International Projects

The Faculty has participated in several notable projects carried out in international collaboration, such as:

• Project SUNI-SEA (2019-2023) - the project was implemented in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its main goal was to verify the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of strategies focused on the prevention and management of hypertension and diabetes. The project provided scientific evidence supporting sustainable interventions aimed at achieving the long-term objectives of sustainable development. A strong emphasis was placed on creating links between interventions at the community level and within primary healthcare services. Community activities primarily included improving health promotion and disease prevention, screening for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and implementing interventions focused on lifestyle changes. At the level of primary healthcare, activities were carried out to strengthen early diagnosis and treatment, provide recommendations to specialists, and ensure cooperation with community healthcare workers. The team from Trnava University participated in this project in the role of the main coordinator of Work Package 3. The focus of this work package was mainly on capacity building in primary healthcare services, evaluating existing training modules, and developing clinical recommendations and coordinating educational activities based on evidence and internationally recognized best practices.

• Foreign Field Office Kenya (2017–2019) – the project focused on building the capacities of healthcare professionals in the Kwale region to improve and protect the health of the Kenyan population through effective monitoring of infectious diseases. The project specifically targeted infectious diseases, which represent the main cause of health loss and are responsible for more than 51% of all deaths, with this trend expected to continue rising in the future. Its primary goal was to improve the overall health status of Kenya’s population, particularly mothers and children under five years of age, by reducing morbidity and mortality caused by infectious diseases. This was achieved through the early implementation of preventive and control measures in areas at risk of outbreaks and by strengthening the surveillance system for monitoring the occurrence of infectious diseases and the conditions contributing to their spread. The project had a significant impact on both the Faculty and the University, including publication outputs, promotion of the Faculty and University in print, online, radio, and television media through the presentation of achieved project results, implementation of acquired knowledge and experience into the educational process through lectures, seminars, and professional training sessions, as well as the establishment of new strategic partnerships within the Kenyan context.

Current Ongoing Projects

Rapid Diagnostics of Abused, Neglected, and Maltreated Child Syndrome in the Context of Social and Legal Protection in Slovakia (2022–2024)
The aim of this project is to develop a new, conceptually and content-wise valid diagnostic tool — the Rapid Test for CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Syndrome Diagnostics — that will establish standards for assessing the level of risk and determining the prevalence of CAN syndrome among children in Slovakia. The project builds upon previous VEGA and APVV projects and is carried out in the context of supervising bachelor’s and doctoral theses, in line with the objectives of the Research Center for Family Studies at the Department.

Research Project PRESCRIP-TEC (Prevention and Screening Innovation Project Towards Elimination of Cervical Cancer) (2021–2024)
The project aims to advance toward a more innovative and effective screening approach for cervical cancer among women from marginalized groups by improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services. Additional Slovak partners include the League Against Cancer, Healthy Regions, and the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
The innovation lies in implementing a screening system based on a non-invasive self-sampling test for the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), followed — only in the case of a positive HPV result — by cytological examination.The project also involves the use of artificial intelligence for automatic detection of changes in the cervical mucosa, as well as the development of clinical guidelines and protocols aimed at improving the overall screening process and assessing its feasibility.

• Project duration: 02/2021 – 01/2024

• Project impact: For the first time in Slovak conditions, the project provides real data and experience with this innovative approach to cervical cancer screening. It offers a foundation for future national implementation, strengthens evidence supporting innovative strategies in cervical cancer screening, and contributes to global research efforts supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Upcoming Projects

CONNECT (Horizon) - Ensuring Access to Innovative, Sustainable, and High-Quality Health Care (Two-stage – 2024) 2024–2027
The project aims to promote inclusive healthcare services, which means healthcare that is accessible to all members of society without any form of discrimination based on culture, socioeconomic background, gender, religion, or other social stereotypes (such as bias, prejudice, etc.). It also seeks to ensure that every individual receives the same level of healthcare and personalized care - especially for individuals from vulnerable communities - by addressing their specific needs and overcoming challenges in service delivery. The ambition of the project is to directly involve representatives of vulnerable groups in the creation of guidelines and tools for healthcare, social services, and social work professionals, as well as related specialists. These tools will help identify the needs, challenges, and barriers that prevent these communities from accessing adequate healthcare. The proposed activities of the project are based on two main approaches: Firsr is raising awareness and sensitizing professionals working in healthcare and related fields and second is involving vulnerable communities in decision-making processes and developing personalized educational modules or programs with a focus on awareness-raising and empowerment. The project also emphasizes collaboration between key groups through joint activities, ensuring shared participation, co-creation of solutions, and cooperation aimed at increasing social awareness.

Department of Social Work
Cooperation with Uzhhorod University in Ukraine – a joint study program in the field of Social Work and a joint study program in Nursing. There are also opportunities for habilitation and inauguration in Social Work for Ukrainian colleagues, as well as participation in research and joint publications.

Department of Public Health
Focus areas include health promotion, risk factors of lifestyle-related diseases, healthy workplaces and environments, and emergency situations affecting public health.

Department of Nursing
Focus areas include education in health and prevention, health promotion, quality of life of patients with specific diseases, and care improvement.

ELIT: The Empirical Study of Literature Training Network (2020-2024) - The main objective of this project is to reflect upon and integrate the methods and tools of various disciplines and academic approaches that bridge the gap between the humanities and cognitive sciences.
Communication between these two domains has so far been largely one-directional - from cognitive science toward the humanities. Through the empirical study of literature, we believe that the humanities can also produce and contribute their own specific insights into cognitive operations and the effects of literary reading.
Project: BMC EU / Basic Motor Competencies in Europe (2018–2019).

