Methodical Guidelines on management of higher-education study issued by the Rector of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
In the context of the emergency situation caused by the spread of COVID-19 and in accordance with the provisions of Art. 14, par. 3 of the Study Regulations of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica for students of study programs accredited from 1 January 2013 and Art. 12, par. 4 of the Study Regulations of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, I issue the following methodical guidelines:
1. I authorize the Deans of the faculties to extend the teaching period of the summer semester if they consider it necessary, but no later than by 23rd May 2020. I recommend that the teaching period shall be completed by the distance methods only.
2. I authorize the Deans of the Faculties to extend, if they consider it necessary, the period for the termination of the summer semester, but not later than by 11th July 2020. The Dean may, in exceptional cases and with the Rector's consent, decide to extend this period. Furthermore, I allow the period in between 17 August 2020 and 31 August 2020 to be set as a period for completing respective study obligations, if needed.
3. I recommend that the evaluation of study obligations, including state examinations, shall carried out by the distance methods (If it is not possible to apply the standard procedures during the period of completing respective study obligations). I recommend that throughout the whole period of completion of study obligations, the same format for the completion of the study obligation shall be observed in the relevant subject of the study program.
4. The deadlines for the submission of final theses along with the specific dates of the final state examinations shall be set and published by the individual faculties in a way that the regular and substitute dates of the state examinations shall take place no later than by 31st August 2020.
5. All final theses shall be submitted exclusively in electronic form.
6. I recommend that the Deans of faculties harmonize the processes in the 3rd stage of study (Especially in the PhD defense presentations).
7. I recommend that final thesis supervisors shall consider the current situation and its potential development and adjust the objectives, topics or titles of the final theses accordingly, if and where needed. (If necessary, in cooperation with the Study program guarantors). At the same time, I recommend that the final thesis supervisors, the opponents and the members of the state examining committees shall reflect the objective circumstances that could prevent the original objectives of the thesis from being achieved.
8. Given the extraordinary regime of the academic year 2019/2020, I do not recommend organising the graduation ceremonies for students of bachelor's degrees. Graduation ceremonies of the second and third stage of the study shall be carried when the epidemiological situation permits, by 31st December 2020 at the latest.
9. If, for obvious and objective reasons, the subject cannot be completed by the distance methods (e.g. laboratory exercises, field exercises, excursions, etc.), the faculty may change the curriculum and move this subject to the next year of study so that the standard length of study is not disrupted.
10. If, for objective reasons and given the extraordinary circumstances, the student exceeds the standard length of study in the future, the Rector of the UMB may, on the basis of an assessment of the student's application, forgive the tuition fee for the extra length of study.
doc. Ing. Vladimír Hiadlovský, PhD.
Rector of UMB
Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations