FACULTY OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

OF SLOVAK UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN BRATISLAVA /

TRNAVA

NEW YEAR ´S MEETING 2010

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Ladies and gentlemen,Ladies and gentlemen, IIn accordance with the tradition of n accordance with the tradition of

the New Year's meeting of the New Year's meeting of employees and faculty staff, its employees and faculty staff, its supporters, friends and sponsors, at supporters, friends and sponsors, at the beginning of the New year of the beginning of the New year of 2010, 2010,

I would firstly like to wish you good I would firstly like to wish you good health, the well-being of your health, the well-being of your families, many personal families, many personal achievements and may also be true achievements and may also be true in the workplacein the workplace

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It is once again time to summarize and It is once again time to summarize and present to the academic community with present to the academic community with what we would like the faculty to achieve what we would like the faculty to achieve this year together with all of our this year together with all of our ccooperationooperation

Within a few months the functioning Within a few months the functioning period of the present faculty management period of the present faculty management will come to an end and our priority is to will come to an end and our priority is to hand over the faculty to the future hand over the faculty to the future management in a very good condition. management in a very good condition.

As I look back to the year of 2009 I am As I look back to the year of 2009 I am confident that I will be able to solve this confident that I will be able to solve this task without any major problemstask without any major problems

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We have gained a successful We have gained a successful accreditation and we are a accreditation and we are a University University FacultyFaculty. In the future we would like to . In the future we would like to gain an ‘A’ evaluation, not only in the gain an ‘A’ evaluation, not only in the field of materials and technologies but field of materials and technologies but also in our next three fields of also in our next three fields of research – automation and research – automation and informatics, integrated safety and informatics, integrated safety and pedagogy – and during the next pedagogy – and during the next complex accreditation to move from complex accreditation to move from today’s evaluation of B+, B and B- today’s evaluation of B+, B and B- towards an Atowards an A

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Another strength that we have is Another strength that we have is definitely, if not the strongest ever, definitely, if not the strongest ever, successes in obtaining grant funds. In successes in obtaining grant funds. In this respect I may say without this respect I may say without exaggeration that we are the most exaggeration that we are the most successful school and research successful school and research establishment in Slovakia, because establishment in Slovakia, because during the last year during the last year we gained we gained 15,215,2 million Euros million Euros from financial sources, from financial sources, which is about which is about 330% more than last year’s 0% more than last year’s budget. Further projects are in the budget. Further projects are in the approval process, among them there are approval process, among them there are three more centres of excellence in total, three more centres of excellence in total, more than 15,2 million Eurosmore than 15,2 million Euros

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It is necessary to begin to classify and It is necessary to begin to classify and distinguish between the calls of the distinguish between the calls of the grant agencies, and to think how to grant agencies, and to think how to obtain the necessary finances for obtain the necessary finances for obligatory joint financing, especially for obligatory joint financing, especially for large projectslarge projects

I am pleased to note that our I am pleased to note that our weaknesses from the past have been weaknesses from the past have been gradually eliminatedgradually eliminated

The qualification structure of our The qualification structure of our university teachers is essentially university teachers is essentially changing, at this moment we have changing, at this moment we have institutions were there are no senior institutions were there are no senior assistants or assistants without a PhDassistants or assistants without a PhD

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Last year we congratulated up to Last year we congratulated up to 1212 new associate professors at our new associate professors at our faculty and this year we are faculty and this year we are planning to have fourplanning to have four-five-five new new university professors from our staff university professors from our staff who are approximately in their who are approximately in their fifties, we have enlisted at least a fifties, we have enlisted at least a further 10 new perspective further 10 new perspective candidates for the title of associate candidates for the title of associate professorprofessor

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Due to the structure of our Due to the structure of our pedagogues and researchers we pedagogues and researchers we have significantly expanded with have significantly expanded with important specialists from important specialists from Slovakia and abroad, we have Slovakia and abroad, we have guest professors from universities guest professors from universities and research institutions with and research institutions with whom we cooperate closely with, whom we cooperate closely with, in some cases our faculty even in some cases our faculty even became their work placebecame their work place

