Fifth Meeting of Slovak Universities in European University Alliances Hosted by Comenius University
On 27 April 2026, the fifth meeting of Slovak universities involved in European University Alliances took place at the Science Park of Comenius University Bratislava, a member of the ENLIGHT alliance and host of this year’s gathering. The event brought together representatives of Slovak higher education institutions with the aim of exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation across alliances.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education, the Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation, and the Slovak Academic Information Agency. Other participants included Slovak representatives from eight European University Alliances: FilmEU (Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava), EULiST (Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava), PIONEER (University of Žilina), Ulysseus (Technical University of Košice), INVEST (Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra), KreativEU (Trnava University in Trnava), EMERGE (Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica), and ENLIGHT (Comenius University Bratislava).
Discussions focused on key topics shaping the future of European University Alliances, including upcoming calls, the implementation of joint study programmes, micro-credentials, the development of mobility windows, student involvement in decision-making processes and alliance governance, as well as the positioning of alliance units within university structures.
As part of the programme, Comenius University Bratislava shared its experience in developing the first officially registered lifelong learning micro-credential in Slovakia, launched in April 2026 under the title “Humour as a Communication Tool in Healthcare.” The course was created in collaboration with ENLIGHT partner universities — Uppsala University, the University of Groningen, the University of Göttingen, and the University of Galway — as well as external partners such ČERVENÝ NOS Clowndoctors, Clowns on Call / Clownjouren Uppsala, and Teddy Bear Hospital.
The student perspective was also highlighted by Adrián Binka, a student of the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University and co-president of the ENLIGHT Student Network. He presented current practices of student engagement within ENLIGHT and emphasized that involving students in decision-making processes should become standard practice across all alliances rather than an exception.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, openness, and shared learning in advancing the European Universities Initiative and strengthening interconnected academic environments across Europe.