Graduate profile:

The aim of the study program Finance, Banking and Investment is to prepare well-founded experts, able to anticipate the emergence of complex decision-making situations in all areas of finance, analyze and solve them. The second-degree study program builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the first-degree study program, deepens and extends the knowledge and provides opportunities for the original development and use of ideas in the field of finance.

Knowledge: The graduate demonstrates deep and cross-sectional knowledge in finance, can apply the knowledge, skills and abilities in solving financial problems in various conditions at the national and supranational level.

The graduate gains theoretical and practical experience through renowned information systems. The graduate is able to identify mechanisms for continuous professional development and learning. Simultaneously, he finds and presents their own solutions to problems arising from the application of theoretical knowledge and understanding. He/she applies adequate methods in the practical solution of professional issues in the field of financial management, bank regulation, investment process management and its evaluation, corporate financial management, public finance and public choice, international finance and financial risk management.

Skills: The graduate of the study program Finance, Banking and Investment is able to solve problems and coordinate procedures in teams, make independent and responsible decisions in a changing environment. He/she is able to provide their knowledge, conclusions and considerations to the professional and inexpert public, he/she is able to educate themselves in further studies in the field of finance and related fields. The knowledge, skills and competencies of the graduate will be determined by internally specified subjects of a broad-based study program and will be developed through training methods and case studies. The graduate of the study program is able to solve financial, economic and managerial problems in various areas of finance at home and abroad. The graduate creatively applies theoretical knowledge, various methods and tools of financial management in practical business situations related to deciding on sources of capital and its investments, financial risk management, distribution of financial results, mergers and valuation, applies and performs primary research based on real data to assess specific issues in domestic and international finance and critically assess analysis procedures in international finance. The graduate is able to critically assess the current state of public finances and decision- making processes in the context of public choice. The graduate is able to assess the performance and competitiveness of specific commercial banks, or banking groups, apply data from financial statements to evaluate the performance and competitiveness of a commercial bank. Competences: The graduate is competent to solve theoretical and practical problems and coordinate procedures in teams, to make independent and responsible decisions in a dynamic environment, to act independently in professional life, to work effectively as an individual, as a member of a professional team or as a team leader.

The graduate of the study program can find a job in various sectors and branches of the national economy at the macro and micro level, especially in financial institutions, but also in private and public sector companies and organizations, financial market institutions, international financial institutions and public administration bodies at all levels, in the field of accounting, tax administration and tax consulting. The graduate is ready to perform middle and top management positions in financially oriented departments of the corporate sphere and public administration at the national and international level. The graduate acquires the prerequisites for further scientific and pedagogical work with a focus on financial management, public finance, fiscal and monetary analysis and forecasting, financial markets, international finance. The graduate finds employment in commercial banks as well as the central bank, in consulting and auditing companies, in research institutions, in institutions in the field of education and information technology. The acquired knowledge and communication skills will enable the graduate to work in international institutions.

The study program Finance, Banking and Investment is a stable university program in its Bachelor’s and subsequent Master’s degree, which contributes to the fulfilment of the long-term plans of UMB in Banská Bystrica. It is a university program with the application of traditional university principles (universitas scientiarum, universitas universum, universitas scholarum at doctorum, universitas litterarum) and supporting the mission of UMB in 21st century in order to enable students not only to specialize in their professional interest, but also to provide interdisciplinary knowledge that contributes to the formation of the university graduate’s personality, with respect to the principles of academic ethics and democratic social values. Education in the Finance, Banking and Investment program will be related to the long-term plan and strategic direction of UMB in the years 2021 - 2026 and of the entire higher education in Slovakia not only through the content and focus of subjects, but also through activities in the field of science and research and project activities. Its international focus is based on the development of international cooperation with academic and non-academic institutions. Cooperation in the creation of the program and its provision with stakeholders in the conditions of Slovakia is the basis for the quality of implementation of university knowledge in practice at the national as

well as international level.

