Strategy and Goals

Internationalization is one of the key strategic priorities of Trnava University. It stems from a long-term effort to strengthen the international dimension of education, research, and academic cooperation. Its development is based on the outcomes of a comprehensive internationalization audit. The university aims to create an environment that is attractive and inclusive for students, lecturers, and researchers from both Slovakia and abroad.

Trnava University has clearly defined measurable objectives in the field of internationalization, aligned with its long-term internationalization strategy:

1. Establishment of the TRUNI Hub

• Create a physical and virtual space at the university that will serve as a center for networking, workshops, and intercultural meetings.

• Organize regular events connecting international and domestic students, researchers, lecturers, and regional stakeholders.

• Strengthen links between the academic community, public and private sectors, cultural institutions, and grant agencies to foster academic exchange, applied research, internships, and professional opportunities for students, lecturers, and researchers.

• Establish the international alumni network TRUNI (Alumni) to actively support the internationalization goals of the KreativEU Career Centre platform.

• Provide organizational, personal, participatory, and conceptual support for the KreativEU Smart Sustainability Think Tank platform.

2. Expanding the International Relations and Mobility Office as a Dynamic and Connecting Element

• Streamline and unify the identity of the International Relations and Mobility Office (IRO) to create a clear, internationally recognizable, and memorable name that serves as the department’s internal and external identification brand.

• Strengthen cooperation among the IRO team, faculties, and both private and public sectors.

• Ensure more intensive IRO support for lecturers and researchers in obtaining international grants and partnerships.

• Introduce proactive communication with key stakeholders, share opportunities for collaboration, and actively promote integration initiatives at TRUNI.

3. Internationalization of Mobility

• Support all types of mobility as a tool for expanding education through accessible communication channels across faculties. Promote sustainable forms of mobility with an emphasis on environmentally friendly travel.

• Increase the number of student mobilities by 30% by 2030 (as a share of the total number of students).

• Increase the number of academic staff mobilities by 30% (as a share of the total number of lecturers).

• Increase the number of administrative staff mobilities by 20% (as a share of the total number of administrative staff).

• Support the introduction of “mobility windows” within study programs, while continuously simplifying institutional and legislative frameworks for mobility implementation.

• Develop and implement mechanisms for mutual recognition of study periods, exams, and research within the KreativEU network.

• Provide organizational support to student associations and enable students to participate in the KreativEU Students’ Festival.

4. Strengthening the International Character of the University

• Develop and maintain strategic cooperation with educational, research, and cultural institutions of both European and non-European character, with sufficient financial and organizational support.

• Initiate at least three interdisciplinary research and educational projects annually (global or regional) involving both domestic and international students and university staff.

• Enhance bilateral partnerships with European and non-European universities and research institutions, ensuring at least three active collaborations each year.

• Support active participation of partner countries’ scholarship programs aimed at promoting international students at Trnava University.

• Actively connect the university and its faculties within the goals and mission of the KreativEU consortium.

5. International Research

• Enhance the quality of research and publication outputs through cooperation with international research institutions.

• Increase the attractiveness of Trnava University for foreign scientists and researchers by creating favorable conditions for both short-term and long-term research stays.

• Increase the number of international research projects by 25% by 2030.

• Support academic staff participation in international grant schemes.

• Establish and coordinate a university-managed Euraxess Centre as an advisory hub for international researchers, scholars, and students.

6. Internationalization of Education

• Expand the offer of accredited study programs taught in English by 50% by 2030.

• Increase the attractiveness of study programs and the university environment for international students by expanding English-taught courses by 20% annually.

• Broaden the range of innovative hybrid learning formats and actively support their development.

• Launch at least one joint degree program with a partner institution.

• Provide students with opportunities to achieve “micro-certificates” or “micro-credentials.”

• Strengthen employees’ language and intercultural competencies through targeted training.

• Increase the percentage of incoming students participating in short-term exchange programs by 30%.

7. Establishment of the TRUNI Forum Platform

• Organize professional seminars, lectures, and discussion panels with domestic and international experts based on faculty recommendations.

• Host moderated debates with national and international guests on current political, social, and academic topics with national, international, and intercultural overlap.

• Utilize modern hybrid technologies in event implementation.

8. Regular Monitoring

• Implement a regular reporting system to streamline the evaluation and monitoring of mobilities, publications, international projects, and partnerships.

• Analyze data and measurable indicators in accordance with the Strategic Plan of Trnava University for 2021–2026.