Why Study at UKF

• Norbert Molnár, graduate of the Faculty of Central European Studies,
  former editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Új Szó”, director of the Fund for the Support of the Culture of National Minorities

“The Faculty of Central European Studies at UKF in Nitra was a kind of restart for me. I studied Central European Area Culture and Area Studies externally. First and foremost, I had to convince myself that I was capable of getting up at half past five on a Saturday morning. And not just once, but for five years. But when a person really wants something and is at least a little interested in it, they can overcome even themselves. The school gave me a lot of new knowledge, but more importantly, it put into context the information that was already scattered in various corners of my brain. The biggest advantage of the faculty was the human approach. The biggest positive of my field was that I became acquainted with areal linguistics as a science. If I were born again, I would definitely become an areal linguist. But since I wasn’t born again, I remained a journalist.”

• Janette Motlová, graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care,
  manager of the non-profit organization Eduma and director of the Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology

“In recent years, I have focused on understanding human thinking in the context of perceiving and viewing otherness. At the same time, I have dedicated a lot of time to the emotional experiences of those who live with otherness. In all of this, I realized that many intolerances are not really racism or discrimination. They are simply a kind of misunderstanding, poor communication, and isolation, which people who are ‘different’ actually choose as a form of defense and protection. Curiosity led me to study social work. I wanted to find out how much of what I intuitively do with Roma teenagers is actually good. Whether I’m doing it the right way. And what exactly is it that I’m doing.”

• Roman Slobodník, graduate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences,
  ornithologist and expert coordinator of the civic association Protection of Birds in Slovakia

“After high school, I was at a crossroads whether to study journalism, which I also had a close relationship with, or ecology or environmental studies. The latter option won, and I don’t regret it at all. I feel the greatest personal growth from the period of doctoral studies, which involved writing and publishing articles, as well as attending international conferences (including meeting personalities in the field I focus on – ornithology). It was precisely the international conferences that showed the trends and where ornithology/science as a whole is heading. Personally, I also enjoyed the practical sessions for students in subjects such as animal ecology, especially when interacting with active students. I also felt a practical benefit from regular doctoral student meetings, where we actively communicated and gained perspectives from a different angle, not burdened by ‘professional birdwatching’.”

• Kristína Mečko, graduate of the Faculty of Education,
  actress and singer

“Studying at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra brought me mainly new knowledge and practical experience, and many friends. I chose UKF mainly because of the field of pedagogy of music and dramatic arts. Like any young person, I wanted to have certainty about my career prospects after graduation. And pedagogy provides this certainty, because we will always need teachers, and I personally regret how they are valued. Teachers educate and bring up future generations. The studies were very pleasant, especially because we were a good group and stuck together, complementing each other. Our field was interesting precisely because we had the opportunity to create, in which many teachers supported us, both in acting, dancing, and singing. I really enjoyed working on musicals like “The Vampire Ball” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” where we diligently practiced dances, singing, and of course, acting, and then performed in the theater. The greatest reward for us was the applause and recognition from the audience. My former classmates are also my friends, and they all pursue art.”