Learning objectives:

The study program has these learning objectives:

1. To enable students to acquire the latest theoretical knowledge necessary for professional application in the field of finance, banking and investment in professional and managerial positions.

2. To enable students to understand the processes in finance, banking and investment by developing abstract thinking, mastering modern methodologies, building a broad economic perspective at the macro and micro level through advanced work with data and the adoption of renowned information systems.

3. To apply theoretical knowledge in a practical context and empirical situations in relation to the integration of the Slovak economy into the European and world economy.

4. To integrate the above skills of students into their own findings, proposals, decisions and recommendations and formulate practical proposals for specific financial decisions and policies.

The main learning outcomes of the study program are the following knowledge, skills, and competences:

1.      KNOWLEDGE: The graduate knows qualitative and quantitative information in the field of financial management and regulation of a commercial bank, which they obtain from theoretical and practical literary sources and legislation and use them in solving specific tasks, applies a critical understanding of current issues of balance of payments theory and practice, is able to identify the determinants of exchange rate changes over time and understands the changing nature of the international financial environment and the international monetary system, the graduate has an overview of risk measures and ways to minimize risk exposure in financial and investment decisions, masters the methods of creating an optimal portfolio and financial plans and is familiar with methods of identifying, analyzing and quantifying risk factors and determining their impact on portfolio value and financial institutions capital, the graduate will use the acquired theoretical knowledge to examine the issues of public finance and public choice and their application in economic practice, is able to understand the key issues of decision- making, management and production of goods in the public sector.

2.      SKILLS: The graduate is able to assess the performance and competitiveness of specific commercial banks or banking groups, applies data from financial statements to evaluate the performance and competitiveness of a commercial bank, the graduate creatively applies theoretical knowledge and various methods and tools of financial management in practical business situations related to deciding on the sources of capital and its investment, financial risk management, distribution of financial results, mergers and determining the value of the company, applies and performs primary research based on real data to assess specific problems in international finance, critically assesses the procedures of analysis in international finance, the graduate can create a portfolio of financial assets with respect to various criteria of optimality and evaluate its performance, can assess the adequacy of the use of different models and approaches to measuring financial risks and their impact in

creating short-term and long-term strategic objectives of the financial institution, can value contingent forward financial derivatives with a more complex internal payout structure using Monte Carlo simulations, the graduate applies appropriate methods in solving partial tasks, critically assesses the current state of public finances and decision-making processes in the context of public choice

3. COMPETENCES: The graduate applies the acquired knowledge in management at the strategic level, in the creation and implementation of banking strategies, while taking into account current trends in banking and applying the principles of social responsibility and ethics in banking business, creates a project of a new banking product through the OnePager system, the graduate critically evaluates current business phenomena and achieved financial results and on this basis is able to make and implement relevant financial decisions and assess their possible consequences, including at the level of international financial transactions, evaluates and interprets empirical work in the field of interest rates and exchange rates, creates a balanced judgment on key facts in the field of international finance, acquires the ability to create various risk scenarios of portfolio value through simulation, acquires the ability to evaluate and interpret simulation results, acquires the ability to design methods of prevention and elimination or reduction of financial risks, acquires the competence to communicate competently with specialists in market, interest, credit and operational risk, evaluates and interprets theoretical approaches and empirical results of studies in the field of public sector decision- making and determinants of behavior of economic agents for potential solutions to selected problems of public finances and decision-making processes on national and supranational level.

