UCM at NAFSA 2025: a strategic step in internationalisation
Published: on 29.5.2025
The University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava actively participated in the prestigious NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo held at the San Diego Convention Center in California, United States of America, from 27 to 30 May 2025. This year's theme "Purpose, Place, and Partnership" emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships, international connections, and an inclusive approach to education in a global context.
The delegation for our university was led by the Vice Chancellor for International Relations Assoc. PhDr. Andrea Čajková, PhD., the event was attended by the Vice-Rector for Development and Public Relations Mgr. Andrej Brník, PhD. and Vice Dean for Quality, who also represented the Faculty of Health Sciences PhDr. Martina Bleščáková, PhD.
Part of UCM's presence at the conference was also active participation in the accompanying professional programme. Vice-Rector Čajková gave a lecture on The Impact of Geopolitical Factors on the International Student Experience, which gave UCM an exceptional position as the only Slovak university included in the official programme of lectures at NAFSA 2025. This recognition by the organizers confirms the growing reputation of the University in the international context.
Together with 16 other Slovak universities, UCM presented itself at the Slovak national stand, which was inaugurated by the Minister of Education Science Research and Youth of the Slovak Republic, Tomáš Drucker, and the State Secretary of the Ministry, Róbert Zsembera.
The participation of this delegation confirms UCM's commitment to the objectives of its Internationalisation Strategy 2024-2026, which focuses on developing international partnerships, increasing mobility and strengthening the university's global visibility.
NAFSA 2025 welcomed more than 9,500 international education professionals from over 100 countries. The program included more than 250 professional events, including plenary lectures, workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions. UCM used this opportunity to establish new contacts and share experiences with foreign partners, which may lead to joint research projects, exchange programmes and other forms of cooperation in the future.
During the conference, UCM representatives met with representatives of several universities from Europe, America and Asia to identify areas of common interest and potential for the development of joint activities. The delegation also actively presented UCM as an open, modern and internationally oriented institution that welcomes students and partners from all countries.
UCM's participation in NAFSA 2025 represents a significant step towards fulfilling the University's strategic priorities. It strengthens the University's position in the international space, increases its attractiveness for international students and academics, and at the same time brings new impulses for further development of internationalisation at home. The experience and contacts gained will be further used for the benefit of the university-wide strategy and the academic community.
