Graduate profile:

The graduate is proficient in the current state of knowledge in the field of Economics and Management with an emphasis on public economics and policy theory in an international context. He/she has the ability to systematically understand the interrelationships and contexts of the functioning of the public, private and non-profit sectors in the economy (Macroeconomics, Microeconomics). Understands the rationale for government intervention, i.e., the content of public sector industries (what?). Knows the methods of implementing state interventions, i.e., the economics and management of public sector industries (how?). Understands the distributional contexts of state interventions (for whom?), and the principles of decision-making about the implementation of state interventions (how are decisions made in the public sector?). He or she addresses the above basic questions of public economics scientifically in accordance with the current state of knowledge by mastering the skills and methods of scientific research (Methodology and Ethics of Scientific Work 1, 2, Quantitative Methods in Public Policy) and interdisciplinary contexts on the functioning of the public economy (Public Economics, Economics and Management of Public Services), public policy making and implementation (Public policy, Evaluation of public policy programmes, Civil society), public finance system (Public finance) at all levels of public administration (Local and regional economy and policy, Public administration and regional development).

The graduate is proficient in scientific methods of work, which he/she is able to use independently and creatively in scientific and research activities and in demanding practical conceptual work. He or she has in- depth knowledge, an understanding of broader relationships and a sophisticated knowledge of scientific and research methods and procedures that meet international criteria. The graduate demonstrates the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a large-scale research process with academic integrity, while being able to develop and offer his/her own solutions to problems in the field of public sector economics and public policy based on theoretical understanding of the problem (Active involvement in scientific research projects).

During his/her studies, he/she publishes the results of his/her scientific research activities, which are subjected to domestic and international review in scientific forums and journals (Contributions of top international quality, Publication outputs). During his/her studies, he/she will produce a comprehensive qualifying work (Dissertation Project for the Dissertation Examination, Dissertation), which will contribute to expanding and pushing the boundaries of knowledge of the problems of public economics and policy through original research.

The graduate is able to identify and critically analyze a problem, evaluate the results of his/her research and synthesize new and comprehensive solutions and ideas with application not only in the development of theory but also in social practice.

In the field of communication skills, the graduate is able to handle professional discussion at national and international scientific conferences (Active presentation at conferences). He/she is able to consult, argue and defend his/her methodological approach and proposed solutions in both internal and external environments (Foreign scientific mobility). During the PhD, the graduate actively develops cross- cutting skills such as analytical thinking, digital skills, communication and interpersonal skills, creativity and cognitive skills that will help him/her to find employment, both within and outside the academic sector.

The graduate will find employment in particular in scientific research workplaces, universities, and central offices of a conceptual nature in the creation of methodological, forecasting and decision-making materials, the application of which is desirable in the development of new products and systems in the public sector economy, the implementation of new public policies and schemes promoting knowledge-based social progress. Graduates will also find employment in multinational analytical consulting firms and supranational institutions.

Learning objectives:

The objectives (from 1 to 4) and learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and transferable competencies - letters a to b fulfilling the individual objectives) are based on the supporting themes of the core knowledge of the field of study Economics and Management and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area for the third degree of higher education, which reflects the profile of the graduate and the recommended study plan of the Public Economics and Policy study programme, with an emphasis on the profile subjects.

The graduate after completing the PhD degree of the Public Economics and Policy study programme:

1. Understands the context of the functioning of public economics and public policy making in the context of the current international state of knowledge of public economics and public policy theory:

(a) Has a systematic knowledge of the macroeconomic and microeconomic contexts of the functioning of public economics as a platform for the implementation of state interventions and public policy making as a platform for decision-making on state interventions in a multi-sectoral economic platform (Public Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics).

2. Knows and understands I) the reasons for state interventions - the content of the public sector, as a platform for the implementation of state interventions (what?), II) the ways of implementing state interventions - the economics and management of public sector industries (how?), III) distributional contexts of state interventions (for whom?), IV) principles of decision-making on state interventions by public choice (how are decisions made in the public sector?) and is able to scientifically address in accordance with the current state of knowledge (critically analyze and evaluate in interdisciplinary contexts) the above questions in the form of a synthesis of new and complex concepts applicable in the development of theory, but also in social practice:

(a) Has a systematic knowledge of the interdisciplinary contexts of the functioning of public economics (Public Economics, Economy and Management of Public Services, Local and Regional Economy and Policy), the development and implementation of public policy (Public Policy, Economy and Policy, Civil Society), public finance system (Public Finance, Evaluation of Public Policy Programmes) and skills in identifying original research and practical problems, conceiving innovative methodologies for their solution with the added value of advancing knowledge of the problems and creating solutions relevant to economic practice.

3. Masters the methods of scientific research, independently and creatively use them in I) scientific research activities, especially in the conception, design, implementation and adaptation of a large-scale research process while maintaining academic integrity, II) in demanding practical conceptual activities in public economics, its management, in the creation and implementation of public policy with respect to socio- economic progress:

(a) Has systematic knowledge of research methodology and ethics corresponding to international criteria, skills and competencies to use methods of scientific research, to collect, process and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data, to formulate conclusions in relation to innovative and comprehensive solutions of theoretical and  practical

problems of public economics, public policy (Public Economics, Public Policy, Local and Regional Economy and Policy, Methodology and Ethics of Scientific Work, Quantitative Methods in Public Policy).

4. Advances the current state of knowledge of public economic and policy issues by disseminating the results of one’s own original research at home and abroad, thus promoting the advancement of a knowledge- based society in both academic and professional contexts:

(a) Has skills and competencies in making available and communicating the findings of one’s own research to the wider scientific community and the general public through:

(a) Professional discussion at national and international scientific conferences with the ability to consult, argue and defend their methodological approach and proposed solutions (Active presentation at conferences, International mobility),

b) publishing the results of their scientific research activities during the course of their studies in the form of independent research studies in peer-review journals and impacted journals registered in the WoS or SCOPUS databases (Contribution of top international quality, Publication outputs) and in the form of a comprehensive qualifying work (Dissertation project for the dissertation examination, Dissertation) at the end of their studies.

b) Possess the cross-cutting skills such as analytical thinking, digital skills, communication and interpersonal skills, creativity and cognitive skills and competencies needed to create and lead research project teams in the development of new products and systems in public economics and the implementation of new public policies and schemes that promote knowledge-based social progress (Active involvement in scientific research projects).

The learning objectives and learning outcomes are listed in Attachment 13 of the UMB Directive No. 1/2021 entitled Learning Objectives and Learning Outcomes - e3_ Attachment_13_ Learning Objectives_ and_Learning Outcomes.