Banking manager

Qualification code: C1246001-00531 SK ISCO-08: 1246001

Financial planning and controlling manager

Qualification code: U1211004-00998 SK ISCO-08: 1211004

Researcher in the field of banking

Qualification code: C2413028-00564 SK ISCO-08: 2413028

Mutual fund portfolio specialist

Qualification code: C3311001-01582 SK ISCO-08: 3311001

Specialist in investment operations in the financial markets – portfolio manager for DSS (Assisted living premises for pensioners)

Qualification code: U2413025-00554 SK ISCO-08: 2413025

Procurement Manager

Qualification code: U1219002-01007 SK ISCO-08: 1219002

Project specialist

Qualification code: U2421003-01032 SK ISCO-08: 2421003

Economic analyst

Qualification code: U2631002-01045 SK ISCO-08: 2631002

Public administration budget specialist

Qualification code: C2411008-01406 SK ISCO-08: 2411008

Professional employee of the municipality for investment activities

Qualification code: C2422004-01484 SK ISCO-08: 2422004

Investment manager - portfolio manager

Qualification code: C2413026-01591 SK ISCO-08: 2413026

Risk analyst for leasing companies

Qualification code: C2631002-01593 SK ISCO-08: 2631002

Chief Accountant

Qualification code: C2411001-01019 SK ISCO-08: 2411001

Tax specialist

Qualification code: U2411007-01026 SK ISCO-08: 2411007

Based on the acquired knowledge, skills and competencies, the graduate is prepared for employment primarily in financial institutions, but also in other companies and private and public sector organizations, financial market institutions, international financial institutions and public administration bodies at all levels, in the field of taxes and tax consultancy, accounting and auditing. Graduates are employed as specialists in accounting and financial control, as financial analysts and specialists in finance, insurance and other financial services. Graduates are also able to process financial and accounting transactions, as well as their automated processing.

The graduate is ready to perform middle and top management positions in financially oriented departments of business and public and state spheres at the national and international level, he/she also acquires the prerequisites for further scientific and pedagogical work with a focus on financial management of companies and financial institutions, fiscal and monetary analysis and forecasting, financial risk management, public finance and public choice and international finance. (https://uplatnenie.sk/?degree=V%C5%A0&vs=714000000&faculty=714020000&field=6271T00&year=2019)

https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/alumni/stories-of-successful-graduates/

JUDr. Ing. Peter Daniel, PhD., IQVIA RDS Slovakia, s.r.o., accounting director

The rules for creating study plans in study programs are defined in UMB´s Study Regulations (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-mentioned documents, the following rules were taken into account in the creation of the recommended study plan:

• credit evaluation of subjects is based on the time required of the student's work, usually in the range of 1800 hours per academic year in full-time study and usually 1440 hours per academic year in external form of study, including self-study and own creative activity, which represents an average of 30 hours / 1 credit
• the allocated credit grant reflects the time burden of the student required to obtain the prescribed learning outcomes
• time and content sequence of subjects in the recommended study plan is determined so that by completing it the student achieves the required knowledge, skills and competencies.

For example:

• profile subjects are defined only from the group of compulsory or compulsory elective subjects,
• the credits of profile subjects are generally higher than for non-profile subjects,
• the share of credits for profile subjects is at least 1/2 of the total number of credits for compulsory subjects.

The recommended study plan is available in the academic information system AIS2 and is publicly available on the faculty website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/).

The recommended study plan contains the names of mandatory subjects, mandatory elective subjects, credit allocation of the subject, basic educational activities and their measurement in hours, recommended semester, student workload in hours and subject teachers.

Profile subjects are separately marked in the study plan.

Educational outcomes, rules for their assessment, educational activities, teaching methods, syllabus, student workload are part of the subject information sheets

There are no prerequisites or co-requisites in the study plan of the Finance, Banking and Investment study program. For each subject within the recommended study plan, the educational activities used (lecture, seminar) are determined, including their hourly allowance. Educational activities are implemented in all subjects using a combined method, which is also stated in the information sheets of individual subjects of the recommended study plan. The subject syllabus is a mandatory part of the information sheets of all subjects of the recommended study plan. The individual subject information sheets state the student's workload and the share of individual activities (e.g. participation in direct teaching activities, work on seminar work, self-study, etc.) in the total student workload. The credit allowance of subjects reflects their difficulty and intensity/level of student workload. It is stated for each subject in the recommended study plan. The information sheet of each subject specifies the university teachers who participate in providing the given subject. Information about individual persons, including their contact details, is published on the website of the Faculty of Economics, MBU.

