The graduate of the doctoral study program (SP) Process Control in the field of Cybernetics represents a qualified technician (expert) with unique knowledge and skills reflecting current and modern trends in the areas of process control, automation, computerization, and robotics. The added value of the study in the field of Cybernetics in the given program is the improvement of knowledge in the area of functional and technical safety of control systems, including the basics of cyber security. Definition of the Ph.D. graduate's profile in terms of the system of study fields of the Slovak Republic (according to the document " Sústava študijných odborov SR a nosné témy jadra znalostí študijného odboru 19. Kybernetika ", pp. 66-68, https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/disk/zz/file/2019/2019c000z0244p001.pdf):

The Ph.D. graduate has extensive professional knowledge in several areas of the field, which serves as a basis for research and development and the creation of new knowledge in traditional fields such as: process modelling and control methods, design of robotic and mechatronic systems, new software, and communication systems for management of complex systems. The Ph.D. graduate has professional and methodological knowledge of an interdisciplinary nature, based on which he/she can profile himself/herself in the penetration areas of artificial intelligence, cognition, adaptation, communication, connectivity, biosystems, social systems, and so on. The Ph.D. graduate solves research problems in specialized areas of industry and other application areas in terms of priorities formulated for areas of basic and applied research. The Ph.D. graduate has demonstrated a systematic understanding of the field of study and has mastered the skills and methods of scientific research associated with the field corresponding to the current state of knowledge in cybernetics, masters and can choose specific scientific methods of basic and applied research in one of cybernetics, automation, and mechatronics fields. He/She is capable of critical analysis, abstraction, evaluation, and generalization of the issue and synthesis of new and complex concepts. He or she demonstrates the ability to design, construct, implement and modify a substantial part of research with scientific integrity. He/She applies and implements his/her findings of the theoretical analysis and complex scientific research in solving problems. Through the original research, he/she contributes to broadening the boundaries of scientific knowledge through the implementation of an extensive set of papers, some of which are worthy of peer-reviewed publication at the national or international level. The Ph.D. graduate is characterized by independent, critical, and analytical thinking, which he or she applies in changing conditions. The Ph.D. graduate can communicate with colleagues, the wider scientific community, and the general public about the field of expertise and can independently and professionally present the results of research and development at home and abroad. He/She takes into account social, scientific, and ethical aspects when formulating research intentions and interpreting research results. He/She can determine the aim of research and coordinate the team in the relevant scientific field. In an academic and professional context, his/her ability to support technological, social, or cultural progress in a knowledge-based society is expected.

Educational goals (intentions of SP):

OBJECTIVE 1: Acquisition of general and cross-sectional knowledge in the field of Cybernetics at the level of evaluation, namely professional and methodological knowledge from several areas in the field or practice, which serve as a basis for innovation and originality in practice or research, and necessary for the planning of research and development, or development of professional practice.

The student has knowledge (outputs V1 to V10):

V01: about the properties of cybernetic systems

V02: about the analysis of user requirements, conditions, environments

V03: about the principles, methods, and procedures of cyber system design

V04: about specialized software tools, information, and operating technologies

V05: about basic concepts and standards in the field of cybernetics and selected application areas

V06: about methods of creating technical documentation

V07: about development trends in ICT and cybernetics

V08: about legal regulations and concepts in the field of copyright, ethical principles

V09: about the principles of leadership and participation in the project team

V10: knowledge of risks to his/her health or the health of others and the principles of safety at work

OBJECTIVE 2: To acquire the cognitive and practical skills needed to create and formulate new hypotheses, judgments, and strategies for the further development in cybernetics; evaluation of theories, concepts, and innovations; application of own findings resulting from theoretical analysis and own scientific research; and designing, verifying and implementing new research and working practices.

