Europe - Country Commercial Guide
Slovakia Education and Training
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Capital:  Bratislava
Population: 5,440,602 (July 2020 est.)
GDP:  179.7 Billion USD (2017 est., Purchasing Power Parity)
Currency: Euros (EUR)
Language: Slovak (official)

UNESCO Student Mobility Number:
Slovakia has 32,404 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook:
25.19% of the Slovak population is under 24 years of age.

OVERVIEW
Slovakia is strategically located at the geographic heart of Europe. Slovakia is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU) and other multi-lateral organizations. It is also a member of the EU Schengen Agreement. Slovakia adopted the euro (EUR) as its currency on January 1, 2009, becoming the 16th member of the European Monetary Union. Registered unemployment nationwide dropped down to 4.9% at the end of April 2019 but varies widely from region to region. Inflation in 2018 was 2.5%. Continued GDP growth of approximately 3.8% is anticipated in 2019.

Slovakia is a country of 5.4 million people. Age structure based on CIA’s World Factbook is following: 
0-14 years:             15.13% (male 423,180/female 400,128) 
15-24 years:           10.06% (male 280,284/female 266,838) 
25-54 years:           44.61% (male 1,228,462/female 1,198,747) 
55-64 years:           13.15% (male 342,124/female 373,452) 
65 years and over: 17.05% (male 366,267/female 561,120) (2020 est.)

The Slovak education system consists of three stages: primary education, secondary education, and tertiary education. Besides church and privately owned, the majority of schools are State owned. Secondary education lasts, in general, four years and, in some cases, may last five to eight years.  According the Slovak Law, ten-year education is compulsory. 

In academic year 2019/2020, primary schools will educate 458,003 pupils (out of which 58,184 are first graders). 
Secondary schools will educate 201,903 pupils.  

In Slovakia, the university environment is not homogeneous.  There are small colleges with dozens of students to universities with over ten thousand students.  In 2018, university education was provided by twenty university colleges; twelve colleges (not integrated into university colleges or higher education institutions); and three vocational colleges. Higher education was also offered by five foreign universities - University of International and Public Relations in Prague, Hochschule Fresenius GmbH, INSTITUT SUPERRIEUR SPÉCIALISÉ DE LA MODE - MOD’SPÉ Paris, Staropolska Szkoła Wyższa w Kielcach and Szent István Egyetem. 
In 2018, a university degree was obtainable in one of its three degree levels within 371 fields of study. The first level offered 177 fields of study, the second level 180 fields of study, and the third level 329 fields of study. Study departments were divided into nine groups: Education (10 fields), Humanities and Arts (45), Social, Economic and Legal Sciences (56), Natural Sciences (62), Design, Technology, Manufacturing and Communications (67), Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (39), Health (48), Services (22) and Information Sciences, Mathematics and Information and Communication Technologies (22).

In 2018, there were 133,152 university students studying, which represents a year-on-year drop of 2.58% (a decrease of 3,311 students at public universities and a decrease of 221 student at private universities). Most public university students in the first two grades studied in Social Sciences, Education and Services (54.75%). The share of women at public universities in 2018 reached 58.86% (PhD. female students stood at 48.20%) and 63.38% at private universities.

External form of university study recorded a drop of 19.78%.

Statistically, 54.75% students, including the doctorate, majored in social sciences, science and services.  

The number of doctorate students in both public and private universities decreased on year-on-year basis by 238 students (228 at public and 10 at private universities; equivalent to overall 3.58%). Daily form of study experienced a year-on-year decrease of 88 post-graduate students (2.28 %) and the external form of study experienced a year-on-year decrease of 150 students (5.19%).  Out of all students, doctorate students represent a 4.89% share.

1,145 foreign students characterize an increase of 10.19% compared to 2017. Women represented 55.07% of foreign students, while at private universities their share among foreign students reached 68.42%. Technical University Košice was the biggest contributor to the rise in the number of students from abroad.

The 2018 budget allocation for higher education, science and social support for university students stood at 
€ 502,257,379 out of which € 495,435,471 was earmarked for universities and € 160 549 559 for university science and technology support including the grant for the International Laser Center.

In 2018 public universities employed 20,491 (year-on-year decrease by 0.75%) out of which 46.49% were university teachers, 7.05% were researchers and the rest were other employees (e.g. administration, operations, etc.). The average salary of a public higher education employee in 2018 was € 1,265.36, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.75%.


