Preschool and elementary pedagogy

prof. PaedDr. Miroslava Bartoňová, Ph.D.

doc. PhDr. Mária Glasová, PhD.

doc. PhDr. Marián Groma, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Ján Gunčaga, PhD. (FM professor)

doc. PaedDr. Lilla Koreňová, PhD.

prof. PaedDr. Dušan Kostrub, PhD.

prof. PhDr. Mária Kožuchová, CSc.

doc. PhDr. Ivica Kolečáni Lenčová, PhD.

prof. PhDr. Gabriela Lojová, PhD.

doc. PhDr. Branislav Malík, CSc.

prof. PhDr. Erich Mistrík, CSc.

Mgr. Adriana Poliaková, PhD.

prof. PhDr. Mária Potočárová, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Eva Severini, PhD.

prof. PhDr. Mária Vajičková, CSc.

doc. Mgr. Zlatica Zacharová, PhD.

prof. PaedDr. Katarína Žilková, PhD.

Study advisor/s (tutor/s):

Ing. Ivana Šufliarska; sufliarskafedu.uniba.sk

Ing. Ľubica Jenčopaľová; jencopalovafedu.uniba.sk

Coordinator for foreign mobility and Erasmus+:

doc. PaedDr. Ján Gunčaga, PhD.; guncagafedu.uniba.sk

Mgr. Lenka Szentesiová, PhD.; szentesiovafedu.uniba.sk

By completing the third stage of the preschool and elementary pedagogy study program, the student will receive the title of Philosophiae doctor (PhD.) and a qualification corresponding to level 8 according to the Slovak Qualification Framework (SKKR). Proof of qualification is a university diploma (3rd degree), a state examination certificate, and an addendum to the diploma.

Competences, knowledge, and skills of a graduate of the doctoral degree, including transferable skills acquired during studies, allow application in professions requiring an adequate level of knowledge (general and specialist), skills (cognitive and practical), and competencies (independence, responsibility, social competence) of the graduate corresponding to the level 8 of the Slovak qualification framework.

A student in the 3rd stage of studying preschool and elementary pedagogy acquires knowledge based on the current state of scientific knowledge, acquires the skills and competencies necessary for developing the study program, and demonstrates the ability to contribute to the development of scientific knowledge in his field.

The student's study plan determines the time (recommended study paths) as well as the sequence of subjects (continuity of subjects and their content), teaching method, forms of evaluation of study results, and workload expressed in credits. The student's study plan is designed into three components: the study part, the scientific-research part, and the pedagogical part (only in full-time study). The recommended study path is part of the study plan, but in the 3rd degree of study, a high degree of student autonomy is assumed to project their study path in cooperation and under the supervision of their supervisor.

The study part consists of compulsory and optional subjects. As part of completing compulsory subjects, the student will acquire and deepen theoretical knowledge from current trends in research in pre-primary and primary pedagogy, acquire theoretical knowledge and acquire skills from the methodology of qualitative and quantitative research, will orientate himself in professional literature, will be able to search for relevant literary sources and to work with them, demonstrate the ability to project, implement, possibly optimize and evaluate their scientific research, in compliance with ethical and legal standards. Completion of the dissertation exam and defense of the dissertation is part of the compulsory subjects. Mandatory optional subjects enrich the student's knowledge with other aspects of the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy in the context of theoretical and empirical research, e.g. o philosophical, psychological, and other social-scientific aspects that are correlated with the profile of the graduate.

The scientific research part consists of three parallel modules. One module is aimed at developing the student's abilities to create and publish scientific and professional texts under the guidance and in cooperation with a supervisor, or independently under the supervision of a trainer. For publishing activity, the student receives credits, the number of which is regulated by the current Internal Regulations of PdF UK and allocated by the supervisor. The number of credits depends on the quality of the publication output and is precisely specified in the aforementioned regulation. The second module is focused on the development of the student's abilities related to the solution, or participation in the solution of scientific research projects. Within the third module of the scientific-research part, the stages of solving the student's dissertation and other (not classified above) scientific activity of the student, which is carried out under the supervision of his supervisor, are monitored.

The pedagogic part (only for full-time students) includes teaching and related activities, such as supervising or opposing the final theses of the bachelor's degree, supervising the work presented at ŠVOUČ, etc. The exact specification of the credit subsidy is given in the Internal Regulations of PdF UK.