The student is able to (skills Z1 to Z13):

Z01: analyse the properties of controlled processes

Z02: analyse and design solutions to ensure the safety and reliability of cyber systems

Z03: to propose concepts, methodologies, and development forecasts in the field of cybernetics

Z04: implement the development and integration of control systems, including the optimization of their operation

Z05: analyse and apply cybernetic systems in selected application areas

Z06: analyse and monitor development trends in the field of cybernetics (based on the study of professional articles, evaluation, and selection of important facts and relevant contexts)

Z07: design and develop technical studies and analysis of cyber systems management problems

Z08: implement project management of an internal/external project

Z09: manage the creation of technical documentation according to requirements

Z10: prepare tests and analyses for the creation of technical projects

Z11: meet the principles of occupational safety and health

OBJECTIVE 3: Acquiring the necessary competencies: critical, independent, and analytical thinking in unpredictable, changing conditions; the ability to take into account social, scientific, and ethical aspects in guiding the further development of society; the ability to present the results of research and development to the professional community; responsibilities for leadership in a given scientific or professional field, and the ability to plan own development and the development of society in the context of scientific and technical progress.

The student is characterized by (competencies K1 to K12):

K01: digital literacy (computer skills) and information literacy

K02: ability to analyse and solve problems, including the formulation of own conclusions and hypotheses

K03: technical literacy

K04: ability to organize and plan work, project management

K05: mathematical literacy

K06: creativity and flexibility in thinking (adaptability, flexibility, improvisation skills, self-education)

K07: decision-making autonomy

K08: the ability of cultivated speech, communication with people, negotiation

K09: cultivated written expression

K10: ability to communicate in a world language

K11: presentation skills

K12: teamwork skills

Indication of occupations according to existing qualification structures:

• Register of employees (https://www.sustavapovolani.sk), statistical classification of occupations https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/prilohy/SK/ZZ/2020/449 /20210101_5289809-2.pdf) or The National Qualifications Framework (https://www.kvalifikacie.sk) does not currently offer a profession corresponding to the 3rd level of education in the cybernetics field.
• Therefore, the following Ph.D. graduate profile was formulated, reflecting the employment of previous Ph.D. graduates in this field and the current needs of industrial partners:

Cyber Systems Development Architect - is responsible for research, development, and overall implementation of innovative solutions in the field of cyber systems. He or she designs the overall system architecture and applied technologies, and coordinates the overall development of cyber-physical systems in accordance with the requirements of functional, technical, and information security. He or she monitors new trends in the development of process control, automation, computerization, and robotics, which he or she implements in practice. His or her knowledge, skills, and competencies are defined within the profile of the Ph.D. graduate, based on a comprehensive framework of cybernetics for the 3rd degree.

The Ph.D. graduate's profile was discussed with several representatives of the industry (Continental Matador Truck Tires s.r.o., Púchov; AŽD Praha, s.r.o. - závod Žilina; Aliga, s. r. o.; Martin; Siemens Mobility, s. r. o. Bratislava). A written supporting opinion  is available:

• Ing. Ladislav Rosina, PhD.; plant manager and director of Osobné pneumatiky; Continental Matador Rubber, s.r.o.; Continental Matador Truck Tires s.r.o.; T. Vansovej 1054, 020 01 Puchov, Slovak Republic; Tel.: +421 42 461 3060; Mobile: +421 904 717 060; E-mail: ladislav.rosina@conti.sk; http://www.continental-corporation.com

In addition, the profile of the graduate meets the profession of University Assistant, according to the specification of knowledge, skills, and competencies according to the profession card https://www.sustavapovolani.sk/karta_zamestnania-496034-.

The study program does not prepare students for a profession requiring an opinion on the compliance of the acquired qualification with the sector-specific requirements for the profession.   

Since we do not have any graduates studying in English during the monitored period, the applicability of graduates can be demonstrated using a list of graduates studying full-time in Slovak and their positions (overview of all PhD. graduates over the last 6 years):