The study programme prepares graduates to work as pedagogical and professional staff in education and learning or in administrative activities, especially in the field of strategy and development documents. Their knowledge, skills and abilities enable them to prospectively occupy management positions in the public sector focused on the production of development and strategy documents, and management positions in research and educational institutions. The learning outcomes and qualifications obtained by completing the study programme meet the sector-specific professional expectations for the performance of these professions:

2310003 University assistant professor

2310004 University assistant teacher

1345003 Head of Department

1223001 Manager of a research institution

1112 Senior civil servants (1112001, 1112005, 1112005, 1112008, 1112009, 1112012, 1112013, 1112014, 1112999)

1113 Representatives of municipalities and higher territorial self- government units (1113001, 1113002, 1113003, 1113004, 1113999)

1114 Heads of political, trade union, interest and related organisations (1114002, 1114003, 1114004, 1114999)

Written submissions from external stakeholders on the Indicated Occupations are included in k_ Attachment _ Stakeholder Report, Indicated Occupations.

The evaluation of graduate employability at MBU is part of the international Horizon 2020 docEnhance project. As part of its activities, a report on tracking the careers of doctoral graduates was carried out, in which, in addition to MBU in Banská Bystrica, 8 other universities in the EU participated: the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), UiT Arctic University of Norway Tromsø (Norway), Maastricht University (Netherlands), Technical University of Munich (Germany), University of Alcala (Spain), University of Chemistry and Industry Prague (Czech Republic), MNOVA University Lisbon (Portugal) and the University of Sassari (Italy). Many interesting insights emerged from the responses of more than 2,200 respondents.

Link to the project website: https://docenhance.eu/career-tracking/

Graduates of the Public Economics and Policy programme will find employment mainly in research and scientific workplaces, universities, and central authorities of a conceptual nature in the creation of methodological, forecasting and decision-making materials, the application of which is desirable in the development of new products and systems in the public sector economy and the implementation of new public policies and schemes promoting knowledge-based social progress. Graduates will also find employment in multinational analytical consulting firms and supranational institutions.

Graduates of the programme have been employed as research and teaching staff at universities at home (Faculty of Economics, MBU, Banská Bystrica; Police Academy in Bratislava, Technical University in Zvolen, University of Economics in Bratislava) and abroad (Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University in Brno). Graduates work as researchers (Research and Innovation Centre EF MBU Banská Bystrica, Institute of Economic and Social Analyses, Bratislava, Slovak Business Agency). A number of graduates work in leading positions in public administration organisations at national, regional and local level (Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, Office of the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region, Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic). Graduates also act as mayors and council leaders of towns and municipalities. Some of the graduates have found employment in leading managerial positions in public service organisations (e.g., F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital Banská Bystrica, Association of Slovak Hospitals), in non-governmental non-profit organisations (ZMOS - Public Administration Section), in project and development organisations (Open Society Foundation). Graduates have also found employment in the sphere of private enterprises (BONARD, SHP Slovakia, Železiarne Pobrezová, a.s., Hitli, TMF Group), or banking (Deloitte, Tatra banka).

Col. of General Staff Ing. Radoslav IVANČÍK, PhD. et PhD., MBA, MSc., Assistant Professor at the Department of Informatics and Management of the Police Academy

doc. Ing. Gabriela Vaceková, PhD., associate professor at the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University in Brno

Ing. Róbert Chovanculiak, PhD., analyst at INESS - Institute of Economic and Social Analyses

Ing. Tomáš Virdzek, PhD., Research and Innovation Centre EF MBU Banská Bystrica, research area: retirement savings, investing and trading on world financial markets.

Ing. Peter Vlček, PhD., Head of the Methodology and Project Preparation Department, Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic Ing. Nikoleta Jakuš Muthová, PhD., Assistant Professor, Department of Public Economics and Regional Development, EF MBU Banská Bystrica

Ing. Maroš Malíček, PhD., Junior Analyst at Slovak Business Agency (SBA)

Ing. Zuzana Vozárová, PhD., Tax Controller, Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic

Ing. Martina Kubišová, PhD., Council Leader of Kynceľová

Ing. Gabriel Mihályi, PhD.: Chairman of the Public Administration Section of ZMOS, Council Leader of the Municipality of Jesenské

Ing. Zuzana Sojaková, PhD., Project Manager (projects financed from EU, state funds for municipalities and budgetary and contributory organizations established by them).

Consent of graduates for processing of personal data is included in i_Attachment_2_ Consents of interested parties, Graduates to the Study Programme description.

The assessment of the quality of the study programme is carried out at three levels, with different sets of employers defined for each level of assessment:

1.   Evaluation of the quality of the study programme in the process of its design.

The following employers participated in the process of designing the study programme:

·    Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic, Námestie 1. mája 18, Bratislava, Mgr. Peter Hajnala, PhD, Director of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic.

·    City of Zvolen, Námestie Slobody 22, Zvolen, Mgr. Juliana Kochlicová Ištóková, Head of the Development Department of the City of Zvolen, Director of the Zvolen Cultural Centre.

·    University Hospital with Polyclinic F. D. Roosevelt Banská Bystrica, Ing. Miriam Lapuníková, MBA: General Manager.

Employers' representatives prepared a stakeholder report, where they formulated comments and gave feedback on selected characteristics of the study programme (see k_ Attachment _ Stakeholder Reports, Study Programme Evaluation Reports). A separate report on the extent of the processing of the comments has been prepared by the person responsible for the study programme and is included in the accreditation file) l_Attachment_Written opinion_of_the_person_responsible_for_the_Study Programme).

2.   Assessment of the quality of the study programme in the process of its approval

The following stakeholders may comment on the quality of the

programme during the programme approval process:

-    the employer's representative in the Internal Quality System Council of EF MBU,

-    the employer's representative in the temporary working group of the Internal Quality System Council of MBU,

-    the employer's representative in the Internal Quality System Council of MBU.

3.   Evaluation of the quality of the study programme by obtaining feedback from employers

Feedback obtained from any other employers is carried out according to MBU Directive No. 2/2022, where there is an opportunity to request feedback from other employer representatives. At the time of writing the programme description, no such evaluation had taken place.

The rules for the formation of study plans in the study programmes are defined in the Study Regulations of MBU https://bit.ly/3p2hFdm and in the Study Regulations of the EF MBU https://bit.ly/34wDkCB

In addition to the above-mentioned documents, we followed the following other rules when creating the recommended study plan:

-    credit evaluation of courses is based on the time intensity of the student's work, usually in the range of 1,800 hours per academic year in the full-time form of study and usually 1,440 hours per academic year in the part-time form of study, including independent study and independent creative activity, which represents an average of 30 hours/1 credit.

-    the credit allocation reflects the time burden of the student necessary for the acquisition of the prescribed learning outcomes

-    the time and content sequence of the courses in the recommended study plan is determined so that by completing it the student achieves the required knowledge, skills and competencies.

E.g.:

-       profile courses are defined only from the group compulsory courses and compulsory elective courses

-       the credits of profile courses are generally higher than those of non- profile courses

-       the proportion of credits for profile courses is at least ½ of the total number of credits for compulsory courses.

