Matej Bel University is serious about promoting volunteering and community engagement
Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica has been actively involved in community development for several years and supports civic engagement of its staff and students. In order to develop mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships between the university and communities in addressing societal challenges and improving the quality of life in society, the university has established the University Centre for Community Partnerships - UMB Engage. This innovative move puts UMB at the forefront among universities that place an emphasis on social responsibility.
The University Centre for Community Partnerships will serve as a platform to connect staff and students with partners in external communities to collaborate with each other to address societal challenges. It will aim to promote the integration of community engagement in research, education, third mission and international cooperation at UMB, build the capacity of individual actors in the field of community engagement, develop volunteer initiatives and create a space for the exchange of experiences and ideas that will bring concrete benefits to the local community.
According to the new collective agreement, UMB also provides employees with two days off per year for volunteer activities, thus motivating them to engage in activities for the benefit of society. This benefit allows employees to actively participate in various environmental, cultural and social projects and to contribute to solving problems affecting the region.
"Matej Bel University has long perceived its role as an institution that not only educates and conducts research, but also directly contributes to the development of society and the civic engagement of students and staff through its activities. The establishment of UMB Engage is the result of UMB's long-standing activities in the field of community engagement. In this way, UMB is also fulfilling UMB's long-term goal and the vision of the European University Alliance EMERGE joint project in the field of working with, in and for communities" said UMB Vice-Chancellor prof. PhDr. Katarína Chovancová, PhD.
With the establishment of the University Centre for Community Partnerships and the introduction of support for employee volunteer days, the University confirms its commitment to be a leader in social responsibility and support for community engagement.