Building of a Technical Educational System of a Non-University Type in Slovakia

Abstract

The trends in the development of higher technical education regarding economic and social changes in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe have been analysed [1]. The present contribution aims at showing on the example of Technical University in Kosice, Faculty of Professional Technical Studies in Presov in what way these problems are solved and what outcomes have been reached. It focuses on the rise, form, content, and aims of Faculties of Professional Technical Studies in Slovakia (especially on the Faculty of Professional Technical Study in Presov the first of its kind in Slovakia).

The aim of the paper is to inform about realization of the technical university studies diversification in Slovakia (or Eastern Europe as a whole) in accordance with the 1992 OECD recommendations. Different approaches to the origin of such faculties, legislative lagging behind (the old though still valid University Education Act does not comprise this type of study), problems with titles awarding and many others - these are the tasks to solve. Pointing out the origin of the Faculty of Professional Technical Studies in Presov the paper shows the solution of this problem in Slovakia. At the same time we want to initiate the public professional discussion at an international level on how to approach the establishment of professional universities in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe.

The ever increasing number of graduates from technical colleges (in Slovak: Priemyselná skola) continuing in their university studies has led to a shortage of experts with college and university education with practical orientation to help industrial manufacture. The graduates from technical colleges should have found their posts in practice, the sphere for which they had been trained. The shortage of experts with secondary and university education in technology is solved nowadays by establishing professional technical higher education establishments of technology - Faculties of Professional Technical Study.

In the sphere of technical education, there is an endeavour to introduce the following:

• 1. Bachelor study. It is also introduced from below by some technical colleges, as well as from the above by some universities.

• 2. Higher educational establishments of professional technical orientation are subject of a more detailed survey.

Paradoxically enough, the old Act on universities is still in force and does not know any such form of study. Experiments in the field may be helpful for those currently devising a new act at universities.