In order to respect trends in the understanding of professional issues in line with the orientation of the programme in the academic sphere, international compatibility and comparability with the study programmes of recognized foreign universities were taken into account in the development of the curriculum. With this aim, the findings of the Erasmus+ project No. 2018-1-SK01-KA203-046330 PAQUALITY (Public Administration Education Quality Enhancement) implemented in cooperation with EAPAA (European Association for Public Administration Accreditation) were used. The study programme thus reflects the experience of internationally accredited study programmes in the field of public administration and public policy. At the same time, with the intention of creating an internationally comparable and interdisciplinary study programme, the standards and procedure for the development of study programmes according to EAPAA (https://www.eapaa.eu/process) were reflected, thus creating the prerequisites for the existence of an internationally recognized and qualitatively comparable study programme.

In order to reflect the requirements of practice in solving professional problems, in line with the orientation of the programme, selected potential employers and graduates of the programme who are active in the practice of related fields were approached during the preparation of the curriculum.

In order to take into account the requirements and practical problems of the students related to the completion of the duties in the study and scientific part of the plan, the students of the study programme were also involved in the process of preparing the study plan.

The recommended study plan is part of the internal accreditation file of the study programme as Attachment 12 of the MBU Directive No.1/2021. The recommended study plans are also part of the Study Guide, which is published on the faculty's website https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=2180

The recommended study plan contains the names of compulsory courses, compulsory elective courses, credit endowment of the course, basic learning activities and their rate in hours, recommended semester, student's workload in hours and course teachers. All course information sheets include course objectives and learning outcomes, subject identification data, midterm and final subject evaluation rules, literature, distribution of time load between methods and learning activities. The information sheets are available in the academic information system AiS2 Within the offer of elective courses, students can choose any course taught at individual units of Matej Bel University for the third degree of studies. The elective courses are chosen by students at their own discretion. The study plan has been designed in such a way that the student's workload and the number of hours of contact teaching enable the achievement of the learning outcomes of the study programme.

The recommended study plan for the Public Economics and Policy study programme without specifying the lecturers (the full recommended study plan for the Public Economics and Policy study programme is included in e1_ Attachment _12_Recommended Study Plan).

There are no prerequisites in the study plan of the Public Economics and Policy study programme. For each course within the recommended study plan, the educational activities used (lecture, tutorial) are specified, including their hourly allocation. Educational activities in all courses are carried out using a combined method according to the number of students enrolled in the course, which is also indicated in the information sheets for each course in the recommended study plan. The course syllabus is a compulsory part of the information sheets of all courses of the recommended study plan. The individual course information  sheets indicate 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 student's total workload. The credit allocation of courses reflects their difficulty and the intensity/measure of the student's workload. This is indicated for each course in the recommended study plan. The information sheet for each course identifies the university teachers involved in the provision of that course. Information about individual persons, including their contact details, is published on the website of the Faculty of Economics at MBU. The place of implementation of the Public Sector Economics study programme is the Faculty of Economics of MBU based in Banská Bystrica.

The state examination consists of the defence of the dissertation. The condition for admission to the state examination is the successful completion of all compulsory courses and a specified number of compulsory elective courses and elective courses from the study and scientific part, including the state examination - dissertation project.

The conditions for proper completion of studies and other rules governing interruption of studies, individual study plan, change of study programme are defined in the Study Regulations of the EF MBU https://bit.ly/34wDkCB, Directive No. 7/2021 on doctoral studies https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1872 and Directive No. 10/2021 on the Establishment of Doctoral Study Committees at MBU https://www.ef.umb.sk/indexasp?uid=1921

Number of credits for compulsory courses required for proper completion of studies/completion of a part of studies: 126 (study part 36 + state exams 60 + contribution of top international quality JCR, SJR) 30) (of which 40 for Dissertation Project defence)

Number of credits for compulsory elective courses required for the proper completion of studies/completion of a part of studies: 48 (study part 18 + scientific part 30)

Number of credits for optional courses required for the proper completion of studies/completion of a part of studies: 6 (study part)

Number of credits for the final thesis and the defence of the final thesis required for the proper completion of studies: 40

The rules for the verification of learning outcomes and student evaluation and the possibilities of corrective procedures are defined in the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Economics MBU in Article 18 https://bit.ly/34wDkCB, Directive No. 7/2021 on Doctoral Studies in Articles 7 and 13 https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1872 and Directive No. 10/2021 on the establishment of Doctoral Study Committees at the MBU in Article 4 https://www.ef.umb.sk/indexasp?uid=1921.

The methods of verification of the achievement of learning outcomes, criteria and conditions for passing 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. The results of verification and student assessment are published to the student in the academic information system. At the student's request, the teacher is obliged to provide the student with feedback on the result of the evaluation.

The possibilities of corrective procedures against the evaluation are defined:

-      in    the    Study    Regulations    of    EF    MBU,    Article    18 https://bit.ly/34wDkCB

-      in the Complaints Handling Directive https://bit.ly/3shoA2J In addition, students can appeal to the chair of the departmental

subcommittee of the relevant study programme, to the head of the department as a training site or to the Vice-Dean for Research, who are obliged to deal with each complaint.

The conditions for the recognition of the study, or part of the study, are defined: in the Study Regulations of the EF MBU in Article 11 and Article 27 https://bit.ly/34wDkCB, Directive No. 7/2021 on doctoral studies in Articles 6, 7, 11, 13 https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1872

In accordance with the quality culture at EF MBU, the life cycle of the Study Programme as an educational service is limited by the standard length of study and therefore this section lists the topics of the Study Programme for the last academic years, which are representative of the length of study. The list of dissertation topics for the Public Economics and Policy programme is included in a separate attachment to the Study Programme Description e4_List_of_thesis_topics.

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

The rules concerning theses are defined in the Directive No. 2/2021 Regulation of written university theses, dissertations and habilitation theses https://bit.ly/31wKllO, in the Study Regulations of the EF MBU Article 21 and Article 22. Directive No. 7/2021 on doctoral studies, Article 16, point 8. The procedure for the defence of the dissertation is published at https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1959 and https://www.ef.umb.sk/ef/UploadFolder/1959/subory/DrS_Obhajoba%20dizertacnej%20prace_pokyny_2021.pdf

Opportunities and procedures for participation in student mobility

Supporting individual student mobility is one of the strategic priorities of MBU in the field of internationalisation. This priority is elaborated in detail in the document Internationalisation Strategy available at https://bit.ly/3dyvR7l and in Directive No.4/2019 on Erasmus+ mobility at MBU https://bit.ly/3L4aF8B. Information on mobility abroad is currently published on the EF MBU website https://bit.ly/3rUE266 in Slovak and English.

The 3rd degree of studies offers a compulsory elective course in International Mobility 1 and International Mobility 2 in both the winter and summer semesters.