Profile subjects:

• Methodology of qualitative research

• Quantitative research methodology

• Creating a research project

• Current trends in pre-primary pedagogy

• Current trends in preschool and elementary pedagogy research

• Elective didactics in primary education

• Evaluation in primary education

• Dissertation exam

• Defense of the dissertation

Profile subjects develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies of the graduate of the study program following the profile of the graduate so that he is aware of the comprehensiveness, system, and consistency of preschool and elementary pedagogy and is able and motivated to be autonomous continuous education, or was capable of contributing to the development of the field in both a theoretical and empirical context. Profile subjects are provided by teachers (professors, docents), who long-term focus their scientific research and publication activities on the issues of the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy, pedagogy, or a related field that expands knowledge in the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy. 

Dissertation topics are approved, published, and assigned to students following the valid regulations of the University of Bratislava. When formulating specific topics, priority is given to the profile of the graduate, his potential, the student's orientation to a specific area of ​​interest within the study program, and the motivation of the specific student (student-oriented education), as well as currently ongoing research projects, to involve students in creative activities of the university, increasing the motivation and participation of students in making decisions about their education.

Successful defense of the dissertation is assumed for the completion of doctoral studies. The doctoral student demonstrates the ability to work creatively independently, masters the methods of scientific work following ethical principles, and demonstrates the ability to develop the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy. The dissertation is characterized by a high degree of analysis and synthesis of knowledge, a sufficient overview of the existing professional literature and its own scientifically correctly processed research.

STUDY PLAN - full-time form

STUDY PLAN - part-time form

The condition for admission of applicants to study in the 3rd stage of study in the study program of preschool and elementary pedagogy is to have completed a master's degree in the study program of teaching for primary education or in a related program and to complete the entrance exam, which consists of the following parts:

• oral presentation of the submitted dissertation project and discussion about it;

• proof of knowledge from the required master's degree, the scope and depth of the studied literature, and prerequisites for the 3rd degree are evaluated;

• language test in one non-Slavic language – the applicant demonstrates the ability to communicate in at least one non-Slavic language (or is proven by a state test in a foreign (world) language).

Publication activity and other noteworthy factors are taken into account in the final evaluation - experience, connection to a national or international project, study stays abroad, placement in faculty and national competitions ŠVOUČ, a commendation from the rector and/or commendation from the dean for a bachelor's or diploma thesis, or excellent results during studies, successful participation in competitions related to the relevant study program, work in a civic association.

The profile of a graduate of the third level of the preschool and elementary pedagogy study program is characterized by knowledge, skills, and competencies that enable his independent and creative scientific work, based on knowledge based on the current state of scientific knowledge. It is developed following level 8 of the National Qualification Framework of the Slovak Republic (NKR) and the Qualification Framework for the European Higher Education Area.

Theoretical knowledge of the graduate:

• thoroughly knows the methodology of scientific work in the field;

• knows the ethical principles of scientific work;

• knows and orients himself in the wider philosophical and social-scientific context of the field;

• knows the psychological context of the processes of development of a child of preschool and younger school age, knows different concepts of learning;

• knows the didactic concepts of teaching in pre-primary and primary education;

• understands knowledge from the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy as a comprehensive and consistent system;

• knows and understands the relationships between related fields and the field of preschool and elementary pedagogy;

• he orients himself on education policy at home and abroad;

• knows scientific theories and sophisticated methods of scientific research at a level corresponding to international criteria.

Skills of the graduate:

• can apply and creatively develop knowledge, theories, and research procedures in the field;

• can evaluate theories, concepts, and innovations in the field;

• can identify scientific developments in the field at the international level and use them in developing it;

• can apply the latest scientific knowledge in the field and integrate it into the current system;

• is familiar with the professional literature, can search for and critically analyze scientific studies;

• can apply knowledge from the methodology of scientific research in his scientific research activity;

• knows the scientific language, can independently create a scientific text;

• demonstrate the skill to project, implement, possibly optimize and evaluate own scientific research in compliance with ethical and legal standards.

Competences of the graduate:

• demonstrates the ability to work in a team and scientifically;

• demonstrates the ability to systematically educate oneself in the field and support social progress in an academic and professional context;

• demonstrate the ability to communicate with the wider scientific community on key issues of the field;

• demonstrates the ability of critical, independent, and analytical thinking;

• can creatively solve problems, plan and initiate the solution of complex problems;

• can present research results on scientific and professional platforms at the international level;

• is capable of formulating goals and methods of developing the department;

• can assess and modify their pedagogical competence;

• realizes the importance of scientific integrity in an ethical and legal context.

A graduate of the 3rd degree of the preschool and elementary pedagogy program is an expert in his field and can continuously and systematically educate himself, and contribute to the development of the field in a theoretical, research, and application context. After completing his studies, he will receive a diploma for the completion of his studies at the third level of higher education.

