Jozef Lokša
Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Košice
SLOVAKIA
&
David A. Turner
University of Glamorgan
UNITED KINGDOM
ABSTRACT:
Since 1989, in relation with the transition from communism to liberal democracy, and free market structures, very substantial changes have taken place in the political, social and economic system of the Slovak Republic, and in the higher education system of that country. The aim of the study was to present the analysis of transformation process of higher education management in the Slovak republic, which is particularly instructive for readers because continuities in the system are as important as discontinuities. The changes after 1989 were indeed radical. The study deals particularly with the basic and most important changes in the system of external and internal governance of universities, in the system of teaching /study programmes, curriculas, student number, etc. in the system of financing /creating a new formula – based system of funding/,etc. The system of higher education in Slovakia has been the beneficiary of many sweeping liberalizations. That said that new system of management of higher education represents a major advance upon the system, which operated before 1989 mainly in term of its clarity and transparency. It is widely accepted that the system of higher education management in the Slovak republic is open and democratic at the present time.
KEY WORDS: higher education system, Slovak republic, transition from communism.