• Ing. Roman Michalík, Ph.D. (2018-2021): programmer and developer at the research and development department, Industry Solutions, a.s. Žilina
• Ing. Tomáš Uriča, Ph.D. (2016-2019): developer, Technical Center ON Semiconductors, Department of Mechatronics and Electronics FEIT UNIZA
• Ing. Jozef Balák, PhD. (2015-2018): Functional and Technical Safety Analyst, Siemens Mobility s. r. o., Bratislava
• Assoc. prof. Ing. Dušan Nemec, PhD. (2015-2018): researcher at KRIS FEIT UNIZA, from III / 2022 associate professor
• Ing. Peter Kello, PhD. (2015-2018): programmer, current employer unknown
• Ing. Ján Ďurech, PhD. (2015-2018): project manager, Whitestein Technologies, s.r.o., Bratislava
• Ing. Tomáš Mravec, Ph.D. (2013-2016): software developer, Danfoss Power Solutions a.s., Považská Bystrica
• Ing. Igor Miklošík, PhD. (2013-2016): researcher, Institute of Applied Informatics in Transport, CTU Prague + programmer, Eltodo, a.s. Prague
• Ing. Ľubomír Pekár, PhD. (2013-2016): Functional and Technical Safety Analyst, Siemens Mobility . s. r. o. Bratislava

Graduates of the doctoral study program Process Control are employed as specialized research and development workers in companies, institutes, and research centres, where the highest level of critical and constructive thinking, proactive approach, and the invention is required, in solving highly professional problems and also a high level of responsibility and self-reflection, in relation to the work and its results.

No graduates studying in English are reported for the monitored period.

Note: For illustration purposes, successful graduates can only be documented in the case of the SP "Process Control" provided in the Slovak language:

Ing. Ján Zelenka, PhD. (graduate of SP Process Control of 3rd degree, 2006-2009), jano.zelenka@gmail.com

• Company: Institute of Informatics SLOVAK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (SAS), v.v.i., Bratislava https://www.sav.sk
• Position: independent researcher, vice-chairman of the scientific board and member of the scientific-managerial board of the Institute of Informatics SAS, an external pedagogical worker at FIIT STU, supervisor for doctoral studies at FIIT STU and FEI TUKE.
• Professional profile: responsible project leader in the field of swarm robotics, process automation, and simulation/control of discrete event systems in the field of application maps and data processing for agriculture (most important results of scientific work for SAS for 2018, 2019 in category application type); agent simulations of tree bat behaviour in "fission-fusion dynamics" (the most important results of the  scientific work for SAS in 2020); co/author of 43 publications (1 chapter in a scientific monograph published in foreign publishers, 5 CC journals and 21/11 international/national publications WOS / SCOPUS,> 100 cit., HI = 7.

Ing. Juraj Ilavský, PhD. (graduate of SP Process Control of 3rd degree, 2009-2012), juraj.ilavsky@siemens.com, juraj.ilavsky@gmail.com, +49 179 26 87 530

• Company: Siemens Mobility GmbH, Berlin, Germany, LinkedIn
• Position: RAMS / Approval manager
• Professional profile: evaluation of RAMS parameters (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety); RAM planning and safety-related activities; performing safety analyses, both qualitative (functional) and quantitative (FTA, RBD, Markov chains); support for risk analysis in the railway sector; support for the project team on RAM and safety issues; supporting projects and customers in the approval process with a focus on predictable planning and long-term success, as well as the ability to respond to spontaneous changes and challenges; languages; activities within and outside the EU.

Ing. Jozef Balák, PhD. (graduate of SP Process Control of 3rd degree, 2015-2018), jozef.balak@outlook.com, +421 902 072 326

• Company: Siemens Mobility, s. r. o., Bratislava
• Position: functional and technical safety analyst
• Professional profile: after graduation, he started working at Siemens Mobility, s.r.o. in the functional and technical safety analysis department (so-called RAMS parameters). He is currently a member of the team integrating parts of the European Train Control System (ETCS OBU) into train units intended for several German railway carriers. He is also involved in training new members of the department.

Ing. Roman Michalík, PhD. (graduate of SP Process Control of 3rd degree, 2018-2021), romi.michalik@gmail.com

• Company: IS-Industry Solutions, a.s. Žilina
• position: programmer and developer
• Professional profile: works in the research and development department for SMART City and industrial automation projects with a focus on the acquisition, processing, analysis, modelling, and visualization of data from databases through SW tools; current focus - programming of the public lighting control system for the city of Žilina and the use of collected data from sensor modules placed on public lighting; planning the creation of an automated robotic workplace; working in Java / Javascript / C / SQL / Markdown / HTML, InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, NetBeans, Grafana, ElasticSearch, Kibana, Logstash, Spring Boot and many more.

