The International Researcher's Guide to Slovakia

138 Pages·2008·2.14 MB·English

The International
Researcher’s Guide
to Slovakia
(Third Updated Edition)
This publication was prepared within the project
Researcher's Mobility Centre in Slovakia, with the fi nancial support
of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic.
The International Researcher‘s Guide to Slovakia
(Third Updated Edition)
Published by:
SAIA, n. o.
Námestie slobody 23
812 20 Bratislava 1
The Slovak Republic
Prepared by:
Karla Zimanová in cooperation with:
Michal Fedák, Katarína Košťálová, Oľga Šubeníková
Daniel Gurňák (map of the Slovak Republic)
Graphic design and prepress:
xpression, s. r. o., Bratislava
© SAIA, n. o., 2008
ISBN 978–80–88928–88–1
1. FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4. INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
– GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS . . . 60
2. LIFE IN SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
1. Funding based
1. Slovakia in brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 on Slovak sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
2. Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 2. Funding for bilateral
3. History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 co-operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
4. Political system (e g., based on bilateral
and state bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 intergovernmental agreements
5. Regional and local or focused primarily on bilateral
administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 cooperation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
6. Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 3. Funding by multilateral/
7. Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 international programmes
8. Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 or organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
9. Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
10. Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 5. FORMALITIES, ENTERING
11. Accommodation and housing . . . .20 AND STAYING IN SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . 88
12. Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 1. Entry conditions – registration
13. Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 procedures and visa . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
14. Electrical appliances 2. Working and employment . . . . . . . .95
and computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 3. Social security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
15. Communications 4. Health and medical care . . . . . . . . 108
and post offi ces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 5. Taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
16. Hiking and tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 6. Recognition of diplomas
17. Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 and qualifi cations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
18. Culture and media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 7. Driving licence,
19. Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 import of goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
20. Childcare and education . . . . . . . . . .37
21. Higher education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 6. SIGNIFICANT SCIENTISTS
22. Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 BORN IN SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
23. Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
7. GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
24. Veterinary care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
25. Other services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
8. USEFUL LINKS
26. Public holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
AND ADDRESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
27. Living costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
3. RESEARCH IN SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . 48
1. Legislative framework
of research and development
in Slovakia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
2. Research institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
3. R&D funding on national level . . . .57
1.
Foreword
The mobility of researchers involves all ages and helps establish a valuable pathway
for a researcher’s career. It is a core element in research development and an eff ective
way of training skilled workers and disseminating knowledge. It permits the creation
and operation of multi-national teams and networks of researchers, which enhance
economic competitiveness and the potential exploitation of results. Increased physical
mobility of researchers is essential for taking a maximum advantage of available resources.
Publication “The International Researcher’s Guide to Slovakia” (third updated edition)
has been prepared for researchers and their families, who might be interested to spend
part of their professional life in a country that has been only gradually discovered by
the international community. This guide tells you, in a nutshell, what to expect from
life in Slovakia; how science and technology are organised on national level; and what
the funding opportunities for researchers interested in coming to Slovakia are. It also touches
upon formalities that cannot be avoided and are important to remember, if you want to enter
the country without diffi culties, or use its health and social security systems properly and avert
discussions with tax authorities.
You will also have a chance to look through an impressive list of signifi cant scientists
that were born during the past centuries on the territory of what is today Slovakia, showing
that research and researchers were also part of our history.
Through useful links you will be directed to diff erent institutions and get addresses
and up-to-date information that can be important not only for your professional life but also
for enjoying your stay in Slovakia.
At the end we present you a short glossary that can be your introduction into Slovak language
and can help in the moments when knowledge of local language is usually critical.
Slovakia is a beautiful country with a fast developing economy and a community
of researchers keen to contribute to the creation of the European Research Area. We hope that
you will soon fi nd a way to visit us and spend a few months or several years as a researcher
in Slovakia. Researcher’s mobility centres have been established in the Slovak Academic
Information Agency (SAIA, n. o.) in Bratislava and at the Technical University of Košice.
As part of the European network of mobility centres ERA-MORE, they have gathered
a signifi cant amount of useful information and are looking forward to helping you fi nd
answers to your questions.
5
2.
Life in Slovakia
11.. SSlloovvaakkiiaa iinn bbrriieeff 2, 1 Sk and 50 hel.; National Bank of Slovakia
eexxcchhaannggee rraattee ((www.nbs.sk)
Offi cial name: MMeemmbbeerrsshhiipp iinn iinntteerrnnaattiioonnaall
Slovak Republic oorrggaanniissaattiioonnss:: EU, NATO, UN, OECD, OSCE,
Date of establishment: WWHHOO,, IINNTTEERRPPOOLL eettcc..