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Doctoral study became an unthinkable Doctoral study became an unthinkable part of the faculty: in this academic year part of the faculty: in this academic year we immatriculated the highest number of we immatriculated the highest number of doctoral students so far, not only in the doctoral students so far, not only in the frame of the faculty but also in the frame frame of the faculty but also in the frame of the whole of the SUTof the whole of the SUT –– 9696 students students

During the last academic year there were During the last academic year there were 33 graduations, particularly from the 33 graduations, particularly from the internal doctoral students of our faculty –internal doctoral students of our faculty – these are the results from which today these are the results from which today profited, not only our faculty, but also the profited, not only our faculty, but also the whole of our alma-materwhole of our alma-mater

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We have our doctorands and post-We have our doctorands and post-doctorands from China, Cuba, Mexico, doctorands from China, Cuba, Mexico, Germany, Russia and Austria. We have Germany, Russia and Austria. We have dissertations and in the past year and also dissertations and in the past year and also towards habilitations written by our towards habilitations written by our employees in the English language, there employees in the English language, there was a significant movement in the quality was a significant movement in the quality of our publications with a comparison to of our publications with a comparison to the previous quantitythe previous quantity

The tender for the construction of the The tender for the construction of the Centre of Excellence 5-axis machining is Centre of Excellence 5-axis machining is just before the selection and realisation, just before the selection and realisation, the financial sources and funding amounted the financial sources and funding amounted to 1.3 million Euros that was allocated by to 1.3 million Euros that was allocated by the rector of the SUT, it is the same amount the rector of the SUT, it is the same amount for all the SUT faculties, even if they are to for all the SUT faculties, even if they are to be used for different purposesbe used for different purposes

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Regarding the building documentation for Regarding the building documentation for the realisation of an additional building the realisation of an additional building on Bottova Street, the financial sources on Bottova Street, the financial sources amounted to 6.5 -8 million Euros and are amounted to 6.5 -8 million Euros and are being negotiated, there is another offer being negotiated, there is another offer to solve this problem with a loan which to solve this problem with a loan which would not be the worst solution for the would not be the worst solution for the faculty in today’s financial conditionfaculty in today’s financial condition

Last but not least the Last but not least the SlovaklonSlovaklon – – project documentation including project documentation including compulsory study regarding the compulsory study regarding the environment and the other obligatory environment and the other obligatory matters for this particular construction is matters for this particular construction is approaching the final stage of approaching the final stage of construction construction - - this was financed once this was financed once again from our own sourcesagain from our own sources

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The building plans have been The building plans have been formed for a new multi purpose formed for a new multi purpose construction of our arboretum. construction of our arboretum. From calls 5.1 the strengthening From calls 5.1 the strengthening of the infrastructure of of the infrastructure of universities – we will begin in universities – we will begin in spring with the reconstruction of spring with the reconstruction of our university hall on Bottova our university hall on Bottova Street and hall number 103. Street and hall number 103. About 5 million Euros from these About 5 million Euros from these calls will be invested in order to calls will be invested in order to reconstruct the ICT of our facultyreconstruct the ICT of our faculty

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We are proud of our partners from We are proud of our partners from state, public and the private sector. state, public and the private sector. Cooperation with them is beneficial Cooperation with them is beneficial for both sides. Let me name the for both sides. Let me name the institutions from Slovakia and from institutions from Slovakia and from abroad, whom I consider are our abroad, whom I consider are our most important partners: most important partners: Region Region Trnava and city of TrnavaTrnava and city of Trnava, JAVYS, , JAVYS, VUJE, Beakert, FZD, IFW, TU VUJE, Beakert, FZD, IFW, TU Ilmenau, TU Dresden, Ilmenau, TU Dresden, University of University of Zagreb - Varaždin, University of Zagreb - Varaždin, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, University of Applied University of Applied Sciences KoethenSciences Koethen/D/D and and Kecskemet/H and Kecskemet/H and many othersmany others