The recommended study plan contains the names of compulsory subjects, compulsory elective subjects, credit allocation of the subject, basic educational activities and their number in hours, recommended semester, student workload in hours and subject teachers. Profile subjects are marked separately (in bold) in the study plan. Educational outcomes, rules for their assessment, educational activities, teaching methods, syllabus, student workload are part of the subject information sheets. Subject information sheets are available in the academic information system AIS2 and are publicly available on the faculty website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/).

Number of credits for compulsory courses required for proper completion of studies/completion of a part of studies: 74 (out of which 20 credits for Diploma thesis with defense)

Number of credits for compulsory optional courses required for the proper completion of studies/completion of a part of studies: 30

Number of credits for optional courses required for the proper completion of studies/completion of a part 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 student assessment, as well as the possibilities of corrective procedures are defined in the Study Rules of UMB, Art. 14 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/). Methods of verifying the achievement of the learning outcomes, criteria and conditions for completing the subject are listed in the information sheets of the subjects of the study program and communicated to students at the beginning of the semester. The results of verification and student assessment are published for the student in the academic information system. At the student's request, the teacher is obliged to provide the student with feedback on the assessment.

The possibilities of corrective actions against the evaluation are defined: in the Study Rules of UMB, Art. 14 and Art. 27 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/), and Directive on handling complaints (https://www.umb.sk/univerzita/verejnost-a-media/podnety-peticie-a-staznosti/staznosti/).

In addition, students can contact the study advisor, the head of the department or the vice-dean for studies, who are obliged to deal with each complaint.

The conditions for the recognition of a study or part of a study are defined in the UMB Study Rules, Art. 7, Art. 16 and Art. 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 the SP as an educational service is limited by the standard length of study, and therefore this section provides a list of topics of final theses for the last academic years, which represent the length of study.

The list of topics of defended final theses in the previous academic year is published on the study program website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/ucitelia-studijneho-programu/).

Rules for the assignment, processing, opposition, defense and evaluation of final theses in the study programme

The rules regarding final theses are defined in the Directive S-03-23 ​​Formatting 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 University of Ljubljana in Art. 14, Art. 18, Art. 36 (https://www.umb.sk/en/study/degree-studies-full-time-student/study-regulations/).

The organizational guidelines regarding the defense of the diploma thesis are listed on the website of the department (https://www.ef.umb.sk/katedry/katedra-financii-a-uctovnictva/oznamy-katedry/).

Opportunities and procedures for participation in student mobility

Supporting individual student mobility is one of the strategic priorities of UMB in the area of ​​internationalization. The stated priority is elaborated in detail in the document Internationalization Strategy available on the UMB website (https://www.umb.sk/en/international/strategy-principles-and-goals/) and in Directive No. 4/2025 on Erasmus+ mobility at UMB (https://www.umb.sk/en/erasmus/). Information on mobilities abroad is currently published on the EF UMB website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/student-mobilities/) in Slovak and English.

Rules for adherence to academic ethics and rules for drawing consequences

The emphasis is placed on adhering to academic ethics throughout their studies. Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica has developed and published a Student Code of Ethics, and the Faculty of Economics has also created its own EF UMB Student Code of Ethics. Both documents are publicly available in full on the websites umb.sk and ef.umb.sk.

Students are continuously informed about the principles and rules of adhering to academic ethics, namely in the first year of study within the subject Introduction to Higher Education Studies, when assigning seminar papers and projects, within the Diploma Thesis Seminar and through the relevant year supervisors. Teachers consistently check the originality of the submitted seminar paper, developed study or project. Disciplinary offenses are resolved by the EF UMB Disciplinary Committee (https://www.umb.sk/univerzita/vedenie-umb/organy-umb/disciplinarna-komisia/). Its status and activities are regulated by the Disciplinary Rules of the UMB in Banská Bystrica for Students and the Rules of Procedure of the UMB in Banská Bystrica for Students (https://www.umb.sk/student/know-how-pre-studenta/studijne-predpisy/disciplinarny-poriadok).