1 January 1993 (after splitting MMaaiinn aaggrriiccuullttuurraall ccrrooppss:: wheat, rye, corn,
of the Czech and Slovak ssuuggaarr bbeeeett,, ppoottaattooeess,, ssuunnflfl oowweerr,, ggrraappeess,, hhooppss,,
Federative Republic) ssooyyaa,, ffrruuiitt aanndd vveeggeettaabblleess
Form of government: BBrreeeeddiinngg:: cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats
republic MMaaiinn fifi eellddss ooff iinndduussttrryy:: automobile industry,
Political system: cchheemmiiccaall iinndduussttrryy,, iirroonn oorree pprroocceessssiinngg,,
parliamentary democracy ffeerrttiilliizzeerrss,, bbrroowwnn ccooaall mmiinniinngg;; ffoooodd aanndd
Administrative bbeevveerraaggeess;; eelleeccttrriicciittyy,, ggaass,, ccookkee,, ooiill,, nnuucclleeaarr
organisation: 88 hhiigghheerr tteerrrriittoorriiaall uunniittss,, ffuueell;; mmaannmmaaddee fifi bbrreess;; mmaacchhiinneerryy;; ppaappeerr aanndd
8 regions, 79 districts, 2,883 municipalities printing; earthenware and ceramics; textiles;
out of which are 138 cities and towns electrical and optical apparatus; rubber
Regional capitals: Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, products
Trenčín, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, Košice Natural resources: non-ore resources:
Offi cial language: Slovak building stone, gravel sand, sand, bentonite,
Capital: Bratislava (428,672 inhabitants) basalt, dolomite, magnesite, anhydrite,
Neighbouring countries: Austria, gypsum, limestone, stone salt, precious
the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine stones; brown coal, lignite, natural gas, crude
Area: 49,035 sq. km oil; ores: small amounts of iron ore, copper,
Population: 5,400,998 (out of them 51.5 % molybdenum, aluminium, mercury
of women) Electric current: 230 V/50 Hz, outlets with
Density of population: 110 sq. km safety peg
Large towns: Košice (240,915), Prešov General information about Slovakia:
(92,687), Nitra (87,357), Žilina (86,685) www.slovakia.travel, www.sacr.sk,
Banská Bystrica (84,919), Trnava (70,191), www.slovakia.com, www.slovensko.com,
Martin (60,772), Trenčín (58,872), Poprad www.cometoslovakia.com
(55,037), Prievidza (54,405), Zvolen (44,328).
Ethnic mix of the population: Slovaks
2. Geography
(85.8 %), Hungarians (9.7 %), Roma (1.7 %),
Czechs (0.8 %), Ruthenians (0.4 %), Ukrainians The Slovak Republic is situated in Central
(0.2 %), Germans (0.1 %), Others (0.2 %), Europe, sharing borders with Austria,
Unknown (1.1 %) the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
Population and their denominations: Ukraine. Mountains, lowlands, valleys, lakes,
Roman Catholic (68.9 %), Evangelical Lutheran cave formations, forests and meadows
of Augsburg Confession (6.9 %), Greek provide many examples of Slovakia’s
Catholic (4.1 %), Reformed Christian (2.0 %), year-round natural beauty. The Carpathian
Orthodox (0.9 %), Jews (0.04 %), Others Arc, a range of mountains stretching across
(4.1 %), without denomination (13.0 %). the north, takes up almost a half of the
Currency: Slovak crown (koruna), country. The south and east of the country
1 Sk = 100 hellers (halier), banknotes in lie in the lowlands, an important agricultural
denominations of 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, area in Slovakia. For more information see
50 and 20 Sk; coins in denominations of 10, 5, the section “Hiking and Tourism”
7
LIFE IN SLOVAKIA Average Average
Wet Days
Month Temperature Precipitation
(+0.25 mm)
min Max (mm)
Jan –3 2 43 12
The highest point: Gerlachovský štít in High Feb –2 3 47 12
Tatras 2,655 m above sea level March 1 9 42 10
The lowest point: River Bodrog 94 m above
April 6 16 42 11
sea level
May 11 21 61 11
Maximum length: 428 km
June 14 24 64 11
(Záhorská Ves [W] – Nová Sedlica [E])
Maximum breadth: 195 km July 16 26 73 11
(Štúrovo [S] – Skalité [N]) Aug 15 26 69 10
The longest river: River Váh (406 km) Sept 12 22 40 8
Oct 7 15 54 11
Time
Nov 3 8 55 13
GMT + 2; GMT + 1 from last Sunday
Dec 0 4 59 14
in October to last Saturday in March.