The department regularly monitors feedback from graduate employers, but so far this has been done based on personal interviews. The conclusions of this feedback were implemented into the modifications of the study program within the framework of its harmonization. In connection with the harmonization according to the internal quality system of UNIZA, we obtained feedback from companies, which has the character of evaluation of the following features of Ph.D. graduates (with a rating on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best)):

• Whether the Ph.D. graduate demonstrates a systematic understanding of the field of study and has mastered the skills and methods of scientific research at the level of the current state of knowledge in the field;
• Whether the Ph.D. graduate demonstrates the ability to design, construct, implement and modify a substantial part of research with scientific integrity (ethically);
• Whether the Ph.D. graduate contributes to the extension of scientific knowledge by original research (he/she is able to publish his/her works at the national and international level);
• Whether the Ph.D. graduate is capable of critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of new and complex concepts;
• Whether the Ph.D. graduate can communicate his/her area of expertise with colleagues, the wider scientific community, and the general public; and
• Whether the Ph.D. graduate can use a world language.

To be able to assess also the weight of the statements obtained, the approximate number of graduates in the company (1-5, 6-10, over 10) is also monitored. 

The last survey was realized for graduates studying in the Slovak language in January 2022:

AŽD Praha s.r.o., Ing. Nadežda Hanusová, PhD., hanusova.nada@azd.cz

At the university, faculty, and process control program are defined processes, procedures, and structures:

Directive no. 110 - Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina

This directive contains the rules for the study of doctoral study programs carried out at the University of Žilina. It is binding for all doctoral students, university teachers, and other employees who study at the University of Žilina or manage the study or teach.

Directive no. 203 – Rules for the Creation of Recommended Study Plans for UNIZA Study Programmes

This Directive lays down binding procedures for the development of study plans when preparing a draft application for accreditation of a study program or modification of a study program. The student's study plan determines the time and content sequence of the courses of the study program and the forms of evaluation of study results. It determines the minimum number of credits (180) required to successfully complete the study.

Directive no. 204 –  Rules for the Creation, Modification, Approval and Cancellation of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina

This Directive lays down rules for the creation, modification, approval, and cancellation of study programs at UNIZA and when submitting an application for accreditation of a study program in which UNIZA applies for accreditation to the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (hereinafter "SAAVŠ").

Directive no. 205 – Rules for Assigning Teachers to the Provision of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina

The purpose of issuing this internal regulation (directive) is to determine the rules for the staffing of study programs and the principles for assigning teachers to the provision of study programs carried out at UNIZA. It states the requirements for the performance of the function of the supervisor, his/her nomination and duties, the requirements for the nomination of dissertation opponents, and the recommended categorization of the outputs of creative activity.

Directive no. 212 – Rules for the Definition of the Workload of Creative Employees of the University of Žilina in Žilina

The directive provides recommendations for the workload structure of UNIZA's creative staff. The rules for defining the workload of creative employees must enable the employee to carry out: a) teaching activities, b) scientific research activities, c) development of their professional, language, pedagogical and digital skills and transferable competencies, d) other activities to ensure the above activities.

Directive no. 213 – Quality Assurance Policies at the University of Žilina in Žilina

The purpose of defining UNIZA's policies is to set out the principles that apply to UNIZA through strategies, objectives, procedures, rules, and indicators. The application of the principles is set up so that it can be examined whether UNIZA has applied them correctly in the relevant UNIZA objectives, procedures, rules, and indicators.

Directive no. 214 – Structures of the Internal Quality Assurance System for the Creation, Modification, Approval and Cancellation of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina

This internal regulation defines the structures of the internal quality assurance system for the creation, modification, approval, and cancellation of study programs at UNIZA and when applying for accreditation of a study program in which UNIZA applies for accreditation to the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education.