An Ethics Commission has been established at the UMB, which resolves questions and problems related to the observance of academic ethics by both employees and students. Relevant information related to the Ethics Commission and its scope is published on the university website (https://www.umb.sk/univerzita/univerzita/o-univerzite/akademicka-etika-umb/eticka-komisia/). The Student Code of Ethics at the UMB is a binding document for students (https://www.umb.sk/en/university/information-about-umb/code-of-ethics.html). Each student can also complete online training in ethical decision-making in an online environment in accordance with the rules at the UMB. Documents are published on the university and faculty websites.

Procedures applicable to students with special needs

The University and its components provide applicants and students with special needs with reasonable accommodations and support services and create an environment for equalizing opportunities to study at UMB. Procedures for applicants and students with special needs are set out in the Study Guide for Students with Special Needs at UMB and other published instructions on the university website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/students-with-special-needs.html). At EF UMB, we have established the position of a 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 resolving various situations related to their studies (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/students-with-special-needs.html).

Procedures for filing complaints and appeals by students

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 dealt with by the Vice-Dean for Pedagogical Activities.

Course information sheets are available in the academic information system AIS2 and are publicly available on the faculty website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/).

All course information sheets contain learning objectives and outcomes, identification data about the course, rules for continuous and final course assessment, literature, distribution of time load between methods and educational activities. Information sheets are also available in the academic information system AiS2.

The schedule of the academic year is available at the faculty webpage (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/schedule-of-academic-year.html).

The current schedule is available via the academic information system AiS2.

prof. Ing. Hussam Musa, PhD.

Department of Finance and Accounting FoE MBU in BB

[email protected], 048/446 63 11

http://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11455

prof. Ing. Hussam Musa, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

prof. Ing. Peter Krištofík, Ph.D.

Corporate Financial Management (Finančný manažment podniku)

Department of Finance and Accounting FoE MBU in BB

[email protected], 048/446 21 21

https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11202

prof. Ing. Peter Krištofík, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

prof. Ing. Hussam Musa, PhD.

International Finance (Medzinárodné financie)

Department of Finance and Accounting FoE MBU in BB

[email protected], 048/446 63 11

https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11455

prof. Ing. Hussam Musa, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

prof. Ing. Emília Zimková, PhD.

Financial Management and Regulation of Banks (Finančné riadenie a regulácia bánk)

Department of Finance and Accounting FoE MBU in BB

[email protected], 048/446 63 22

https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11453

prof. Ing. Emília Zimková, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

doc. PhDr. Ing, Martin Boďa, PhD.

Risk and Uncertainty in Finance (Riziko a neistota vo financiách)

Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Systems FoE MBU in BB

[email protected], 048/446 66 17

https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11590

doc. PhDr. Ing. Martin Boďa, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

doc. Ing. Ján Huňady, PhD.

Public Finance and Public Choice (Verejné financie a verejná voľba)

Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Systems FoE MBU in BB

[email protected], 048/446 63 13

https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/16168

doc. Ing. Ján Huňady, PhD. | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/ucitelia-studijneho-programu/

The list of teachers of the study program is available on the faculty's website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/ucitelia-studijneho-programu/).

The list of supervisors of final theses is published on the faculty's website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/ucitelia-studijneho-programu/).

The scientific and pedagogical characteristics of the supervisors of the final theses are published on the faculty's website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/financie-bankovnictvo-a-investovanie-v-anglickom-jazyku-denna/ucitelia-studijneho-programu/).