Climate RReeqquuiirreedd ccllootthhiinngg
The Slovak Republic has a continental Heavy overcoats and winter shoes or boots
climate with 4 seasons (spring, summer, for winter, summer clothes for summer.
autumn, winter). Summers are hot; winters Rainwear is recommended throughout
are cold, cloudy and humid. The average the year.
winter daily temperature is –2 °C, but
can plummet to –15 °C. The average daily
3. History
temperature in summer is 21 °C, but can
be as warm as over 30 °C. The coldest
Stone Age
month is January; the hottest month is
July. The period from May to July is often The fi rst recorded tribes
considered the best season. to settle on the territory
of modern Slovakia were
Data concerns Bratislava, the capital of the SR Celtic (from around
(Source BBC Weather). 450 B. C.), whose culture represented the
Weather in northern and mountainous pinnacle of barbarian civilisation. The remains
regions could be much colder. of Celtic oppida (elevated, fortifi ed
settlements) can be found, for example in
During the winters the sun rises Bratislava, Devín, and on Havránok Hill near
approximately at 7:30 and sets about 16:00. the Liptovská Mara reservoir.
During the summer, sunrise is before 5:00 The Celts were forced out by the Germanic
and sunset is about 21:00. tribes of Marcomans which fought with
the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius
Weather forecast and other related and Commodus (166 – 180 A. D.). Remains
information (hydrologic state at Slovak of the Limes Romanus – the fortifi cations
watercourses, atmosphehic conditions, on the Roman Empire’s northern border –
snow situation, webcam views of are preserved in Slovakia (for example at
several holiday resorts, satellite views), Rusovce, Trenčín, and Iža). The German tribes
can be got at the following websites: were driven out by Huns led by Atila.
www.meteo.sk, www.shmu.sk (both only Tribes of Western Slavs arrived on this
in Slovak). International weather forecast territory at the end of the 5th and beginning
websites can also be used. of the 6th centuries. Soon they had to defend
8
themselves against wwhhiicchh ssiiggnniififi ccaannttllyy ssttrreennggtthheenneedd uurrbbaann
nomadic Avars and cciivviilliissaattiioonn.. AAfftteerr tthhee mmaallee lliinnee ooff tthhee
this activity led ÁÁrrppáádd ddyynnaassttyy ddiieedd oouutt iinn 11330011,, CChhaarrlleess
to the creation of RRoobbeerrtt ooff AAnnjjoouu bbeeccaammee kkiinngg iinn 11330088 aanndd
a tribal union under eessttaabblliisshheedd tthhee AAnnjjoouu ddyynnaassttyy,, wwhhiicchh wwaass
tthhee rruullee ooff tthhee FFrraannkkiisshh mmeerrcchhaanntt SSaammoo,, ffoolllloowweedd bbyy tthhee JJaaggeelllloo ddyynnaassttyy iinn 11444400..
known as “Samo’s Empire” (623 – 658 A. D.).
The period of humanism and renaissance
Middle Ages
in the Hungarian Empire is forever linked
to the name of its ruler, Matthias Corvinus
Early Middle Ages
(1458 – 1490). The fi rst university on the
After the break-up of “Samo’s Empire” territory of present-day Slovakia, Academia
Slavonic tribes enjoyed no political unity. Istropolitana (1465 – 1491), was established
Only Duke Pribina succeeded in establishing in Bratislava during his rule.
a larger state-like entity and founded the fi rst
church in this area between 824 and 828. An important historic moment for
He fought and was defeated by Mojmír, the development of the country was the
the Duke of Morava and had to fl ee. Duke defeat and the killing of King Louis II by
Mojmír I established a united state called the Turks at the battle near Mohács in 1526.
