Marta Kuhnová

The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (UCM) was established on 1st August 1997 by the Act of the Slovak National Council No 201/1997. UCM celebrates a quarter of a century Named after the patrons of education – the scholars Constantine (who later adopted the religious name Cyril) and Methodius, it was established in 1997. Since then, this ambitious and dynamic university has facilitated access to higher education for hundreds of students and consequently increased the education and culture in the region. At the same time, since its inception, it has supported and facilitated the development of science and education in the region and in Slovakia through the implementation of study programmes that have not been developed before, while making space for the emergence of completely new ones. It was the first university in Slovakia where students could study mass media and marketing communication, thus giving graduates a unique edge. At present, UCM offers a special study programme for Environmental Protection and Restoration in Slovakia. The graduates, having high moral principles and civil and social responsibilities, will be able to develop Slovak culture, science and knowledge in the context of the European and world cultural heritage. The mission of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is to provide quality three-level higher education in the research areas implemented in each university division, following the latest knowledge of science and technology. Today, UCM has five faculties and one institute - the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Mass Media Communication, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Health Sciences and Institute of Management. The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is a modern education institution that forms students' self-confidence, creative and independent thought and national consciousness. The university offers enough space for the development of a knowledge base through studying, research and other creative work in the sphere of philosophy, arts and media, as well as in natural sciences, biotechnology, informatics, chemistry, but in the sphere of psychology, pedagogy, history, ethnology, political science and Slovak language, Russian language, English language, German language too. The university gives students and teachers possibilities to participate in public life and create a civil society focusing on education following the principles of democracy, humanism and tolerance. The scientific and research activities of the university are financially supported mainly through grant projects VEGA, APVV and national science and research programmes managed by creative employees of the university. Staff and research teams are involved in various European cooperation programmes and receive additional funding from EU programmes, such as the EU‘s Research and Innovation Framework Programs - Horizon. Science and research within UCM are developed in the University Science and Creative Park, which has been established to integrate the university‘s scientific and creative infrastructure. Multidisciplinary scientific and creative projects are successfully completed with the intensive participation of students of all levels of study.