Individual student mobility within the given study programme is mainly carried out at universities in France (University of Reims), in the Czech Republic (VŠE Prague, Masaryk University in Brno, MZLU Brno, University of Pardubice, Faculty of Business and Entrepreneurship in Karviná; University of European and Regional Studies, České Budějovice) in Slovenia (University of Ljubljana), in Germany (Technische Universitaet Kaiserslautern), in Norway (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences), in Poland (University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology), in Romania (University of Oradea; National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Faculty of Public Administration in Bucharest), in Hungary (Faculty of Political Sciences and Public Administration, National University of Public Service, Budapest), in Sweden (School of Public Administration at the University of Gothenburg), in Switzerland (University of Geneva) and in the Netherlands (Erasmus University Rotterdam).

Rules for adherence to academic ethics and rules for drawing consequences

The University of Matej Bel in Banská Bystrica has developed and published a Student Code of Ethics and the Faculty of Economics has also developed its own Student Code of Ethics. Both documents are publicly available in full on the umb.sk and ef.umb.sk websites.

Students are continuously acquainted with the principles and rules of observing academic ethics in the first year of study within the courses Methodology and Ethics of Scientific Work 1 and Methodology and Ethics of Scientific Work 2. Teachers and supervisors rigorously check the originality of submitted seminar work, scientific articles, published scientific papers or projects. In the Study Regulations of EF MBU Article 18, paragraph 9, cheating in the performance of study duties is considered a disciplinary offence. Disciplinary offences are dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee of the EF MBU https://bit.ly/3gkrH4d, its status and activities are regulated by the Disciplinary Regulations of the MBU in Banská Bystrica for Students and the Rules of Procedure of the MBU in Banská Bystrica for Students https://bit.ly/31E2UEv. The Ethics Committee is established at MBU to address issues and problems related to the observance of academic ethics by both staff and students. Relevant information related to the Ethics Committee and its activities is published on the University's website https://bit.ly/3oBITr0. For students, the binding document is the Student Code of Ethics at MBU https://bit.ly/3EBcZ3t. Any student can also take online training in ethical decision-making in an online environment in accordance with the rules at MBU https://bit.ly/31KQ9Yg. The documents are published on the faculty and university website. The student also learns the principles of academic ethics in the courses Methodology and Research Ethics 1, 2, which are compulsory courses of the study programme.

Procedures applicable to students with special needs

The university and its components provide applicants and students with special needs with the appropriate adaptations and support services and create an environment for equaling out opportunities to study at MBU. Procedures for applicants and students with specific needs are set out in the Study Guide for Students with Specific Needs at MBU and other published guidance on the University's website https://bit.ly/3dxWlFW. At EF MBU we have a coordinator who works with students with specific needs, and provides support to them in their adaptation to the university environment as well as in dealing with various situations related to their studies https://bit.ly/3yk15Zv

Procedures for filing complaints and appeals by students

Procedures for student complaints and appeals are defined in the Complaints Policy https://bit.ly/32VheJn.

The list of courses and IL courses are appended to the application for accreditation of the study programme and included in e2_Attachments_ 11_ Course_Information_sheets. Course information sheets are available in the academic information system AiS2

The AR timetable is available on the Faculty's website: https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/doktorandske-studium/dokumenty/harmonogram-akademickeho-roka-doktorandskeho-studia.html

The current timetable is available on the Faculty's website: https://www.ef.umb.sk/student/doktorandske-studium/informacie-o-studiu/rozvrh-doktorandskeho-studia.html

Prof. Ing. Beáta Mikušová Meričková, PhD.; Department of Public Economics and Regional Development; beata.mikusovamerickova@umb.sk; +421 48 446 23 17; https://umbsk.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/VnutornySystemKvalityUMB/ESvmuTJRCg9EiLTpNIS3lAoB3heFADSUW-h2picWiJeUbA?e=hzVjW4

Prof. Ing. Anna Vaňová, PhD. Department of Public Economics and Regional Development; anna.vanova@umb.sk; +421 48 446 20 15 https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11187 Local and Regional Economy and Policy

Doc. Ing. Mária Murray Svidroňová, PhD. Department of Public Economics and Regional Development; maria.murraysvidronova@umb.sk; +421 48 446 23 11; https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/18479 Public Finance

Doc. Ing. Katarína Vitálišová, PhD., Department of Public Economics and Regional Development; katarina.vitalisova@umb.sk +421 48 446 20 17; https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11637 Public Policy

Doc. Ing. Kamila Borseková, PhD..; Research and Innovation Center; kamila.borsekova@umb.sk +421 48 44 66 217 https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/18476 Economy and Management of Public Services

Prof. Ing. Beáta Mikušová Meričková, PhD.; Department of Public Economics and Regional Development; beata.mikusovamerickova@umb.sk; +421 48 446 23 17; https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11231 Public Economics

The scientific and pedagogical characteristics of persons providing profile courses (Research/ teacher profile of a person) are maintained documented information in the academic information system AiS2 and are also published on the department's website.

Prof. Ing. Beáta Mikušová Meričková, PhD. https://umbsk.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/VnutornySystemKvalityUMB/EQm69qGpSiVBtCpmOWlRsFUBfXipjbemlCiby7j5lyIi6w?e=5zrOSB

Doc. Ing. Kamila Borseková, PhD. https://umbsk.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/VnutornySystemKvalityUMB/EULjW9IpGTlGoZnDb6nhU_sBkUxm0tj_2L799OxrjtUo0w?e=7lovbZ

Prof. Ing. Anna Vaňová, PhD. https://umbsk.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/VnutornySystemKvalityUMB/Eb5AR0Fc1sRIlbkVBL2T0CkBwfhk71qb71snRNXTwo79jA?e=czannB

Doc. Ing. Mária Murray Svidroňová, PhD.

https://umbsk.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/VnutornySystemKvalityUMB/ESWHsrE1HRlDl6z-d0oIKVcBlckkLpI6xY-cbYjQo6M6Dg?e=3dPzqq

Doc. Ing. Katarína Vitálišová, PhD.

https://umbsk.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/VnutornySystemKvalityUMB/ES6Mih1b6cdOv6t8-dRKGZsBRij5YrNzmtzX6laljIeZbg?e=PI1R7V

The list of study programme teachers includes all those involved in teaching compulsory and compulsory elective courses in accordance with the recommended study plan and course information sheets. The list of teachers is an appendix to the application for accreditation of the study programme j_ Attachment _3_Teacher Capacity_of the Study Programme description with a link to the central register of staff and contacts.