Great Moravia (830 – 908). His successor, Hungary opened for them a gateway to
Rastislav, invited the missionaries Sts. Cyril Central Europe and the Habsburg dynasty
and Methodius to Great Moravia. They assumed the Hungarian throne. The territory
established an independent church province, of Slovakia became the administrative and
developed the fi rst Slavic alphabet (Glagol) economic centre of the Hungarian Empire
using Greek symbols, and used it to translate and Bratislava was the coronation site
the bible into vernacular. The most important of many Hungarian kings.
ruler of Great Moravia was Svätopluk who
Late Middle Ages
battled with the East Frankish Empire. Great
Moravia disintegrated after its invasion by In 1635, Peter Pazmany established Trnava
Magyar tribes and the successes of the East University (which was relocated to Budapest
Frankish Empire. Sites dating back to the in 1777). The Jesuits founded Košice
time of Great Moravia may be found at Devín, University in 1657.
Nitra, and Ducové, amongst others.
TThhee nnuummeerroouuss aannttii--HHaabbssbbuurrgg
The Magyar tribes established a Hungarian uupprriissiinnggss bbyy HHuunnggaarriiaann nnoobbiilliittyy
Empire in the Danube area and the territory wweerree ccuurrttaaiilleedd bbyy tthhee 11771111 PPeeaaccee ooff
of present-day Slovakia was absorbed around AAzzaattmmaarr.. HHoowweevveerr,, iitt ddiidd nnoott ssttoopp
1000 A. D. The history of Slovakia was thus unrest amongst the subjects,
interwoven with that of the Hungarian state a fact that was refl ected in
until 1918. the high levels of emigration
and banditry. At this time the
Developed Middle Ages
legend of the most famous
The development of the Hungarian Empire of Slovak outlaws, who was
was interrupted by the Tatar invasion sstteeaalliinngg ffrroomm tthhee rriicchh ttoo ggiivvee ttoo
(1240 – 1242). After the Tatars left, Belo IV tthhee ppoooorr,, wwaass bboorrnn –– tthhee lleeggeenndd
invited Saxons to come and live in Hungary, of Juraj Jánošík.
9
LIFE IN SLOVAKIA
The 1950 s in Czechoslovakia were a period
Modern Times
of political oppression, characterized by the
The 18th century saw the development victimization of prominent political, cultural
of manufacturing and the modernisation of and religious individuals and even of ordinary
mining technology. In 1770, the enlightened, people. In 1968, Alexander Dubček
absolutist ruler, Maria Theresa, established (the then leader of the Communist Party of
the fi rst school of mining in the world – Czechoslovakia) introduced the policy known
the Mining Academy in Banská Štiavnica. as “socialism with a human face” that ended
In 1774, she also introduced compulsory with the Prague Spring and the consequent
school attendance. Her son, the Emperor crushing of the reformist movement by the
Joseph II abolished serfdom in the Hungarian Soviet army.
Empire in 1785.
The period of “normalization” lasted until
The Slovak national consciousness was the end of the 70 s. The normalization
rekindled in the 18th and 19th centuries; regime plunged Czechoslovakia into an
a Slovak civil society began to emerge. economic, political and moral decline. It was
The fi rst written form of the Slovak language succeeded by the democratic socialism in
was codifi ed in 1847, and the fi rst political 1980 s. Nevertheless, opposition towards
programme was proclaimed in 1848. In 1861 the regime grew and during the late 80’s
the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation was it became more intense and organised.
published and in 1863 Matica slovenská It led to the overthrow of the communist
was established to promote the Slovak government in November 1989 referred to as
nation. In 1893 the Slovak Museum Society the “Velvet Revolution”.
was established. The late 19th and early 20th
centuries were marked by the struggle against On January 1, 1993 the former Czech and
Hungarian nationalist tendencies, culminating Slovak Federal (Federative) Republic was
in the creation of the Czechoslovak Republic. peacefully divided into two independent
Slovak and Czech states and the Slovak
Present times
Republic joined the United Nations
Czechoslovakia was established with the as a fully-fl edged member.
end of World War I and the dissolution of the
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918. The In October 1993 the European Parliament
period of prosperity of the newly established ratifi ed the association agreement between
republic followed until the world’s economic the Slovak Republic and the European Union.
crisis and the later advent of the Nazism; In spring 2004, the Slovak Republic joined
In 1939, Slovakia was de iure proclaimed NATO and on May 1, 2004 the Slovak Republic
autonomous. Its independence, however, joined European Union as a full member.
was greatly limited by its strong economic,
military and political dependence on
Germany. The Slovak National Uprising during
World War II, in 1944, was a clear indication
of the country’s opposition to Nazism.
In 1945 the Czech and Slovak states joined
again. In 1948 a communistic putsch took
place – so called February Revolution.
10