In 2018, the student social support system consisted of direct support in the form of scholarships from the State budget (social scholarship and motivational scholarship), scholarships from the university’s own resources, loans from the Education Support Fund and loans from the scholarship fund of individual universities. The maximum monthly amount of social scholarship in the academic year 2018/2019 was € 285, € 5 more than in the previous year. As of December 31, 2018, public universities paid social scholarships to 9,301 students in the amount of  € 11,348,275, which is a decrease of € 2,675,920 and 654 beneficiaries less compared to 2017. In 2018, private universities paid out social scholarships in the amount of € 214,635, which is a decrease of € 73,040. As of December 31, 2018, this amount was received by 187 beneficiaries (71 less) compared to 2017. In 2018, the Ministry of Education provided subsidies for motivational scholarships in the amount of € 9,441,643, of which  € 329,700 to private universities. Universities paid motivational scholarships to 7,997 students in selected fields of study on average € 472.59.

Other incentive scholarships were € 409.35 on average. Additional motivational scholarships were received by 13,767 students (13.3%). In 2018, universities provided scholarships in the amount of € 1,697,529 (increase of € 268,492 compared to 2017) to a total of 7,471 students of which € 40,506 was paid by private universities to 36 students. The Education Support Fund’s allocations for year 2017/2018 totaled 
€ 5 million of which € 2.7 million were in form of student loans and € 2.3 million for teachers’ loans.
Through indirect support students had access to subsidized accommodation and meals or to a financial support in case of art groups and sports clubs operating at universities and university pastoral centers.

SUB-SECTORS
Online Programs
Online programs are not very common at Slovak schools. The only exception is University of Central Europe and City University Seattle which students study via e-mail and Moodle discussion forum. Slovak students may extend their qualification via e-learning at Business Institute, the largest private MBA institution in the Czech Republic and Slovakia or gain MBA, bachelor and engineer degrees at foreign universities. 

Research and Development 
Slovakia ranks among the countries with the lowest level of research and development resources in the university sector in the EU. Universities receive R&D State budget funding almost exclusively through the Slovak Ministry of Education.  R&D expenditures by Slovak Ministry of Education will remain low due to Slovakia’s low R&D spending of less than one percent of GDP. (The Europe 2020 strategy was intended to increase public and private R&D investment in the European Union to three percent of GDP obliging Slovakia to 1.2% of GDP.) The in long-term undernourished R&D causes significantly fewer workers in this sector than in comparable countries (3.3 working hours per 1,000 Slovak inhabitants, the average of EU countries was 5.5), brain drain in scientist’s community, smallest number of patents filed in terms of population size (48 patents per million inhabitants, four times less patents than the EU), low volume of citations (0.61 citations per thousand inhabitants in 2017 is below EU average), small count of scientific publications as well as patents (Slovakia ranked penultimate in the EU).
 
Slovak students in search of R&D scholarships or grants may use the National portal EURAXESS, European portal EURAESS, CORDIS (including Horizon 2020), Fulbright Commission or Central Information Portal for R&D and Innovation under the auspices of Slovak Ministry of Education resources.   

Professional Training Services
High school exchanges to the United States can be facilitated through a non-profit or commercial organization, e.g. Slovak Academic Information Agency or can be self-organized. The majority of university students are interested in economic and humanities subjects whereas technical areas rank third in popularity.  Slovak students interested in studying in the U.S. need to apply for the correct student visa.

European countries appear to be a more attractive destination for studies due to school fees, EU scholarship eligibility and vicinity. University studies in the U.S. are more achievable to academically talented students and student eligible for athletic scholarships.

English is no longer considered an advantage in the labor market. Most foreign employers expect a minimum of English knowledge and offer to pay for corporate courses in English or other languages.

OPPORTUNITIES
University Mobility
Foreign schools are regarded as highly prestigious and attractive. 33 higher education institutions took part in Erasmus + 2017 call which resulted in 3,970 successful applicants. 2,594 students studied mostly in Czech Republic, Spain and Poland (4.89 months long stay on average) and 1,376 interns gained experience mostly in Czech Republic, Spain and Austria (average internship length of 3.14 months). Incoming mobility represented 2,064 students out of which 558 were interns. Foreign students came dominantly from Spain, France, Poland, Turkey and Italy.

Thirteen students (average length of stay of six months and average monthly scholarship of € 900), 41 doctoral students (average length of stay of five months and average monthly scholarship of € 1,000) and 19 postdoctoral students (average length of stay of four months and average monthly scholarship of € 1,200) traveled through The National Scholarship Program 2018. According to the Slovak Ministry of Education, Slovakia welcomed 28 students (average length of stay was six months and incoming monthly scholarships € 350), 26 PhD students (average length of stay was six months and incoming monthly scholarships € 580) and 128 university teachers (average length of stay was six months and incoming monthly scholarships € 926), researchers or artists. 

