOyNNf24s), University folklore ensemble Mladosť (https://youtu.be/fRZ9GYAj84k) and Chamber orchestra Mladosť (https://youtu.be/75FPEJynxSk). Students also have the opportunity to participate in the activities of the UNIS student theater ensemble, the ensemble is open to students who have a relationship with the theater and want to be a part of it. The University Dance Center offers various dance classes for students (https://www.unidc.sk/mesto/banska-bystrica/).
UMB students can become participants in the International Duke of Edinburgh Award (https://youtu.be/BSy4TKWuD1I). It is a comprehensive development program that gives young people aged 14 to 24 a chance to develop their skills and character traits for real life, fulfill their potential and help them succeed in life. Students of our university can not only become participants in DofE, but can also be trained in the methodology of this program and become program leaders.
For leisure, the faculty offers several suitable spaces for students in its outdoor area (space for sitting on benches, in case of good weather directly on the grass). Directly in the faculty buildings there are 2 cafes, a chill out rest and relaxation zone, 2 respiria, within which students have access to a PC and the Internet and use them for project meetings, studies, etc. Then there is the Economic Library, the Self-study Center. Students and staff have a dining room, a buffet and several vending machines available directly at the faculty.
Students regularly organize fun quizzes for students or Beánie (faculty student ball). In addition to the activities offered directly by the faculty and the university, the city of Banská Bystrica also provides rich opportunities for living, with which UMB actively cooperates and regularly informs students about the possibilities via social networks, the faculty website, e-mails and information boards on the faculty premises.
The possibilities and conditions of participation of students in mobility and internships are governed by Directive no. 4/2025 on Erasmus + mobilities at UMB (https://www.umb.sk/medzinarodne-vztahy/referat-medzinarodnej-spoluprace-14927/erasmus/erasmus/) and are published in a separate section of the faculty website https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/student-mobilities/. Specifically, this is mobility within the Erasmus + program, as well as mobility within other schemes (for example through the SAIA). In addition to the possibility of studying, students are also offered the opportunity to participate in an internship. The call for mobility applications is published every year in the first half of the winter semester. Those interested in mobility submit an application form, cover letter, CV and proof of foreign language competence. Subsequently, a pre-selection of participants takes place, which consists of evaluation of the submitted documents and a personal interview (in presence or online form). The results of the pre-selections are announced to the students after the grant is awarded by the National Agency Erasmus +.
After the end of the mobility, the vice-dean for studies will confirm the recognition of ECTS credits obtained in the mobility on the basis of a confirmed statement of results (Transcript of records).
In addition to the possibility of studying, the study program students are also offered the opportunity to participate in an internship in Slovakia or abroad. Within the Erasmus + internship program, in which Matej Bel University is involved, the student can choose from a wide range of organizations on the website of the Faculty of Economics or contact a selected company or organization within EU countries. The current offer of internships is published on the faculty's website (https://www.umb.sk/medzinarodne-vztahy/som-student-umb/chcem-ist-na-staz.html).
All information regarding the admission of applicants to master studies is published on the website of the Faculty of Economics UMB (Possibilities and conditions of admission to study in the relevant academic year). An applicant for study in the study programme Economics and Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises must meet the basic personal and knowledge requirements according to the Slovak Qualifications Framework – SKKR at level 6. He/she has knowledge of general economic and managerial concepts, categories and contexts in accordance with the current state of national and international knowledge. He/she is able to solve standard economic problems, collect and evaluate data, apply quantitative and qualitative methods in the evaluation of economic phenomena, processes and contexts. He/she is able to work effectively in a team and present the results of teamwork in an appropriate way. He/she is able to use a foreign language and information and communication technologies at a standard level. The applicant should have independent, abstract, analytical and critical thinking and use it in solving standard economic and managerial tasks.
The basic condition for admission to the master’s degree programme is the completion of the 1st degree study. Another requirement is the successful completion of the entrance examination. The entrance examination consists of a written test from core subjects of the bachelor’s study within the study field of Economics and Management. Applicants may earn a maximum of 100 points for the test. The admission requirements (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/applicants/master-study-ing/admission-requirements.html) also specify the conditions under which an applicant may be exempted from taking the entrance examination. The procedure for the admission process and the conditions for admission are defined in the document Options and Conditions for Admission to Study and the Planned Number of Accepted Applicants for the Academic Year 20xx/20xx+1 (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/applicants/master-study-ing/conditions-for-admission-to-study.html).
