University of Economics in Bratislava - History

History

The beginnings of the school date back to October 1940, when chambers of commerce and industry in the towns of Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, and Prešov established a "College of Commerce" (VOŠ in Slovak) which was given the status of a public school by the Government.

The need to establish a higher educational institution in Slovakia aimed at economics was called for owing to the fact that in 1939 some Czech higher educational institutions were closed, among them the College of Commerce in Prague, in which also Slovak students received economic qualification. The College of Commerce in Bratislava used that name till the end of the academic year 1944/1945. By the Decree of the Slovak National Council No. 34/1945, the school was nationalised and its name was changed to the Slovak College of Commerce. In 1949, it was renamed the College of Economic Sciences. The Governmental Decree No. 40/1952 altered its name to the College of Economics. The Act No. 292/1992 of 28th April, 1992 changed the school's name again to the University of Economics in Bratislava.The beginnings of our school are connected with the names of some outstanding personalities, such as Prof. Dr. Juraj Hronec, Prof. Július Pázman, Prof. Vladimír Králiček, Prof. Dr. Ladislav Cicvárek. It was these mentioned enthusiasts who laid the foundations of learning in the field of economics in Slovakia. The College of Economics began its performance without premises of its own. The teaching process began in rented locations in various locations in Bratislava. Backed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bratislava, it managed to buy two buildings for the College of Commerce in Palisády Street.

Regarding premises, considerable improvements came in 1960, when the College of Economics moved to a new building belonging to Comenius University in Odbojárov Street. However, some workplaces stayed in the previous school premises in Palisády Street and Konventná Street. Nevertheless the situation with premises continued being the number one problem, as the school had to make various changes in placing its workplacesʼ or to build new premises on the campus in Odbojárov St.

The unsatisfactory situation mentioned was to be solved by building a new campus for the College of Economics in Bratislava – Petržalka, in Dolnozemská cesta.The aim was to meet all the demands made on the teaching process, research, accommodation and catering. The construction of the complex began in 1983. The first building called Teaching 1ʼ was opened in 1991. The Faculty of National Economy and the Faculty of Commerce moved there. The building called Teaching 2ʼ was opened in 1996 and conatined the Faculties of Business Informatics, Business Management, International Relations, the rectorate, and other workplaces.

Since its beginnings, the University of Economics in Bratislava has educated over 77,000 graduates for the needs of economic sciences development, for work in the economy and in public administration. They work in all fields of the national economy, at all levels of economic management, and many of them represent our country abroad in various positions.

At present, over 12,000 students are studying in seven UEBA faculties in various types of study. Many of them have won foreign scholarshipsʼ which is indicative of the high level of schooling at the University. Graduate is an economist who has mastered general economic theory, has acquired knowledge in national economy policy, corporate economy, management, marketing, finance, quantitative methods in economics, information sciences, law, and other subjects used in economic activity, and who can communicate in at least two world languages. Upon joining a company, he/she an adaptable and a flexible person who adopts the demanded working habits and applies new knowledge. Since 1990, the Statutes of the UEBA have been the basic document of the University's performance and of its legal status. They were replaced in 1996, when an updated Higher Education Act was accepted. According to the Statutes, the aim of the UEBA is to provide university education, and to develop knowledge on the basis of creative research in the branches of economics, humanities and social sciences.

The University's supreme autonomous body is the Academic Senate. It comprises elected representatives of the academic community who report to the community. In the academic community of the UEBA which elects the Academic Senate there are teachers, researchers, specialists with a university degree, and students. The academic body named the Research Board is headed by the rector as its chairperson. The tasks and powers of the Academic Board are laid down in the Statutes of the UEBA. The Rector is the University's highest representative, as well as its statutory deputy.

The Rector's advisory bodies are the Board of the Rector and the UEBA management.