UNIVERSITY OF SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS IN TRNAVA EXPANDS WITH A NEW FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES.

Designated Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava:
MUDr. Juraj ŠTOFKO, PhD., MBA, MPH

Physiotherapy, rehabilitation and the related area is currently an extremely attractive topic, which at UCM in Trnava has been transformed into interesting study programs and study offers not only in accredited university studies ending with a bachelor's or master's degree, but also specialization studies at the Institute of Physiotherapy, Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation, which has been carrying out its activities in Piešťany for several years as an integral part of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.

The new FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES OF UCM approved at the UCM Academic Senate meeting on 21st of April, 2020, which will be created by the transformation of the Institute of Physiotherapy, Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation of UCM (IPBMR), will strengthen the position in the structure of the university, expand its scope and offer other study and research opportunities.

This fulfilled one of the important goals of the University's Long-Term Plan for the period 2014 - 2020. The establishment of the faculty was conditioned by the accreditation of study programs for 2nd degree of study. The second level of higher education, as a condition for the creation of a faculty, was fulfilled, because it was accredited in the study program 7.4.7. Physiotherapy in 2017. Teaching began in the academic year 2017/2018 and in June 2019 the first graduates completed their master's studies.

Prof. Ing. Roman Boča, DrSc., rector of UCM: “The Institute of Physiotherapy, Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation of UCM in Trnava is also applying for the 3rd level of higher education, for which it has good preconditions. It is highly probable that it will obtain the appropriate accreditation in the foreseeable future, as it has a sufficiently qualified teaching staff, which has been significantly strengthened by top employees in the last year."

The Institute of Physiotherapy, Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation of UCM in Trnava also has an accredited second study program in the bachelor's degree - Radiological Technology.

Currently, 762 students study at accredited IPBMR study programs. The study programs taught at the IPBMR are among the "non-medical health sciences" in the system of study fields.

The Institute of Physiotherapy, Balneology and Medical Rehabilitation of UCM in Trnava introduced a rigorous procedure from the academic year 2017/2018 and began to award the title of PhDr in Physiotherapy. It also implements a specialization study accredited by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic - postgraduate specialization study Specialist in Management in Public Health (Master of Public Health) and specialization study Physiotherapy in Sport and Physical Education.

In the future, IPBMR plans to expand its teaching with new professionally oriented study programs, the graduates of which are sought after in the labor market. The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic has submitted a project for the study program Nutritional Therapist, others are also planned in the future, such as Orthotic prosthetics.

The rector of the university stated that he envisages a wider involvement of the institute in international cooperation and the establishment of new contacts with faculties with the same legal status. It is assumed that the establishment of the faculty will also simplify access to domestic and international grant schemes.

The new Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of UCM in Trnava will start its activities on 1st of June 2020. Students - applicants and students enrolled and studying at IPBMR will be automatically enrolled at FHS. All further information regarding the practical implementation of the transformation will be available on the university's website http://www.ucm.sk.