11.9% Slovak students leave to study abroad where they graduate (versus EU average of 3.1%). Only 0.1% return to graduate in Slovakia (versus EU average of 7.6%). Top 5 countries where Slovaks study are: Czech Republic, Hungary, UK, Austria and Germany.
Since English language is mandatory by law from grade three onward Slovak students qualify for both undergraduate and graduate studies in the U.S. U.S. university degrees offered locally or within Europe show to be more accessible. The number of Slovak students in the U.S. has been relatively stable at 340+ in the last years. 

Academic Level

(2018/2019)

Europe

% Change

Slovakia

% Change

Total

90,996

-1.8

349

0.6

Undergraduate

38,044

-1.5

172

8.2

Graduate

26,221

-2.6

90

-2.2

Non degree

14,541

-6.1

42

0.0

OPT

12,190

4.8

45

-16.7

 

                                               Source: Open Doors 2019 statistics

Based on the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, Slovakia welcomed 38 students from USA. UNESCO’s Student Mobility Numbers are as follows:
 
Entering the Market
 
U.S. universities may be established in Slovakia based on Law 596/2003 Coll. on State Administration in Education and School Self-Governing Bodies once their request is approved by the Slovak Ministry of Education. 

U.S. universities may enter the Slovak education market via a partnership with local schools through student exchange programs. One-year study exchange programs are highly attractive. (Note: As more and more companies require their employees to speak English, there are numerous organizations offering exchange programs to learn English in native country.)

U.S. universities may also make use of Erasmus+ is the European Union (EU) program for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020. Erasmus+ supports activities that are closely matched with the EU’s priorities for cooperation policy with partner countries throughout the world including Canada and the United States and regions. Three years into the program proved popular with North American countries.

Fulbright Commission – program portfolio for Slovak Citizens includes Fulbright Scholar Program, Fulbright Student Program, Fulbright-Schuman Program, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, The U. S. Institutes on American Studies and Weiser Professional Development Award.

Slovak Education reform - searching for innovative projects and approaches to improve education at Slovak schools under the Generation 3.0 initiative - non-governmental organization Pontis Foundation in cooperation with the US Embassy in Slovakia will invite US experts to share their experiences and know-how with measuring the impacts of the initiatives on the education system. 

Cooperation with Slovak businesses through establishing their schools, run apprenticeship programs or organize internship programs to attract potential employees.

CHALLENGES

  • Slovak Ministry of Education’s unsatisfactory budget 
  • Ongoing education reform
  • Neglected science & research and modernization of schools
  • Salaries
  • Elections in February 2020

Secondary education    - more school capacity than actual number of students

  • Less than 50% are interested to study 
  • Regional governments will open only classes based on their regional labor market needs (63% of graduates do not work in their major)
  • Inclusion (13 million EUR deficient) and integration 
  • Demotivated teaching staff, lack of teachers/elderly teaching staff (average age is 46 years)
  • Missing textbooks for certain grades
  • Dual education (lacking 1.5 million EUR funding, complicated administrative processing)
  • Low salaries (high school salaries are at 65% of university salaries while EU23 is at 89% and OECD at 88%)       
  • Tertiary education    - less applicants, enrollments and graduates
  • Accreditation Committee – missing 0.4 million EUR in funding, unclear university evaluating criteria     
  • 57% of graduates do not work in their major (There is a growing mismatch between university graduates and the needs of the labor market, with Eurostat showing youth unemployment as high as 22%. 35% of university graduates work at high school degree positions.)
  • Low salaries cause disinterest in teaching profession or teachers leaving for business field (The 2018 salaries of public higher education staff continued to increase, with the average monthly salary of a university teacher at a public higher education institution growing by 5.45% to € 1,596.15 and the average monthly salary of a public university professor growing by 5.94% to € 2,360.97. Starting January 1, 2020, the minimum wage set by law is 580 EUR.)

EVENTS
•    Gaudeamus – Akademia Bratislava (October 2020) 
•    Interstudy – Events presenting individual foreign country education systems

RESOURCES

•    Slovak Ministry of Education: https://www.minedu.sk/vyrocne-spravy-o-stave-vysokeho-skolstva/  
•    J.W. Fulbright Commission Bratislava:  www.fulbright.sk/
•    Institute of International Education: https://www.iie.org/
•    Slovak Academic Information Agency https://granty.saia.sk/Pages/ProgramZoznam.aspx 
•    Erazmus+ http://www.erasmusplus.sk/  

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT
Lucia Maskova, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – Bratislava, Slovakia
lucia.maskova@trade.gov
011 421 2 5922 3325