UCM hosted a conference on the life of Slovaks abroad
Published: on 15.10.2025
How do Slovaks live outside their homeland? How do they preserve their language, culture, and identity? And how is the life of our compatriots changing in the era of global migration? These were the questions discussed at the international conference "Slovaks Abroad: Present, Trends, and Perspectives on Research into Compatriot Issues," which took place on September 25–26 in Trnava.
The event was organized by the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad (ÚSŽZ) in cooperation with the University of St. Cyril and Methodius (UCM) in Trnava and partners – the Association for Genealogical Research of Slovaks in Lower Hungary (ZGVDS) and Matica Slovenská.
Meeting of experts from ten countries
The Jozef Matúš Auditorium at UCM welcomed 66 participants from Slovakia and abroad – scientists, historians, linguists, cultural experts, and representatives of expatriate organizations. The Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Austria, the USA, Great Britain, and Croatia were represented.
The conference was opened by Prof. Peter Chrastina, Vice-President of ÚSŽZ, Prof. Ladislav Lenovský, Vice-Rector of UCM and principal investigator of the APVV 20-0263 project, of which the conference is a part, and Ing. Ľubomír Kmeť, President of ZGVDS. The participants were also addressed by the Rector of UCM, Prof. Katarína Slobodová Nováková.
Two days full of knowledge and discussions
The first day was devoted to genealogical research. Experts from various countries presented new findings on the origins and migration routes of Slovaks in the Lower Lands. There were 18 expert contributions, including a presentation by Ildikó Szerenyi from the Hungarian National Archives.
The second day focused on the history, culture, language, and identity of Slovaks abroad. Discussions centered on how Slovak communities are experiencing the changes brought about by globalization, the challenges they face in preserving their mother tongue and traditions, and how the identity of expatriates is manifested in the younger generation.
Online broadcast and available recordings
The conference was held in a spirit of openness and cooperation – the entire program was broadcast online on the ÚSŽZ YouTube channel, allowing the wider public and compatriots from all corners of the world to participate. Recordings from both days are available on the YouTube page of the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad:
A space for sharing experiences and forming new partnerships
The conference achieved its goal of creating a space for professional discussion, sharing experiences, and establishing new contacts between researchers and institutions. Participants presented current projects, research, and practical experiences from the field. The Office for Slovaks Living Abroad also gained a wealth of up-to-date and relevant knowledge that will be useful in further planning research on expatriate issues. The conclusions of the conference will be presented at the November meeting of the USZ Commission for Science and Research. Presentations of individual contributions will soon be available on the USZ website in the "Conferences" section.
The conference "Slovaks Abroad: Present, Trends, and Perspectives on Research into Expatriate Issues" showed that even in the 21st century, the Slovak community abroad remains vibrant, connected, and proud of its roots.
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