International association SAR , that protects academic ideas and spreads them in the society has recently created its branch in Slovakia. UCM has become one of its five founding members.
Its foundation is of great importance as we live the age of increasing worries about academic rights in Central and Eastern Europe. ‘We have to support academic rights and values among students, scientists and pedagogical staff, especially in the period of commercialization of academic life.’ explains Viera Žúborová, the CEO of Bratislava Policy Institute. SAR is created of educational institutions of higher education, mostly universities, that are organized in associations at national level. Their aim is to run activities that will support academic rights and values of university education. The main aim of the Slovak branch is to raise awareness about academic rights and to support communities in free ideas and opinions spreading.
SAR is proud to have obtained partners in Slovakia. ‘We would like to express our solidarity with all those who feel jeopardized because of expressing their ideas and posing questions. Academic rights are the ground stones for quality university education.’ said Joyce Pisarello, the Head of International Relations department in SAR. She feels enthusiastic about further cooperation. Official Go Live for Slovak partnership was on 23rd May in Bratislava as a part of the Freedom Festival organized by Bratislava Policy Institute that is the official head institution of SAR for the upcoming three years. The other founding members are BISLA – Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts, Matej Bel University, Pan European University and our University of Ss Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.