The list of thesis supervisors with assignment to the topics is an appendix to the application for accreditation of the study programme and m_List_of_thesis_topics and_Supervisors_ of Thesis to the Study Programme description.

doc. Ing. Kamila Borseková, PhD. , Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/18476

doc. Ing. Mária Horehájová, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11209

doc. Ing. Martin Hronec, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11233

doc. Ing. Štefan Hronec, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11244

doc. Ing. Radoslav Kožiak, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11238

prof. Ing. Beáta Mikušová Meričková, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11231

doc. Ing. Peter Pisár, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11458

doc. Ing. Mária Murray Svidroňová, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/18479

doc. JUDr. Ing. Ján Šebo, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11236

doc. RNDr. Jana Špirková, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11533

prof. Ing. Anna Vaňová, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11187

doc. Ing. Katarína Vitálišová, PhD., Portal of Higher Education Institutions: https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/11637

doc. Ing. Martina Halásková, Ph.D. /ČR

doc. Ing. Renáta Halásková, Ph.D. /ČR

prof. Ing. Jan Stejskal, Ph.D./ČR

Published on: Školitelia doktorandov | Doktorandské štúdium | Ekonomická fakulta, Univerzita Mateja Bela (umb.sk)

The Research/ teacher profile of a person is an attachment to the application for accreditation of the study programme. At the same time, the Research/ teacher profile of a person are available in the academic information system AiS2 and published on the EF MBU website for each thesis supervisor. They are part of g_ Research/ teacher profile of a person of the supervisors of the thesis of the Study Programme.

Ing. Mária Vavrušová Public Economics and Policy, full-time, maria.vavrusova@umb.sk

Ing. Kristína Murínová Public Economics and Policy, full-time, kristina.murinova@umb.sk

prof. Ing. Zdenka Musová, PhD., Vice-Dean for Scientific Research Activities; zdenka.musova@umb.sk 048 446 2140

Study officer: PhDr. Ingrid Balážová, Ingrid.balazova@umb.sk 048 446 2141

Accommodation officer: Mgr. Ján Gréner, Director of the Administration of Special Purpose Establishments of MBU; jan.grener@umb.sk 048/446 6914

Social Affairs Officer: Jana Lobbová, jana.lobbova@umb.sk 048 446 1152

Coordinator for applicants and students with special needs: doc. Ing. Radoslav Kožiak, PhD. radoslav.koziak@umb.sk 048 446 2014

International Relations Officer: Mgr. Viera Pavlovičová viera.pavlovicova@umb.sk, 048/446 6727

Project administration: Ing. Denisa Voskárová denisa.voskarova@umb.sk 048/446 2179

Mgr. Miroslav Murin - Officer of the Institute of Automation and Communication (MBU ID card office, helpdesk) (miroslav.murin@umb.sk; preukazy@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4466812, 6758)

Ivana Kapustíková - Head, AIS management officer, helpdesk (ivana.kapustikova@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4466213)

Ing. Pavol Lupták - Department of Computing and Didactics (e-mail accounts, LMS Moodle, helpdesk)

(pavol.luptak@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4462165)

Milan Lichý - ICT administrator, helpdesk (milan.lichy@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4462169)

Michal Kindl - ICT administrator, helpdesk (michal.kindl@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4462166)

Mgr. Jana Štefániková - International Cooperation and Lifelong Learning Officer

(jana.stefanikova@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4466412)

PhDr. Zuzana Osvaldová, PhD. - Careers Guidance Officer (zuzana.osvaldova@umb.sk; tel. č.: +421-48 4466227)

Centre for Research and Development: Ing. Marta Húšťava Šipulová marta.sipulova@umb.sk 048/446 7177

At EF MBU we are constantly trying to innovate and modernize the technical equipment in classrooms and lecture halls, as well as the equipment available to the staff.

Doctoral students at EF MBU attend the teaching part in a special seminar room, which is called "Center for Doctoral Student Development" (abbreviated CRD in Slovak). This room is equipped with 25 seats, an interactive 65" touch screen with PC, video conferencing equipment, a projector and audio equipment, which is also used for workshops or other scientific and educational events for doctoral students, or implemented directly by doctoral students.

In total, the faculty currently has 410 desktop computers at its disposal. Classrooms, lecture or seminar rooms and meeting rooms used by teachers for teaching are equipped with 50 desktop computers. Students use 92 thin client PCs in the classrooms, through which they connect to the school servers, and 87 computers are used by students in the computer labs. The remaining number of desktop computers are used by staff in their offices.

The Faculty also has approximately 200 laptops, which are primarily used by staff for work at home or on business trips, or some meeting rooms are equipped with laptops.

All lecture theatres, classrooms and meeting rooms are equipped  with video projection equipment in the form of projectors (45 pcs.), TVs (12 pcs.), 55" and 65" touchscreens (3 pcs.), interactive whiteboards (3 pcs.), touchscreen monitors for PCs in classrooms and lecture theatres (15 pcs.) Classrooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms and special seminar rooms also include video and audio equipment that enable seamless online or hybrid teaching - videoconferencing sets (7 pcs. in total), webcams (50 pcs.), omnidirectional microphones (50 pcs.).

At the same time, staff also have webcams, omnidirectional microphones or headset and microphone sets in their offices, graphic tablets with stylus or pen tablets.

The Faculty has 8 computer rooms (7 in Banská Bystrica and 1 at the IMS in Poprad), 3 of which are equipped with RDS clients (92 in total), through which students connect to the RDP Server, and 5 computer rooms equipped with desktop computers (87 computers in total).

All our students and staff can also use the possibility of remote access to the MBU servers from their private desktops or laptops using an encrypted VPN (via the RDP client on their PC they connect to our RDS server) and thus have the possibility to use the necessary software also during distance learning without restrictions.

The faculty has 10 large multifunctional centrally managed printers with scanner and copier at the disposal of all staff - in addition, staff have a total of 106 other printers and multifunctional devices (printer, scanner and copier) at their disposal.

All computers and laptops are connected to the Internet via cable. We have a total of 77 Wi-Fi AP devices deployed in the faculty, of which 32 are CISCO and 45 are Ubiquiti, which serve the needs of the educational process for both staff and students.

In the premises of our faculty, students have at their disposal a Copy Center, Self-education center for foreign language studies, a branch of the university library with a study room, which is complemented by 2 other study rooms.

All information about the study programme, including information sheets for individual courses, is available in the Academic Information System (AiS2). Basic information and the recommended study plan for each study programme is available on the faculty's website and in the study guide of our faculty. Course syllabi, credit eligibility criteria and qualitative assessments are included in the courses created for each course within the LMS Moodle e-learning portal (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 each subject in the LMS, students have access to all the study materials needed to successfully complete and master the subject.

