Prof. Dr. Stanislav KMET 1 , Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sergej PRIGANC 2 ,

1. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT THE CIVIL ENGINEERING FACULTY OF THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KOSICE Prof. Dr. Stanislav KMET1, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sergej PRIGANC2, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jan KANOCZ2, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dusan KATUNSKY2

2. Abstract • The paper presents characteristics of the study system, model and organization at the Civil Engineering Faculty of the Technical University of Košice, Slovakia, after the transformation

3. INTRODUCTION • The Civil Engineering Faculty has recently undergone transformation of the education system, following conclusions of some important documents, such as the 1996 Lisbon Agreement, the 1998 Sorbonne Proclamation, but mainly the 1999 Bologna Declaration whose important aim is to build a common European space of university education by 2010. All EU member countries have accepted this intention and EU associated countries.

4. Requirements of bachelor study programs have to meet at least two principal aspects: • to train professionally a bachelor for the labor market, • and at the same time to give a bachelor a solid theoretical basis for further study at engineering or PhD levels.

5. The Faculty of CE TU Kosice • In 2001, the Faculty of Civil Engineering underwent a challenging accreditation process.

6. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE STUDY SYSTEM AFTER THE TRANSFORMATION • Diversificationof the study provides possibilities to extend the university study upon a higher number of students. • Reorganization and modernization of study

7. Model of Three-Level Study • Level 1 - bachelor study (3 years) - completed by the first state exam. • Level2 - engineering study (2 years) - completed by the second state exam. • Level 3 - PhD study having two forms: • internal- daily form of study (3 years) - completed by defending thesis papers, • external form of study (5 years) - completed by defending thesis papers.

8. Existing Organization of the Three-Level Study • Tab. 1 Particular fields organize the study serial-like. Study Programs for the year 2003/2004 and 2004/2005.

9. New Organization of the Three-Level Study • Particular fields organize the study serial-like. Study Programs from the year 2005/2006 -.

10. Electronic Information System STUDENT • The character of the study results in increased requirements of organizational provision of the complex educational process which, among others, consists of setting optimum time schedules, registering subjects, managing exam dates, applying for taking exams etc. These activities have been fully automated by the STUDENT programm. • Within the development of information technology, the level of hardware, computer classrooms, the faculty computer center, and departments, computer nodes has been constantly improving.The faculty computer network itself as part of the whole Technical University has been improved; transmission speeds have increased, and the interconnection between individual working sites has been enhanced. Also the connection of students, dormitories to the university network has improved, which enables direct communication of students with the Faculty. Some new communication systems have been implemented, by which it was possible to switch to electronic application for taking tests and exams, and electronic registration of study results.

11. Experience of Introduction of a Credit System Compatible with ECTS • An important part of the study system is also the method of evaluating study results in form of credits, compatible with ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). This system is based on a possibility of credit transfer, which means a possibility of studying at other universities etc. At our Faculty, a credit system of study has been implemented, and in this year it was modified to take into account the latest changes resulting from the new academic act and the draft of the regulation of credits. This provided preconditions of more active engagement of students in the pedagogical process. Such an engagement of students also enables some self -profiling of students. • In line with ECTS, summaries of annotations of study subjects are made in paper and electronic forms included in the university systems. Currently, we deal also with reciprocal mobilities at the level of the Faculty. They are oriented mainly to the Building Constructions program in which we also provide paid-schooling in English.

12. Experience of Evaluation of Teachers by Students • An inseparable part of evaluating the education process is also the student-teacher feedback. First results of such evaluation point out to two facts. • First,rather a big interest in this evaluation and students, support to introduce it. It shows in students, initiation at the time of preparing the evaluation. • Second, a kind of suspicion and worries of teachers. The Faculty has a web-page application where students may directly evaluate the subjects for previous semester.

13. Experience with the Introduction of Paid-Schooling in English • In 2000, a study programme in English started.It is a paid programme to be paid by students, and it is focused on civil engineering, as part of the Building Construction programme, this study will continue also in the next period according to established study plans and syllabuses.Schooling in English was motivated by several facts, such as additional source of getting finances,but mainly the our increase in qualification and personal growth of our educationalists.

14. Feedback from Students in connection with Changes Implemented at the Faculty • First information of prepared changes (from two years ago) was connected with more or less confused opinions of student, representatives.This year's meetings withstudent s before registration at the Faculty send clear signals from students that they understand the study transformation as a definitely positive change to the benefit of students.We have registered some objecting opinions from studentsmainly in connection with the introduction of study fees.

15. Integrity of Science and Education • The Faculty of Civil Engineering concentrates its activities mainly on the following: • solutions of research and development tasks of high priority in the Slovak Republic, especially tasks included in the State Programme, tasks based on state orders and tasks managed by the Agency for Supporting Science And Technology (APVaT), • solutions of tasks within the European Research Area, such as: • tasks within existing networks of European scientific and research institutions, • tasks of the 6th EU Framework Programme, . tasks resulting from various other EU programmes. • connection between the aims and tools of the PhD programmes at the Level 3 Study Programme and existing programme intentions and projects in research and science with an aim to increase its efficiency,

16. Integrity of Science and Education • The Faculty of Civil Engineering concentrates its activities mainly on the following: 4. establishing rules within internal motivation criteria for supporting complex projects of research and development, as a form of enhancing cooperation between departments and faculty working sites, 5. support of activities implementing results of research and science into the practice, and of methods of their commercialization: • support of projects with realization outputs, . solutions to projects on the basis of cooperation with partners from practice, • getting involved in solving projects assigned by industrial bodies in the Slovak Republic.

17. CONCLUSIONS • In the framework of further development of the Faculty, its permanent interests will include the following: • by flexible continual improving the study transformation model to increase expertise and creativity of its graduates, • to include results of scientific and research work into the quality of the pedagogical process, • to support the increase in the qualification structure of the Faculty staff and of departments ability of action.

18. Thank you for your attention