Following the SKKR, a graduate of the third level of the study program (level 8 of the SKKR) will obtain a qualification and be qualified for the following employment and profession:

• assistant professor at a university with a PhD qualification.

• researcher of a public research institution or SAS,

• a worker with scientific research activities in a directly managed organization or budget organization of the Ministry of Education, or an institution providing non-university tertiary education.

The study program of the third degree is aimed, among other things, at continuing the habilitation procedure and obtaining full qualifications for the performance of work in the public interest (Act No. 341/2004) in the field 17. education and sport, 10. salary class: Work activities requiring a university degree third-level education: 01 Creative solutions of the most complex tasks in the development of science and technology aimed at developing knowledge in the field of study, creative application of research results in pedagogical activity, conducting lectures, supervising doctoral students, research or artistic activity and publishing its results, leading research or artistic teams, which is carried out by a university teacher after obtaining a scientific-pedagogical degree or an artistic-pedagogical degree.

The cooperation with foreign and domestic partners in ensuring the educational activities of the study program is informal in nature and is based on the communication between the persons ensuring the study program and trainers and their cooperation with researchers at foreign and domestic universities.

Doctoral students also have the opportunity to participate in scientific conferences, doctoral conferences - Doctoral Conference Juvenilia Paedagogica (Faculty of Pedagogy of the University of Trnava in Trnava), Doctoral Conference of the Faculty of Pedagogy (DOKOPY, Faculty of Pedagogy of the University of Prešov in Prešov), scientific Czech-Slovak conference Elementary mathematics education EME ( Faculty of Pedagogy of the University of Prešov in Prešov, Faculty of Pedagogy of the Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Humanities and Pedagogy of the Technical University of Liberec), International Scientific Conference organized by the Institute of Education of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland, with a focus on pedagogy.

The relevant departments cooperate scientifically and professionally with organizations under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education (e.g. NÚCEM – National Institute of Certified Educational Measurements, ŠPÚ – State Pedagogical Institute, MPC – Methodological and Pedagogical Center, etc.).

Comenius University has the opportunity to send students abroad for study or internship within its partnerships (Utrecht Network, SYLFF, some bilateral agreements), to 63 foreign universities in more than 30 countries in Europe and beyond. Even wider possibilities covering practically the entire world exist within other schemes, especially within the Erasmus+ program and activities covered by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Slovak Republic, implemented through SAIA. They are mainly: the Central European Exchange Program of University Studies (CEEPUS), National Scholarship Program (NŠP), Austria-Slovakia Action, Višegrad Fund, and others. New opportunities for mobility within the wider framework of the Erasmus+ program are offered by the university alliance ENLIGHT, within which the Comenius University in Bratislava established cooperation in the field of education with eight European universities in 2020: the University of Bordeaux, the University of Ghent, the University of Groningen, the University of Göttingen, the University in Uppsala, the University of Tartu, the National University of Ireland in Galway and the University of the Basque Country. Universities are committed to offering their students various educational formats, from short-term physical and virtual mobility in the form of summer schools or so-called living laboratories, up to joint study programs, following on from accredited study programs in individual countries and recognizing each other's completed subjects.

Partner foreign institutions within the ERASMUS+ program with which the Department of Pre-Primary and Primary Pedagogy has concluded bilateral agreements:

• Czech Republic: Charles University, Faculty of Education, Prague

• Czech Republic: J.E. Purkyně University, Faculty of Education, Ústí nad Labem

• Czech Republic: Palacký University, Faculty of Education, Olomouc

• Poland: University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Wydział Nauk Społecznych, Instytut Pedagogiki, Siedlce

• Portugal: the University of Algarve, School of Education and Communication, Algarve

• Austria: Pädagogische Hochschule Salzburg Stefan Zweig, Salzburg

• Slovenia: the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education, Ljubljana

• Spain: the University of A Coruña, Faculty of Educational Studies, La Coruña

• Guncaga_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• Kostrub_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• Potocarova_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• Severini_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• Zilkova_VUPCH_SK.pdf
• VTC_Guncaga_1_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Guncaga_2_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Guncaga_3_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Guncaga_4_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Guncaga_5_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Kostrub_1_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Kostrub_2_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Kostrub_3_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Kostrub_4_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Kostrub_5_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Potocarova_1_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Potocarova_2_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Potocarova_3_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Potocarova_4_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Potocarova_5_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Severini_1_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Severini_2_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Severini_3_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Severini_4_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Severini_5_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zilkova_1_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zilkova_2_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zilkova_3_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zilkova_4_phd_PdF.pdf
• VTC_Zilkova_5_phd_PdF.pdf