A space is being created at UCM where internationalization turns into community
The University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava opened its doors to its first community forum, UCM Bridge, which was carried out in the spirit of connecting people, cultures, experiences and new academic partnerships. The event, organized by the Department of International Relations, introduced the newly established EURAXESS center at UCM and at the same time created a space in which internationalization took on a very human dimension.
The name Bridge itself symbolically captured the atmosphere of the entire meeting. It was not just about presentations or a formal program, but mainly about building bridges – between domestic and foreign students, researchers, academics, university partners and various cultures, which today naturally form a part of life at UCM.
The event was opened by the former Rector of UCM and the Vice-Rector for International Relations, who welcomed domestic and foreign guests in their speeches and emphasized the importance of an open, inclusive and international academic environment.
The entire program was accompanied and moderated by employees of the International Relations Department – Head of Department and EURAXESS Coordinator of UCM Nikoleta Vanková together with the Chief Coordinator of the EURAXESS Center Naďa Jurolek. In their presentations, they presented the functioning and vision of the center, its activities and specific forms of support that UCM provides to foreign researchers, doctoral students and academic staff. They also emphasized that the internationalization of a university does not begin with statistics, but with a simple sense of acceptance, support, and community.
The event also included guests from Kenya, who are currently working at UCM as part of the Erasmus+ KA171 program. Their presence added an additional international dimension to the forum and opened up space for discussion about experiences with mobility, adaptation in a new environment, and intercultural dialogue.
A strong moment of the program were the personal stories of foreign members of the UCM academic community. Chinese language lecturer Zhifen Lu, academician Michael Valek, researcher Anirban Jyoti Debnath, and doctoral student Danill Vainberg shared their experiences.
Their stories were not only about study or scientific work, but also about everyday life in a new country, finding a sense of home, and small moments that help a person feel accepted.
A very natural part of the program was the entry of representatives of the Erasmus Student Network, who spoke openly about the challenges that foreign students encounter upon arriving in Trnava. They presented community activities, the buddy system, and the support that ESN provides to students in their integration into university life.
Partners from ConnecTT, who have been helping foreigners living and working in Slovakia for a long time, also joined the discussion. Their presentation brought a practical perspective on supporting the foreign community and showed how important dialogue and cooperation between the university and civic environments are.
The entire forum was held in an extremely friendly, open and intimate atmosphere. Many of the most interesting conversations arose during informal discussions, spontaneous networking and sharing of personal experiences. It was in such moments that it was felt that UCM Bridge is not just the name of the event, but the idea of building a community in which people listen to each other, support each other and create new connections.
The first community forum thus showed that internationalization at UCM is not just about mobilities or administration. It is mainly about people, openness and creating a space where people can feel welcome even in a completely new environment.
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