Directive no. 216 – Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina

This directive is part of the internal system of quality assurance of education at UNIZA and defines the quality requirements for the implementation of doctoral study programs at UNIZA in the field of the institutional environment, as well as the implementation of doctoral studies. It defines the qualitative requirements for the guarantor of the study program, the operation of the branch committee, working group, supervisor, and supervisor-specialist. In the field of doctoral studies, it defines the evaluation indicators of the applicant and the quality of doctoral studies, emphasizing the internationalization of studies and the quality level of the doctoral student's outputs.

Directive no. 217 – Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina

This directive defines the resources of the University of Žilina in Žilina (hereinafter UNIZA), which are used in the implementation of accredited study programs and creative activities to ensure their maximum effectiveness, efficiency, economy, accessibility, and renewal following the internal quality system.

Directive no. 218 – On the Collection, Processing, Analysis and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes

This Directive establishes rules, procedures, and responsibilities for the systematic collection, processing, analysis, and evaluation of information to the extent and structure necessary for the management of educational activities and the management of creative and other related activities of UNIZA. It sets out the information needed for the management of specified areas and the way of its coverage, i.e. resources, responsibilities for information collection, reference information management, and also regulates the access to information analysis according to customer requirements.

Directive no. 219 – Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad

The directive defines the basic conditions for UNIZA student mobility abroad, the role of the study plan, courses and credits, the requirements for accompanying documentation, and the student's obligations before being sent to mobility and after returning from abroad. It similarly regulates mobility conditions for employees.

Directive no. 220 – Evaluation of the Creative Activity of Employees in Relation to Quality Assurance of Education at the University of Žilina in Žilina

This Directive establishes a methodology for the evaluation of creative activities to assess the level of creative activities of UNIZA teachers and research staff concerning the relevant standards for the study program and the standards of the habilitation procedure and the inauguration procedure.

Directive no. 221 – Cooperation of the University of Žilina in Žilina with External Partners from Practice

This directive defines the powers, competencies, responsibilities, and rules for the involvement of external partners in practice in UNIZA's activities related to VSK UNIZA as well as the overall approach and rules of UNIZA for cooperation with external partners.

Directive no. 222 - Internal Quality Assurance System at the University of Žilina in Žilina

This document introduces a comprehensive internal quality assurance system at the University of Žilina in Žilina, concerning the fulfillment of UNIZA's mission and intentions and the achievement of VSK UNIZA's compliance with SAAVŠ standards.

The conditions which the student must meet during the study of this study program and the fulfillment of which is necessary for its proper completion, including the conditions of state examinations and other duties, are primarily determined by the following regulations:

Directive no. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 216 – Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Guide to doctoral studies - https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/RP.pdf

The organization and administrative support of the third-degree study at FEIT UNIZA is defined by the Dean's Decision no. 1/2021: https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content /uploads/2021/02/Rozhodnutie-dekana-_1_2021-1.pdf

The doctoral study is carried out according to individual study plans, while the set of knowledge, abilities, and skills is subordinated to the specific topic of the dissertation, which is written in connection with a specific research project, in which the doctoral student is involved to develop their team skills. The individual study plan is compiled by the supervisor in cooperation with the doctoral student according to the needs of the dissertation and submitted for approval to the chairman of the Process Control working group in the Cybernetics field, which is established according to the university's internal regulations. The individual study plan consists of a study part and a scientific part, and its fulfillment and the defence of the dissertation presupposes continuous acquisition of credits for predefined and quantified criteria, which are specified in the publicly available Guide to doctoral studies.

The study part represents 50 credits from the scope of the study plan. It focuses on gaining deep theoretical knowledge in the field of process control and mastering the methodological apparatus supported by knowledge of selected mathematical-physical and professional disciplines. It consists of the study of two compulsory and two compulsory optional courses and the compulsory course "Written work for the dissertation exam and defence of the written work for the dissertation exam". Compulsory courses are Fundamentals of Basics of Research Practice and World Language. The choice of two compulsory optional courses depends on the topic of the dissertation. Each course of the study part is allocated 10 credits. All courses of the study part are the courses of the state exam.