Access to study literature according to Course information sheets, access to information databases and other information sources

In addition to the traditional printed study materials available in the University Library, students can also access electronic book resources, scholarly articles and other publications through the University Library. Each campus PC can connect to 20 paid publication databases to which we have licensed university access (e.g., ProQuest eBook Central, Emerald, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, and HST, among others). Students can also access the aforementioned online databases from the comfort of their home via a VPN connection. Scientific monographs, textbooks and scripts from the work of our teachers are being gradually digitized and made available to students through the Virtual Reading Room (https://digitalnakniznica.cvtisr.sk/page/umb-digitalna-kniznica) and the MBU Repository (https://repo.umb.sk/) in accordance with the Open Access Policy of the University of Matej Bel in Banská Bystrica. The MBU University Library has 5 reading rooms, one self-education centre, an absent borrowing office and the Matej Bel Education Center. In the Faculty of Economics of MBU in Banská Bystrica, students have the Self-Education Center (https://www.library.umb.sk/studovne/samovzdelavacie-stredisko/) at their disposal, where they have access to language and professional databases, 317 printed professional publications, encyclopedias and dictionaries, 8 computers with standard software with web camera, headset with microphone with internet connection, TV, data projector, 1 multifunctional device and Wi-Fi. The economics study room provides students with absentee and full-time loans, user registration, counseling and bibliographic information, reprographic services, the possibility of returning books via bibliobox, they have 32,292 book documents and 37 titles of periodicals in the form of scientific and professional journals, daily newspapers, weeklies and monthly magazines.

Access to information technologies

Students of EF MBU have rich and very flexible access to information technologies. In case of technical problems with information systems, students and staff can turn to the technical support website helpdesk.umb.sk (https://helpdesk.umb.sk/), where they can find general information, guides and procedures for user accounts, Office 365 accounts, AiS2, LMS Moodle, internet and Wi-Fi connection in the faculty and dormitories, and student ID cards.

Students have access to timetables in AiS2, through which they register for final and midterm exams, receive midterm and final assessments. Teachers communicate with students through their student mailboxes or the possibility of sending mass mailings via AiS2 or the respective course in LMS Moodle.

Each student and instructor has access to five Office 365 licenses (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerBI, Teams, Whteboard, and others) based on their student or staff university account.

Each department operates departmental sections on the college website to inform students of important information, news, etc.

Part of the software equipment available to students for the needs of the educational process is, in addition to applications available in Office 365 or MS Office 2016/2019, R and R-Studio, statistical software IBM SPSS 28, SAP, Power BI, SQL, Inkscape, CorelDRAW, 7Zip, WinRAR, JAVA, Adobe Reader (in some cases Adobe Acrobat Pro), QGIS, Notepad++, web browsers Windows Explorer or Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Irfan View, 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 others.

Distance education is mainly implemented through regular videoconferencing online meetings according to the schedule for the semester through the MS Team application, which also allows the use of audio lectures, document sharing, chatting, and the creation of independent study groups.

Each subject taught in a given semester has a separate team, whose members are teachers and students of the relevant subject. In parallel with MS Teams, LMS Moodle is used as a tool for providing study materials in the form of teaching texts, 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, educators use Zoom or Google Meet or Cisco Webex  in  some  cases.  Our  educators  have  the  option  to  use  the education license from Slido for increased student interaction when teaching online or getting feedback.

If special software is required and installed in the computer labs, students have secure remote access to these computers via an encrypted VPN (they connect to our RDS server via the RDP client on their PC) and thus have the ability to use the required software even when teaching remotely without restriction.

Access, manuals of e-learning portals

In the case of distance (and hybrid) learning, online learning is delivered via MS Teams. All students are gradually added to the subject team, with whom the teacher then conducts online lectures, exercises, seminars, consultations, etc.

Instructions for face-to-face teaching, including tutorials, are available to students and teachers at Helpdesk.umb.sk (both Slovak and English versions           of           the           support           are           available) (https://helpdesk.umb.sk/sk/23/zakladne-informacie-ms-teams.html) - the tutorials also include videos (which are also available for teachers and students   partly   in    the    IT    Services    course    in    the    LMS https://lms.umb.sk/course/index.php?categoryid=182    or    also    on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxzjGZonsfzV7RTjvqlUizBMq8WeOR F_N). Students and staff can also contact the ICT administrators at EF UMB https://helpdesk.umb.sk/user/local_admins), who can also help them via remote access.

Procedures for the transition from contact teaching to distance learning

The transition from face-to-face to distance learning can be implemented de facto immediately, since, as mentioned in the sections above, all the classrooms and lecture halls in which the teaching takes place are equipped with the necessary technology that allows the transmission of audio and video via the Internet.

Courses are created in LMS Moodle for the subjects of the study programme. 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 is instructed in detail at the beginning of their studies (1st year of study) in terms of the use of e-learning support and other necessary tools and systems at the induction meeting (https://youtu.be/Po6youDiKj4). In case of problems and questions, he/she benefits from further tutor consultation sessions. Each lecturer updates the course at the beginning of the semester and sends students access information (passwords). In addition to the syllabus and course prerequisites, the courses also contain links to online classes via MS Teams or ZOOM, videos of lectures with explanations, various assignments, support forums and discussions, polls, study materials, and other activities.

Student assessment can also be conducted through the courses. In case of need (e.g., current pandemic situation), we also switch seamlessly to distance learning in all courses of the study programme in the case of full-time teaching.

Collaboration is being developed in the provision of learning activities as part of the provision of the curriculum:

- within the framework of solving domestic and international scientific research projects - involvement of doctoral students in project activities and consultations in solving dissertations with domestic and foreign project partners (e.g., Agency for the Promotion of Science and Research, Slovak Business Agency, International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies, NISPAcee, National Agricultural and Food Centre - Research Institute of Soil Science and Conservation,   SAV,   DEVCO,   European   Commission   and   with representatives of a number of partner universities within the EU and outside the EU).

-  In the framework of projects for practice and also in the elaboration of dissertations with representatives of state administration organisations, local and regional self-government, interest associations (e.g. Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Education, Science Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Supreme Audit Office, Self-governing Regions, City of Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Žarnovica, ZMOS, Union of Towns of Slovakia, ZHK, SBA, BIC BB, Economic Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Cluster Horehronie, Cluster Liptov, Social Insurance Institution, public health insurance companies - Dôvera, Union, General Health Insurance Institution, ). On the basis of the cooperation with the Iron and Steel

Works in Podbrezová within the engineering studies, the cooperation was extended to the doctoral studies, where the dissertation The use of sports marketing for the development of sport in the region was prepared within the framework of the cooperation for the needs of practice (J. Kuboš, 2016). Within the framework of the acquisition and implementation of the project Banská Bystrica - the capital city of sport, the dissertation The acquisition of the title of European City of Sport and its impact on the development of the city (K. Šulajová, 2019) was prepared for the needs of the city of Banská Bystrica,

-  providing professional lectures for students with representatives of the Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic, the Government Office, the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for the Development of Civil Society, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the District Office in BB, with representatives of self-governing regions, Slovak ministries and their departments, regions, towns and municipalities, etc.,

-  in supporting the publication and scientific achievements of PhD students and their pedagogical skills through expert lectures, workshops and seminars with the possibility of consultations with recognized experts, and with representatives of the Research and Innovation Center of MBU, as well as with representatives of the University Library of MBU and other events organized by the Center for the Development of Doctoral Students - CRD (e.g. Workshops and seminars organized by CRD: ABC for the budding researcher, Doctoral studies in the European context, Electronic resources for research, Evaluation of the academic impact of researchers, Categorization of academic outputs and quality assessment of scientific journals and scientometric databases, Ethics of scientific research and publishing, Small didactics for teachers and PhD students, Quantitative methods in R, How to publish research results in quality journals and why it is good to engage in research projects, A course in university didactics for PhD students, Options for assessing the academic impact of researchers and research organizations, ), etc., Scienta Juventa, a regularly organized conference for PhD students and young researchers at the Faculty of Economics, MBU.

