For a half of the century, Slovak Agricultural University (SAU) in Nitra has been significantly contributing to the growth of education potential of regions, particularly those in the rural Slovakia. In the period of 50 years, approximately 30 thousand students graduated from the University. The Genesis of its existence is historically unique due to its position as the only academic instution in Slovakia providing higher education in agriculture and related sciences.

The principal mission of SAU is to prepare experts for agricultural and food processing industries as well as cooperating industries an staff are involved in teaching, research, extension activities, and cooperation with a professional sphere. Numerous international contacts with foreign partner universities and institutions, flexible education at renowned international universities, dynamic development of study fields and specializations ...
These are only a few from a great number of SAU capatibilities creating an appropriate environment for intensive studies, high quality progfessional and language preparation, and the successful application of acquired knowledge in a competitive job market.

Today, almost 7 thousand students register annually for undergraduate, graduate, Saturday class and doctoral study programs at SAU in Nitra. AS a part of the life-long education oppotunities, SAU offers classes at the University of the Third Age along with the specialization courses within post-graduate and distance education.
   Four Faculties of SAU employ about 500 instructors including those on campus, off-campus, and visiting professors from foreign universities who teach foreign languages or give lectures on selected disciplines in one of the world languages.
 
The Faculty prepares students be come economists, leaders and managers of economic and analytical activities in agricul-tural and food processing sector, in trade institutions focusing on domestic and international markets with agricultural commodities, in financial institutions, in specia-lized educational institutions as well as in other functions related to economics.
   Students can attend full-time and Saturday class courses for the period of 5 years and earn the Master's degree. The 4-year Bachelor's degree program is offered by the Faculty as well. Students can select from the following fields of study and their majors:
 Agricultural economics
  • Business economics
  • Food industry economics
  • Finances
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Regional development and tourist industry
  • Economics an law
    Agricultural Management
  • Business management
  • Quantitative management and informatics
  • Crisis management
  • Commercial management
    International trade
  • International agricultural trade
    • The graduates of the Faculty are trained to become crop and animal production managers capable of expert solutions of issues related to technologies of agricultural product processing, capable of the application of scientific knowledge to secure healthy nutrition of the population as well as professional care and services utilizing medicinal herbs.
       Within the 5-years Master's degree program at the Faculty students can choose from the seven fields of study:
  • Crop production
  • Animal production
  • Applied biology
  • Human nutrition science
  • General agriculture
           (also for Saturday class students)
  • Technology of agricultural product processing
  • Crop protection

    • The level of knowledge in the principal scientific disciplines determines the focus of research activities at SAU. The main objective of the research is to ensure effective transfer of acquires knowledge into instruction, development of scientific, study programs and practical training in order to efficiently solve environmental problems, the production of healthy food products and other tasks related to the national agricultural policy. SAU research teams actively participate in the solution of important global problems, particularly in the areas of the protection of biodiversity, renewal of rural regions and villages, utilization of renewable energy sources, food safety, biotechnologies, ecological farming, etc.
       Part of the transfer process is the presentation of scientific knowledge at scientific events and publishing of monographs, conference proceedings, annual reports, textbooks, student textbooks, and articles in the national and international periodicals.
       The four major educational units (faculties) of SAU provide scientific training through the doctoral education in 14 scientific disciplines.
       The internationalization of the research at SAU can be documented by the projects implemented within the international cooperation, projects with grant preferences (VEGA), and projects solved in cooperation with the Slovak Academy Of Science and Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic.
       The training at the Faculty focuses on technical and operation fields and opens the possibilities for graduates to be involved in the management and organization of production processes, design of mechanized production systems, provision of engine and equipment operation, maintenance of energetic operation systems, management and design of manufacturing facilities using knowledge in electronics, computer technology and robotisc.
       The Faculty of Agricultural Engineering offers a Master's degree and a 5-year Saturday class Master's degree programs in the study field of:
        AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
         In the 2nd half of their program, students can choose to specialize in one of the following areas:
  • Food technology
  • Transportation and machinery handling techniques
  • Machinery servicing and
         maintenance
  • Automation and
         informatics
  • Technology
         development and testing
  • Municipal technical
         services
  • Commercial
         services
  • Investment activities
  • Rural engineering
    • There are four halls of residence with the capacity of 2,800 beds that provide accommodation to SAU students. The latest built one - A. Bernolak Residence Hall ( in the picture) was open to students in 1997.


