On June 19, 2026, the CHILL & GROW Festival took place in the centre of Banská Bystrica at The Old Market (Stará Tržnica), offering a unique opportunity to explore possibilities for volunteering, personal development, and community involvement. The event, held as part of the City Culture Days program, was primarily aimed at students but was also open to the general public. Visitors were able to explore the activities of individual organizations in an interactive and engaging way at their booths and obtain information about both short - term and long - term cooperation opportunities.

Matej Bel University not only presented its study offerings but also showcased that its environment enables a wide range of volunteer activities, ecological initiatives, development programs, and opportunities to travel to partner universities and discover new languages and cultures. Four university initiatives were represented at the UMB booth.

EMERGE – Alliance of European Universities

An important value of the alliance is freedom of movement, which allows students to participate in exchange programs, study at partner universities, and gain valuable experience in an international environment. In addition to mobility, EMERGE offers opportunities to engage in joint research projects, innovative educational programs, and activities connected with local communities.

The alliance also creates a model of a modern university environment that combines quality education, scientific research, and social responsibility. Students are not only passive recipients of knowledge but become active co-creators of solutions to current societal challenges.

Centre for Community Cooperation UMB Engage

UMB Engage creates space for cooperation with the community to become a natural part of research, teaching, and other activities at UMB. They support volunteering, develop skills in this area, and create space for sharing experiences and ideas at both local and international levels, which have a real impact on the local community.

Centre for Support and Lifelong Learning UMB

The Centre provides counselling, crisis intervention, and further education opportunities for students, employees, and the public. It presented programs for all age groups — the Children’s University hold during the summer holidays, as well as the University of the Third Age, an educational program intended for people aged 45+ who want to stay active, develop their interests, and learn new things in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Green University

The festival also featured the Green University initiative, emphasizing the importance of environmental protection and the development of environmental awareness. It introduced opportunities to participate in public activities aimed at improving university and regional spaces and demonstrated that the university itself takes a responsible approach to the environment.

CHILL & GROW thus showed on this day that Banská Bystrica and Matej Bel University offers many opportunities for personal development, international cooperation, and active participation in society.