Ing. Veronika Chyláková, 2nd year, 3rd level of study, SP finance, [email protected]

The Faculty of Economics has created a network of study advisors who are responsible for advisory activities. A separate study advisor is assigned for each level of the study program Finance, Banking and Investment.

The study advisor for the engineering study of the FBI program is Prof. Ing. Peter Krištofík, Ph.D. ([email protected]; tel. no.: 048/446 63 17).

Study officer: Ing. Lucia Horvátová, [email protected], 048/446 61 27

Study officer: Ing. Alena Dobrotová, officer for the engineering program Finance, Banking and Investment in English, [email protected], 048/446 61 25

Social Affairs Officer: Jana Lobbová, [email protected], 048/446 11 52

Coordinator for applicants and students with special needs: doc. Ing. Radoslav Kožiak, PhD., [email protected], 048/446 20 14

International Relations Officer: Mgr. Viera Pavlovičová [email protected], 048/446 67 27

Iný administratívny personál (ak je zriadený)

Mgr. Terézia Petková - UMB ID Card Office, helpdesk ([email protected]; [email protected]; 048/446 65 14)

Ivana Kapustíková - helpdesk head, AIS report officer, helpdesk, [email protected], 048/446 62 13

Ing. Pavol Lupták - department of computer and didactic technology (e- mail accounts, LMS Moodle, helpdesk), [email protected], 048/446 21 65

Milan Lichý - administrator ICT, helpdesk, [email protected], 048/446 21 69

Michal Kindl - administrator ICT, helpdesk, [email protected], 048 446 21 66

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 87 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 branch of the university library with a study room, which is supplemented by 2 other study rooms.

All information about the study program, including information sheets for individual subjects, is available in the Academic Information System (AiS2). Basic information and the recommended study plan for individual study programs is available on the faculty website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/akreditovane-studijne-programy/inzinierske-studijne-programy-ing/). Subject syllabi, criteria for meeting the conditions for obtaining credits and qualitative evaluation are part of the courses created for each subject within the e-learning portal LMS Moodle (LMS).

The LMS is on the Moodle platform and is intended as the primary tool for managing distance learning (materials, lectures, scripts, assignments, tests, deadlines, assessments, etc.)

Within the courses for individual subjects in the LMS, students have access to all the study materials necessary for the successful completion and mastery of the given subject.

Access to study literature, 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 (https://digitalnakniznica.cvtisr.sk/page/umb-digitalna-kniznica) and the UMB Repository (https://repo.umb.sk/) 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 (https://bit.ly/3HJUcnT), 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 Economic library 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/sk/23/zakladne- informacie-ms-teams.html) – the instructions also include videos (which are also available for teachers and students in the IT Services course in LMS (IT Services) in LMS or also on YouTube. 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.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6youDiKj4). 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.

Students can also be evaluated through the courses. If necessary (e.g. the current pandemic situation), i tis possible to move smoothly to the distance form of learning in all subjects of the study program, even in the case of presence teaching.

Within the study program finance, banking and investment there is an internship based on existing cooperation at the University of Matej Bel in Banska Bystrica. The cooperating organizations participate mainly on invited lectures, providing stays and excursions, as well as research activities. These institutions are also primarily the employers who employ graduates of the study program which enhance graduates’ employment applications to these organizations. The organizations are following :

- Bath University

- BirZeit University

- STARTed Iniciative on Education in Standardization, WP6 UNECE Geneva

- European commission representative in Slovakia

- Ministry of finance Slovak Republic

- Slovak association for Corporate Governance

- Ministry of employment, social affairs and family of Slovak Republic

- Financial directory of Slovak Republic

- Slovenská sporiteľňa, a. s.

- Tatra banka, a. s.

- Všeobecná úverová banka, a. s.

- Trimbroker, a. s.

- Allianz – SP, a. s.

- NN Group, a. s.

- Deloitte, a. s.

- ACCA, a. s.