UMB offers students a wide range of social sports, cultural, spiritual and social activities (https://www.umb.sk/studium/student/volny-cas/). In the field of sports activities, it offers the opportunity to join several sports clubs (athletics, women's basketball team, gymnastics, university hockey team, horo-club, karate, judo). The Sport for All Club offers the following physical activities to the student body: swimming pool, sports activities - floorball, football, volleyball, fitness - gym, Power Zumba, country dancing, jumping, classic and sports massage.

In the field of artistic activities, three art ensembles operate directly at MBU: the University Choir Mladost' (https://youtu.be/aIUOyNNf24s), the University Folklore Ensemble Mladost' (https://youtu.be/fRZ9GYAj84k) and         the         Youth         Chamber         Orchestra         Mladost' (https://youtu.be/75FPEJynxSk). Students also have the opportunity to participate in the activities of the UNIS student theatre ensemble; the ensemble is open to students who have a relationship with theatre and want to be part of it themselves. The University Dance Center offers a variety of dance classes for the student body (https://www.unidc.sk/mesto/banska-bystrica/).

MBU students can become participants in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award programme (https://youtu.be/BSy4TKWuD1I). This is a comprehensive development programme that gives young people aged 14 to 24 the chance to develop their skills and character qualities for real life, to fulfil their potential and help them succeed in life. Students from our university can not only become DofE participants, they can also train in the methodology of the programme and become programme leaders.

For leisure time, EF MBU offers several suitable opportunities for students in its outdoor area (space for sitting on benches, in case of good weather directly on the grass). There are 2 cafes, a chill out and relaxation zone and 2 respiratory areas in the EF MBU buildings where students have access to PCs and Internet and use them for project meetings, studying, etc. There is also an Economics Study Room and a Self- education Center. Students and staff have a canteen and a cafeteria on the faculty premises, in addition we have a number of drink vending machines around the faculty.

Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, students regularly organized fun quizzes for students or Beanies (faculty student ball). In addition to the activities offered directly by the faculty and the university, the city of Banská Bystrica, with which MBU actively cooperates, also provides a wealth of activities and regularly informs students about the opportunities through social networks, the faculty's website, e-mails and information boards in the faculty premises.

Participation in mobilities and internships are governed by the Directive No.4/2019 on Erasmus+ mobilities at UMB https://bit.ly/3L4aF8B and are published in a separate section of the EF UMB website https://bit.ly/3rUE266. Specifically, this concerns mobility within the Erasmus+ programme, as well as mobility under other schemes (e.g., through SAIA). The call for mobility applications is published every year in the first half of the winter semester. Interested mobility applicants submit an application form, a motivation letter, a CV and proof of foreign language level. Participants are then pre-selected, consisting of an evaluation of the submitted documents and a personal interview (face- to-face or online). The results of the pre-selection are communicated to the students once the grant has been awarded by the Erasmus+ National Agency.

Upon completion of the mobility, the Vice-Dean for Educational Activities will confirm the recognition of the ECTS credits obtained during the mobility on the basis of a certified Transcript of Records. In addition to the possibility of studying, students of the Public Sector Economics study programme are also offered the opportunity to participate in an internship in Slovakia or abroad. Within the framework of the Erasmus+ internship programme, in which Matej Bel University is involved, the student has the opportunity to choose from a wide range of organizations on the website of the Faculty of Economics or to approach a selected company or organization within the EU countries. The current offer of internships is published on the Faculty's website: https://bit.ly/3J38HDs.

The person interested in study programme Public Economics and Policy is an intelligent personality with an excellent general overview of the current situation in society and interdisciplinary in the issues of public economy, public sector and public policy. She/he is fluent in at least one foreign language professionally. She/he applies the principles of ethics in own behavior, has adequate legal awareness and social feeling. He has adequate communication skills and is interested in scientific research of economic and managerial context in the main research topics of the study program. She/he is a flexible and independent thinking personality with an open mind to new knowledge. She/he can think critically and analytically what she/he applies in solving standard economic and managerial tasks. Based on them, she/he is able to design and apply original solutions to identified problems and draw adequate conclusions. The applicant must meet the requirements of the Slovak Classification Framework - SKKR at level 7. It is suitable to be an author or a co-author of some publishing outputs, to be involved in project activities and to participate at the Student scientific activity.

The condition of admission to study is the completion of the study programme of the 2nd degree and successful completion of the entrance examination.

The content of the PhD entrance examination is an assessment of the applicant's knowledge of public economics and policy issues that are the subject of the dissertation topic based on the presentation of the dissertation project. The dissertation project should, at a minimum, argue the relevance of the topic/urgency of the problem to be addressed in the context of: the development of a theory that will form the basis of a solution to the research problem given by the topic of the thesis and a solution to the problem in economic practice - i.e., a gap in knowledge of the problem and an original object of investigation with an indication of the methodology of investigation.

In addition, knowledge of the English language is required. The entrance examination, the presentation of the dissertation project and the discussion of the dissertation project are conducted in English, given that it is possible to assess the communicative competence of the candidate in a foreign language.

Detailed admission requirements for the 3rd degree of studies can be found at https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1332 https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=328 and Information for applicants https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1333 https://www.ef.umb.sk/ef/UploadFolder/1333/subory/DrS_PK_info%20 pre%20uchadzacov%202022_2023%20na%20web.pdf

The admission conditions are the same for all study programmes of the third degree at the Faculty of Economics of MBU in Banská Bystrica and are based on the Directive No. 7/2021 on Doctoral Studies, Article 4.

The basic condition for admission to doctoral studies is the completion of the second degree of higher education.

Applicants for studies who have completed a previous degree abroad are obliged under Act No.422/2015 on the recognition of evidence of education and on the recognition of professional qualifications and on the amendment and supplementation of certain acts, as amended, to submit the recognition of evidence of education obtained outside the Slovak Republic The decision on the recognition of educational qualifications.

Another condition is the successful completion of the entrance examination.