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I have already appealed several times to our I have already appealed several times to our employees concerning their activities at other employees concerning their activities at other universities, especially in the context of universities, especially in the context of identification with our faculty. I cannot imagine identification with our faculty. I cannot imagine that a worker could work one shift in the that a worker could work one shift in the morning in VW and another shift in the morning in VW and another shift in the afternoon in PSAafternoon in PSA

I was talking about the so called hypothetical I was talking about the so called hypothetical ethic boarder of 30% of part time jobs at other ethic boarder of 30% of part time jobs at other schools, particularly universities in the field of schools, particularly universities in the field of research and high-professional lectures. Thou research and high-professional lectures. Thou our legislative at this time permits such a our legislative at this time permits such a situation, it is surely not beneficial for ether situation, it is surely not beneficial for ether partyparty

We will deal with the problem in a frame of We will deal with the problem in a frame of valid legislation until the end of the functional valid legislation until the end of the functional period of the faculty’s managementperiod of the faculty’s management

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There are surely more topics which are There are surely more topics which are relevant to mention and think about at this relevant to mention and think about at this place. In a short period we will also organise place. In a short period we will also organise non-legislative meetings which would in non-legislative meetings which would in principle have to explain their attitudes principle have to explain their attitudes towards the faculty’s plans within the times towards the faculty’s plans within the times to cometo come

I have in mind the meetings of professors I have in mind the meetings of professors with the faculty management, the meetings with the faculty management, the meetings of doctoral students with the dean of the of doctoral students with the dean of the faculty and of course the pedagogical faculty and of course the pedagogical conference of faculty teachers. We have to conference of faculty teachers. We have to agree on the optimal number of students at agree on the optimal number of students at all three levelsall three levels

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We have to discuss how to increase the We have to discuss how to increase the quality of the teaching process and how quality of the teaching process and how to gain relevant results in science and to gain relevant results in science and research to invested sourcesresearch to invested sources

We know already today that the We know already today that the successful faculties and universities of the successful faculties and universities of the future have to participate in the research future have to participate in the research projects of the common European projects of the common European research space- the fundamental call for research space- the fundamental call for all institutes is to start participation with all institutes is to start participation with their foreign partners on the project FP7 their foreign partners on the project FP7 as soon as possible - because the as soon as possible - because the structural funds will soon be used upstructural funds will soon be used up

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We know already today that the We know already today that the successful faculties and successful faculties and universities of the future have to universities of the future have to participate in the research projects participate in the research projects of the common European research of the common European research space- the fundamental call for all space- the fundamental call for all institutes is to start participation institutes is to start participation with their foreign partners on the with their foreign partners on the project FP7 as soon as possible - project FP7 as soon as possible - because the structural funds will because the structural funds will soon be used upsoon be used up

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In the year 2010 our faculty will be In the year 2010 our faculty will be the organizer of the world conference the organizer of the world conference IGIP-SEFI, the two world professional IGIP-SEFI, the two world professional organisations, which deal with the organisations, which deal with the quality of engineering education. We quality of engineering education. We expect approximately 400 expect approximately 400 participants from all continents. participants from all continents.

We are sure that the conference We are sure that the conference participants will spread out the good participants will spread out the good name of our faculty as well as the name of our faculty as well as the name of our town and region to name of our town and region to distances further than the Slovak distances further than the Slovak bordersborders

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Finally, ladies and gentlemen, Finally, ladies and gentlemen, allow me, once again to wish you allow me, once again to wish you all the best for the new year all the best for the new year 2010 and a pleasant meeting 2010 and a pleasant meeting here todayhere today

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We thank our sponsors, curators, We thank our sponsors, curators, advisory council members and advisory council members and all partners for the constructive all partners for the constructive collaboration in the year 200collaboration in the year 20099

AAnd we are happy to fulfil new nd we are happy to fulfil new tasks, challenges and tackle tasks, challenges and tackle future projects together!future projects together!

Thank you for your atentionThank you for your atention