- IBM International Services Centre

- Slovak association of financers

- Slovak office for standards, metrology and testing in Slovak Republic

- Regional European information centre in Banská Bystrica

- City Banská Bystrica

- Kronospan, a. s.

- Continental, a. s.

- SAP Slovensko s. r. o.

- Železiarne Podbrezová a. s.

Due to long standing relationships with these representatives of industry there exist lectures of invited guests as well as other organizations.

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 activities offered directly by the faculty and the university, the city of Banská Bystrica also provides rich recreational opportunities, with which UMB actively cooperates and regularly informs students about the possibilities via social networks, the faculty website, emails and information boards in the faculty premises.

Students of the Finance, Banking and Investment study program have the opportunity to participate in various short-term and long-term study stays abroad. The most popular forms of mobility programs include the following programs:

-        Erasmus+ study in EU countries

-        Erasmus+ study in non-EU countries

-        Central Europe Connect (CEC)

-        CEEPUS

-         National Scholarship Program

The possibilities and conditions for students of the study program to participate in mobilities and internships are governed by Directive No. 4/2025 on Erasmus+ mobilities at UMB (https://www.umb.sk/en/erasmus/) and are published in a separate section of the EF UMB website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/students/student-mobilities/). Specifically, these include mobilities within the Erasmus+ program, as well as mobilities within other schemes (for example, through the SAIA organization). In addition to the study option, students are also offered the opportunity to participate in an internship. The call for applications for mobility is published every year in the first half of the winter semester. Those interested in mobility submit an application, a motivation letter, a CV and a document proving their foreign language level. Subsequently, a pre-selection of participants takes place, which consists of an evaluation of the submitted documents and a personal interview (in person or online). The results of the pre-selection are notified to students after the grant is awarded by the Erasmus+ National Agency.

After the end of the mobility, the Vice-Dean for Pedagogical Activities will confirm the recognition of ECTS credits obtained during the mobility based on a confirmed transcript of records.

In addition to the study option, students of the Finance, Banking and Investment study program are also offered the opportunity to participate in an internship in Slovakia or abroad. As part of the Erasmus+ internship program, in which Matej Bel University is involved, students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of organizations on the website of the Faculty of Economics or approach a selected company or organization within the 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 concerning the admission of applicants for engineering studies (conditions for admission to study and the algorithm for creating the order of applicants) is published on the website of the Faculty of Economics, UMB (Possibilities and conditions of admission to study in the relevant academic year - https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/applicants/master-study-ing/conditions-for-admission-to-study.html)

For the study programme finance, banking and investment must meet the basic personal and knowledge requirements according to the Slovak Qualifications Framework - SKKR at level 6, according to which the bachelor's degree will lead to the applicant's knowledge and understanding in the field of economics and management, which build on their general secondary education and are typically at the level of advanced textbooks supplemented by selected aspects of the latest knowledge in economics and management; are able to use their knowledge and understanding in a way that suggests a professional approach to work and / or profession and have competencies usually demonstrated by putting and defending arguments and (solving) problems in economics and management, have the ability to obtain and interpret relevant data usually in economics and management and, based on them, make ethically and socially responsible decisions, know how to communicate information, concepts, problems and solutions to professional and laic audiences and have developed the skills of education necessary to continue further studies with a high degree of independence.

The basic condition for admission to the 1st degree study is a complete secondary education or a complete secondary vocational education completed by a high school diploma. Another condition is the successful completion of the entrance exam. The entrance exam consists of a written test in one foreign language and a written test in the basics of economics. The conditions of admission also set out the rules under which the candidate is exempted from the obligation to take the entrance examination. The conditions for admission to the master´s degree are published on the website (https://www.ef.umb.sk/en/applicants/master-study-ing/conditions-for-admission-to-study.html). The admission procedure and conditions of admission are published in the document Possibilities and conditions of admission to study and the planned numbers of admitted applicants.