The admission procedure and the conditions for admission to doctoral studies are set out in the document Admission options and conditions and planned admission numbers for the academic year 20xx/20xx+1 https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1332

Before the start of the admission procedure for doctoral studies, the faculty announces the thesis topics for which the applicant may apply in the admission procedure. A supervisor is appointed for each of the topics. The doctoral candidate must apply for one of the topics. https://www.ef.umb.sk/index.asp?uid=1333

The admission examination for full-time applicants is combined and comprises three components: presentation of a written dissertation project by the applicant in English, an assessment of the applicant's previous activity in scientific research (publications and research activities), and the average grade achieved during the second degree of higher education. The maximum number of points that can be obtained by a full-time applicant is 100.

The admission examination of a candidate for a part-time form of study comprises two components: presentation of a written dissertation project in English, assessment of the candidate's previous activity in scientific activity (publications and research activities). The maximum number of points that can be achieved by an applicant for the external form of study is 90.

Parts of the admission examination for full-time and part-time applicants shall be held before the examination board in person or by distance learning.

The composition of the examination board for all study programmes shall be determined by the Dean of the faculty on the basis of the proposals of the chairpersons of the departmental subcommittees of the individual doctoral study programmes. The examination board shall be composed of at least three members. The supervisor whose topic the candidate has applied for may be invited to join the committee with the consent of the chair of the committee.

The results are published on the faculty's website on the day of the entrance examination. The admission of the applicant is decided by the Faculty Admissions Committee.

The composition of the admissions board consists of at least two members of the faculty management, the faculty secretary and at least two members of the examination board. The result of the admission examination shall be recorded in the minutes. The admissions board shall determine the threshold for admission and submit a proposal for admission of successful candidates to the Dean.

Applicants will be admitted to study in the order of the total number of points achieved in the admission procedure within the planned capacity of the study programmes in the individual forms of study.

The results of the admission procedure are recorded in the academic information system. Applicants who have fulfilled the conditions for admission are sent an admission decision with other relevant documents.

Admission procedure for Academic Year 2021/2022 Number of applicants: 2; Admitted: 0

Admission procedure for Academic Year 2020/2021 Number of applicants: 1; Admitted: 0

Admission procedure for Academic Year 2019/2020 Number of applicants: 2; Admitted: 2

In an effort to continuously improve the quality of study programmes in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Economics of MBU in Banská Bystrica (hereafter referred to as EF MBU), an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted in August 2021, which was attended by 17 students, including 10 full-time students and 7 part-time students of doctoral studies. Out of the total number of 28 PhD students, 60.71% students participated in the questionnaire survey. The aim of this survey was to find out the students' motivation towards doctoral studies, evaluation of the elements of doctoral studies, evaluation of the development of transversal skills, evaluation of supervision, evaluation of the academic and research environment and also a space was created for students to express their own opinion through 21 questions. Students' evaluation of doctoral studies in the above areas was favorable, but areas for improvement include the need for international mobility and improving the quality of doctoral students' publication outputs. The results of the survey were provided to the supervisors of the Economics and Management field of study.

Another survey conducted at the University is a survey on the evaluation of lecturers. The aim of the survey is to get feedback from students on the quality of teaching by the selected lecturer, the way it is provided by the lecturer, his/her approach to teaching and to the evaluation of students. Within the survey, students also have the possibility of an open response, where they can express their opinion about the lecturer, his/her work, or indicate their dissatisfaction. The survey is anonymous and is conducted through the academic information system AiS2. Each lecturer has access to the results of the survey concerning him/her, the head of the department has access to the results of the survey of all the staff of the department.

During the transition to distance learning, a survey was carried out after the end of the examination period in the winter and summer semesters via the SLIDO application, the aim of which was to find out students' opinions on the course of distance learning and to identify problems related to the implementation of distance learning.

The procedures for monitoring and evaluating students' opinions on the quality of the study programme are defined in Directive 2/2022 Rules for the evaluation of the quality of education at MBU https://bit.ly/3opb0ZR.

The results of the survey related to the evaluation of the quality of the study programme are available to the chairperson of the departmental committee and the persons providing the study programme and are communicated in detail at the Dean's college, where critical areas are identified and measures for improvement are subsequently taken at the level of the faculty and at the level of the department providing the study programme.

The results of the student lecturer evaluation survey, students' suggestions and comments are discussed at the level of panel and the Dean's college after the evaluation of the survey. The results of the evaluation of individual lecturers are communicated to the heads of the relevant departments and to the staff members being evaluated.

The results of the survey monitoring student satisfaction with the distance learning method were communicated to the lecturers through the persons responsible for the study programme.

As part of the evaluation of the study programme, we have used the implementation of the activities of the Erasmus+ PAQUALITY project (2018-2021) in recent years. As part of the project tasks, meetings were held with graduates and employers of students, where they had the opportunity to express their opinions and insights on the content of the study programme, as well as on the competencies, skills and knowledge that students acquire through their studies. At the same time, the study programme was included in the research on the international comparison of study programmes in the field of public administration and public policy with a focus on assessing its relevance for obtaining international accreditation by the EAPAA. The evaluation was positive.

In accordance with the Directive 2/2022 Rules for the Evaluation of the Quality of Education at MBU in Banská Bystrica https://bit.ly/3opb0ZR and will carry out the evaluation of the study programme by graduates who have completed at least one year since the regular completion of their studies. The results of the survey will be made available to the persons responsible for the study programme and will be communicated in detail at the Dean's college, and on the basis of the suggestions made by the graduates on the quality of the study programme, measures for improvement will be taken from the level of the faculty and from the level of the department providing the study programme.

Academic regulations https://bit.ly/34wDkCB

Scholarship regulations https://bit.ly/3uDHFyX

Disciplinary rules and rules of procedure of the disciplinary board https://bit.ly/3gkrH4d

Study guide EF UMB | Study Guide

Doctoral Study - Legislation EF UMB | Study Regulations for Doctoral Studies

Accessible academic environment for students with special needs EF UMB | Students with specific needs

Fees related to the study https://bit.ly/3us0THs

Student loans https://bit.ly/3shp60o

Job offers https://bit.ly/3giRpGr

Eating EF MBU | Catering

Accommodation Administration of purpose-built facilities of MBU | Student | Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica

Sports activitiesLeisure time | Student | Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (umb.sk)

Anti-Drugs and counseling services https://poradenstvo.umb.sk/

Student organisations – Centre for Research and Development https://bit.ly/34vzf1w

Student card Student ID cards | MBU ID cards | Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica

Information for applicants EF MBU | Submit your application

Alumni Klub EF MBU | Alumni club MBU

Ethical management and code of ethics https://bit.ly/32Y5A0s https://bit.ly/3J1EWD4

Quality policy Internal Quality Assurance System | Basic Internal Regulations of IQS Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (umb.sk)

Student scientific and - Scientia Iuventa EF MBU | Scientia Iuventa - si.umb.sk

Professional activity https://bit.ly/3ooQ2KJ

Scientific Journal EF MBU | Scientific journal

More by individual faculties References to other relevant regulations and information are provided in the Internal Evaluation Report.