The evaluation of tests is carried out automatically using the TAP system, which processes scanned answer sheets. The results are published on the faculty website on the day of the entrance examination. The decision on the admission of applicants is made by the Faculty Admission Committee.
Applicants who have met the conditions for admission to study are sent a decision on admission to study with other relevant documents.The results of the admission process are recorded in the academic information system.
In 2025/2026, 12 students showed interest in studying in this study program, of which 12 students met the conditions for admission to study.
The procedures for monitoring and evaluating students’ opinions on the quality of the study programme are defined in Directive 2/2025 On Obtaining Feedback from Stakeholders of the Study Programme or Its Coherent Part, available at Vnútorné predpisy súvisiace so zabezpečovaním kvality | Vnútorný systém kvality | Centrum pre zabezpečenie kvality a akreditáciu
The evaluation of higher education quality at UMB is generally carried out through:
– obtaining feedback from students of the study programme or its coherent part regarding the quality of teaching and the work of teachers
Students have the opportunity, at least once a year, to express their views on the quality of teaching in the study programme through an anonymous questionnaire. The survey is conducted electronically via the academic information system AIS2, ensuring full anonymity of respondents. The survey is launched in the last week of the teaching period of the semester, but no later than before the start of the examination period. Information about its launch is communicated to students via the CEZKA website, the UMB website, and AIS2 announcements.
The questionnaire is designed to provide specific and relevant feedback and to serve as a basis for proposing measures to improve the quality of the study programme. Students primarily evaluate:
Open-ended questions are also included, enabling students to highlight strengths and identify problems related to teaching quality or the study programme. Data collected from questionnaires are statistically processed by CEZKA and subsequently made available to relevant stakeholders, in particular the person responsible for the study programme.
In addition to the questionnaire survey, some teachers proactively obtain continuous feedback during the semester to identify suggestions for improving the quality of teaching in the specific course.
Regular meetings are held with students (e.g., meetings with the person responsible for the study programme, year tutors, and the head of the workplace responsible for the study programme) to obtain ongoing feedback on educational activities and teaching throughout the semester. Students’ suggestions and ideas for improving teaching are discussed during these meetings.
– evaluation of the study programme by final-year students
This survey is intended for students in the final year of study to obtain a comprehensive view of the study programme. It is usually conducted in the last semester via AIS2 and focuses on evaluating the suitability and coherence of courses, programme content, elective options, services provided by the study office, and the material and technical support of the programme.
– evaluation of the quality of educational support
This survey gathers feedback on students’ satisfaction with support activities related to education at UMB. The questions focus on access to information for applicants and enrolled students. It takes place once per academic year via AIS2.
– obtaining employer feedback on graduates’ skills and competencies
Feedback from employers is crucial for meeting expectations regarding study programme quality. It helps identify strengths and areas requiring improvement in preparing graduates for the labour market.
As part of education quality monitoring, regular meetings are also held with employers who participate in the development and quality assurance of higher education. The aim is to obtain feedback on graduates, discuss their employability and opportunities for cooperation, and explore possibilities for involving students in solving practical tasks provided by partner companies. An employer representative is also a member of the Study Programme Board.
Person responsible for the study programme ensures the evaluation of feedback, which mainly includes data analysis, identification of problem areas and draft conclusions and recommendations. The conclusions of the evaluation of data on the feedback received are discussed in the study programme council if the conclusions include a proposal for measures to modify the study programme or its integral part. The conclusions of the feedback evaluation in the study programme council may also be discussed with the participation of other students of the study programme. If this is relevant for improving the quality of the study programme, the person responsible for the study programme may also propose further measures to improve quality.
The results of the questionnaire survey are communicated in detail in the Dean's Collegium, and are also published in a shortened form in the report on pedagogical activities. The results of the questionnaire survey are published at the university level on its website. The results of the survey aimed at obtaining feedback are archived in the academic information system. Each teacher has access to the results of the survey concerning him/her, the person responsible for the study program and the head of the department have access to the results of the questionnaire survey of all teachers of the study program and teachers of the department.
The results of the study surveys are published at Výsledky študentských ankiet na EF UMB | Študentské ankety | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela
Feedback from graduates can also positively contribute to improving the quality of study programmes. Informal meetings and conversations with graduates make it possible to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of the study programme, evaluate their study experience, and pinpoint areas that could be improved to better prepare graduates for the labour market.
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