The evaluation of tests is performed automatically by the TAP system - by scanning the answer sheets. The results are published for the applicants on the faculty's website on the day of the entrance examination. The admission committee decides on the admission of the applicant. 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 procedure are registered in the academic information system.

In the academic year 2025/2026, 11 students expressed interest in studying in the study program, of which 5 students met the admission requirements.

The procedures for monitoring and evaluating students' opinions on the quality of the study program are defined in Directive No. 2/2025 On obtaining feedback from stakeholders of the study program or its integral part, available at https://www.kvalita.umb.sk/vnutorny-system-kvality/vnutorne-predpisy-suvisiace-so-zabezpecovanim-kvality.html.

The evaluation of the quality of higher education at UMB is usually carried out by obtaining feedback from students of the study program or its integral part on the quality of teaching and the work of teachers. Students have the opportunity to express their opinion on the quality of teaching of the study program teachers at least once a year through an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire survey is carried out electronically, through the academic information system AIS2, while the complete anonymity of the respondents is fully ensured. The questionnaire survey is launched in the last week of the teaching part of the semester, but no later than before the start of the period for completing study obligations. Information about its beginning is made available to students via the CEZKA website, the UMB website, and announcements in AiS2. The questionnaire is designed to provide specific and relevant feedback and be a prerequisite for proposing measures to improve the quality of the study program. Students evaluate in particular:

• the quality of teaching and teaching methods,
• pedagogical approaches,
• clarity of explanation,
• assessment methods,
• their own participation in learning.

It also includes open-ended questions that allow them to express positive aspects and identify problems associated with the quality of teaching or the study program. The data collected from the questionnaires is statistically processed by CEZKA and subsequently made available to relevant entities, which are mainly the person responsible for the study program.

In addition to the questionnaire survey, some teachers, on their own initiative, continuously obtain feedback during the semester with the aim of early identification of stimuli leading to quality improvement while teaching a specific subject.

Evaluation of the quality of the study program by students in their final years

The survey is intended for students in their final years of study with the aim of obtaining a comprehensive view of the study program and is usually carried out in the last semester of study. The survey is focused on assessing the suitability of the subjects that make up the study program and their continuity, the content of the study program, the possibility of selecting and enrolling in subjects, the evaluation of the services of the study department and other aspects related to the material and technical support of the study program. The survey is carried out anonymously via AIS2.

Evaluation of the quality of educational support

The survey is focused on obtaining feedback on student satisfaction with educational support activities at MBU. The questions are focused on the possibility of accessing information for both the applicant for study and the student himself and are carried out once per academic year through AIS2.

Obtaining feedback on employers' satisfaction with the skills and competencies of graduates

If you have any feedback from employers - you can start with these words: Feedback from employers is key to meeting their expectations of the quality of study programs. It helps to identify strengths as well as areas for improvement in preparing graduates for the labor market. Obtaining feedback from employers focuses on determining the level of their satisfaction with the skills and competencies of graduates. Feedback is obtained directly from employers, in their cooperation with the faculty, during invited lectures, assigned case studies and other activities organized by the teachers of the study program.

The results of student feedback are published on the faculty's website (https://bit.ly/3B99TCV). The results of the survey related to the evaluation of the quality of the study program are available to the head of the department providing the study program and are communicated in detail to the Dean's Collegium, where critical areas are identified and subsequently measures are taken for improvement from the faculty level and the respective department.

The results of the survey of evaluation of teachers by students, suggestions and comments of students are discussed after the evaluation of the survey in the Dean´s Board and Dean's Collegium. The head of the relevant workplaces and the evaluated employees are acquainted with the results of the evaluation of individual teachers.

The results of the student surveys are published at Results of student surveys at https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/studentske-ankety/vysledky-studentskych-ankiet-na-ef-umb.html.

The new Directive No. 2/2025 does not regulate obtaining feedback from graduates, therefore, in the study program, feedback from graduates is obtained informally, through interviews, further cooperation with students on the topics being addressed, and the like.