Current Ongoing Projects
Program for the Development of Professional Capacities for Early Childhood and Preschool Education – PROROK (2020–2023) - This project represents a specific contribution to the fundamental objective of improving the quality of early childhood and preschool education in line with the policy of the European Union and national educational (and social) strategies. Within its clearly defined scope, the project focuses on professionals working in the early childhood education sector (VSRD) and on their professional growth and support, in accordance with the objectives and expectations of current VSRD policy. In its broader context, the project establishes an international network of partner workplaces, reflecting both its historical and political background and geographical diversity. The project includes so-called post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe - specifically Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovenia. The successful completion of the project will be accompanied by concrete outputs, including educational and training activities, with the dissemination of results ensured through multiple multiplier events.

Primary Education Physical Education Teacher Education PRIME PETE (2020-2023) - The project focuses on the education of future teachers in the field of primary and physical education. The project partners aim to identify a general approach focusing on the training of physical education teachers, enabling adaptation to national and/or regional contexts and to various stages of teacher education (from initial teacher education to professional development, induction, and lifelong learning). Due to the diversity of accreditation processes established by the competent authorities across Europe, there is a recognized need for flexibility within the PETE (Physical Education Teacher Education) framework to reflect these national differences. Partner universities involved in the project are from Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Italy, and Slovakia.

Reform of Early Childhood Education in Eastern Europe (REFEE) (2019-2023) - The project focuses on examining the implementation of innovations in preschool education inspired by the Danish model of early childhood education. Innovations are introduced with the assistance of Danish lecturers and consultants at Kornel Mahra Kindergarten and MŠ Čajkovského in Trnava. Trnava University empirically monitors and evaluates this process, introducing practical elements into the preparation of kindergarten teachers and analyzing the relationship between educational curricula and legislative documents. This project has a clear pedagogical focus and significant practical impact on the educational process in kindergartens and nursery schools.

Blended Multilogues: Enhancing Transformation and Innovation in Higher Education (2021-2024) - The main objective of the project is to strengthen transformation and innovation in higher education by creating transnational and transdisciplinary spaces that promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between different stakeholders across various regions. The project supports the development of transformative learning experiences that emphasize cooperation and creativity. By creating a suitable pedagogical framework and a set of tools for multilogues and by organizing seminars focused on theory and practice, we aim to prepare educators to strengthen the position of students, particularly in blended learning and international environments. The digital dimension of blended multilogues will further facilitate teachers’ preparedness in line with European frameworks for the development of digital competencies among educators. The project will support active student participation by providing opportunities for reflection, discussion, and creativity within an inclusive, interactive, and multicultural blended learning environment.
Project title: POSE - „Improving the Quality of Physical Education in Kindergarten to Prevent Postural Defects in Children “

Type of project: Erasmus+ Key action 2: Cooperation Partnerships
Project duration: 2022-2025
Principal investigator (at the Faculty of Education, TU): doc. Mgr. Dana Masaryková, PhD.
The POSE project was designed in alignment with the European Commission’s vision for 2025 to create a European educational area in which early childhood education and care policies play a central role. Beyond emphasizing health and physical well-being, the project recognizes that improving curriculum quality in early childhood must support holistic development — ensuring a balance between social-emotional and cognitive growth, while also highlighting the importance of physical activity. Spinal deformities are among the most common health issues affecting children and adolescents in Poland, with approximately 80% of school-aged children showing some form of postural defect. These are often accompanied by an increasing prevalence of obesity. The main goal of the project is to develop practical methodological guidelines (a POSE methodological compendium for teachers) and to train at least 1,200 preschool teachers in knowledge and methodological competencies related to postural defects and prevention strategies through appropriate movement-based activities.

MODERNization in partnership through digitalization of the Academic ecosystem

Project Title: PETIC - The reinforcement of Physical Education Teachers' Intercultural Competence
Project type: Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation Partnerships
Project duration:  2022-2025
Principal investigator (at the Faculty of Education, TU): doc. Mgr. Dana Masaryková, PhD.

Project Title: Inductive Approaches to Teaching Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Project type: Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation Partnerships
Project duration:  2023-2025
Principal investigator: doc. PaedDr. Kristína Žoldošová, PhD.

Project Title: Basic school in a harmony of formal and non-formal education
Project type: Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation Partnerships
Project duration: 2023-2026
Principal investigator (at the Faculty of Education, TU): doc. Mgr. Dana Masaryková, PhD., prof. PhDr. Branislav Pupala, PhD.

Project Title: Refining the boundaries of education stages in the compulsory education system: from transition to continuity
Project type: Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation Partnerships
Project duration:  2023-2026
Principal investigator (at the Faculty of Education, TU): doc. Mgr. Dana Masaryková, PhD., prof. PhDr. Branislav Pupala, PhD.

The care for international students at Trnava University is currently decentralized. This means that the Office for International Relations at the Rectorate primarily manages short-term study stays, while long-term and full-degree students are under the responsibility of the individual faculties’ study departments. Promotion of Trnava University (TRUNI) is based on personal presentations and direct communication of academic staff from the faculties, as well as employees of the Office for External Relations and Mobility (IRO) at the Rectorate.