    This Faculty is technically oriented to educate students in the area of horticulture ( vegetable, flower and fruit production, viticulture and winemaking), garden and landscape architecture (esteblishment and maintenance of public gardens), and landscape engineering (water and waste management, environmental studies, biometeorology, sustainable development).

       The five-year Master's degree program at the Faculty offers courses in these fields of study:
  • Horticulture
  • Garden and landscape Architecture
  • Landscape engineering
    And a three-year undergraduate Bachelor's degree program
    has tree fields of study:
  • Horticultural nurseries
  • Garden design
  • Assessment of environmental quality
    • During their studies students have an opportunity to complete a practical training in the selceted businesses in Slovakia and Farms in Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Belorussia and in the USA. The study stay abroad provides students with practical experience valuable in their future career, advances their communication skills in a foreign language, broadens their information about the visited country, and last but not least serves as a financial incentive, too.


    GRADUATION AUDITORIUM

       The information system (IS) utilizing the latest technologies, computer networking and database systems of a client-server type is being developed at Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra. IS is divided into four areas:
       
  • Economic IS - monitors the University financial flow and supplies, and facilitates the registration of physical capital and equipment at SAU.    
  • IS student - supports flexible credit system of study an evulation of teaching process.    
  • IS of the Slovak Agricultural Library provides bibliography inforamtion, library records, automation of services and access to the library catalog through the Internet.    
  • WWW server supplies general information on SAU through the Internet.
       All needs of the University in the area of computer technology are administered by the SAU Center of Computer Technology and Information Systems.

    • A view to the periodicals and technical literature reading
    room of the Slovak Agricultural Library
    In the process of approaching the international system of highereducation, the cooperation of SAU with its international partner institutions brings significant impulses to science, research, education and technical improvement of the univeristy departments.

    The membership in international organizations (AUDEM - Alliance of universities for Democracy, IAU - International Association of Universities, ICA - Inter-university Conference for Agricultural and Related Sciences in Europe, etc.), participation in interantional educational programs (TEMPUS, CEEPUS, SOCRATES-ERASMUS), as well as in multilateral and trilateral scientific and research and other institutional projects (PHARE, COST, FAO, INCO-COPERNICUS, GENOFOND) document the trans-European dimension of the University activities.
    The continuation of direct cooperation with specialized UN agencies - particularly FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), is very important.
       SAU has developed bilateral contractual cooperation with more than 30 universities in 13 countries of the world, and it cooperates with other universities on the basis of joint projects. Lectures presented by visiting professors from abroad and study stays of SAU students at foreign universities are very stimulating in educational process. Inspiring is the participation of faculty and doctoral students in important international scientific conferences and other events bearing high professional and social credit.

    AISEC belongs to the best know professional student aassociations at SAU. The acronym represents International Association of Students in Economics and Commercial Sciences. Furthermore, the National Center of International Association of Agriculture Students (IAAS) is based in Nitra. Our university students are organized in the Student Organization of Agricultural Professionals, or in ELASA Slovakia that groups students of garden and landscape architecture.

    AIESEC
    The Botanic garden is situated in the center of the University campus. It is a facility providing scientific, pedagogical, cultural and enlightenment activities, as well as practical training for students. The botanic Garden staff work on the development and preservation of plant collections, landscaping, administration and maintenance of park greenery around the University. They also participate in floristic expeditions, particularly to Latin America. The Garden is a member of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BBGCI), and participates in the project of endangered plant species gene pool preservation. It cooperates with botanic gardens around the world through the so-called Index seminum. It successfully represents SAU at a variety of domestic and international expositions.
    The University creates very good conditions for sport, relaxation and recreation of its faculty and staff. In the spectacular and attractive environs of the Zapadne Tatry (West Tatras) mountains - in the Rackova dolina valley, the University's Educational and Training Center is located. The facility offers excellent conditions for recreation, winter ski sports, summer hiking and leisure activities to its visitors