The scientific part represents at least 130 credits from the scope of the study plan. It is implemented in Dissertation Projects I to IV and independent and team scientific and research work, including the elaboration and defence of the dissertation. Dissertation projects I-IV represent integral parts (stages) of the dissertation and each is awarded 10 credits. The evaluated activities within the individual and team scientific work are: publications in journals and conference proceedings, chapters in monographs/university textbooks, intellectual property protection (patent, utility model), citations registered in the SCI citation index, and active presentation of results at conferences. The allocation of credits for individual activities within individual and team scientific work is prescribed in the Guide to Doctoral Studies. The study ends with the defence of the dissertation, which belongs to the state exams. After elaboration and acceptance of the dissertation and its defence, the doctoral student will receive 30 credits (for the dissertation and its defence).

Among the obligations of full-time doctoral students, which result from the Law "Zákon o vysokých školách a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov č. 131/2002 Z. z.", there is also a pedagogical activity needed. In order to increase the quality of this aspect of doctoral studies, the doctoral student may enroll in the optional course University Pedagogy in the first semester of the first grade (year). The doctoral student is recommended to carry out the study/internship abroad only after the defence of the written part for the dissertation examination when the dissertation and the further direction are clear and officially confirmed.

Specific conditions during the course of study: interim and final evaluation of individual courses with the weight indicated in the course information sheets; fulfillment of the condition of the minimum number of credits for advancement to a higher grade (year) of study in accordance with the above-mentioned regulations.

The basic part of the study is the grade (year) in which the student has to obtain an average of 60 credits.

Full-time study is divided into grades (years) as follows:

1st grade - the student receives at least 40 credits,

2nd grade - the student receives at least 60 credits (or a total of 100 credits for the 1st and 2nd grades),

3rd grade - the student receives enough credits to reach at least 180 credits for the entire study.

The condition for progressing to the next part of the study is obtaining the prescribed number of credits in the given grade of study. In case of failure to fulfill this obligation, the student will be expelled from the studies. The recommended study plan is compiled in such a way that by completing all the obligations the student fulfills the conditions for completing the study within the standard length of study.

Specific conditions for proper completion of studies: successful completion of exams in two compulsory subjects - World language and Basics of research practice and two compulsory optional professional courses; Written work for the dissertation exam and defence of the written work for the dissertation exam; and elaboration and successful defense of dissertation projects I to IV; individual and team scientific work; pedagogical activities; Dissertation thesis and defence of the dissertation thesis. Number of credits required for proper graduation: 180.

Rules for repeating studies: -

Rules for extending studies: according to the Act on Universities and Amendments to Certain Acts No. 131/2002 Coll.

The rules for verifying learning outcomes are determined by:

Directive No. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive No. 216 – Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Guide to doctoral studies: https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/RP.pdf

At the level of individual courses to verify the overall learning outcomes are listed in the individual Course Information Sheet.

The procedure according to the Directive No. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina, Article 8, paragraph 4, applies to the evaluation of students and the possibilities of corrective procedures

https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/smernice-predpisy/10122020_S-110-2013-Studijny-poriadokPhD-v-zneni-D1-a-D3.pdf.

At the level of the University, the conditions for the recognition of the study or a part of the study are defined in the Directive No. 110 – The Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/2022/smernica-UNIZA-c-110.pdf. In the case of foreign mobility programmes and internships, the Directive No. 219 – Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad defines the policies, structures, and processes of the conditions for the recognition of studies https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-219-en.pdf.

No graduates are reported for the monitored period.

Note: For illustration, only the list of topics of defended dissertations in the last 6 years (2016-2021), in full-time study in the Slovak language, can be given:

At the university level, these rules are regulated in detail by Directive No. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina, and Directive No. 215 – On Final, Rigorous and Habilitation Theses in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina.

At the level of the faculty and the SP, these rules are supplemented by the document "Guide to Doctoral Studies for the SP Process Control" (at the time of processing this document referring to the currently running SP in the version before the proposal for modification: https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/RP.pdf)

The organization and administrative support of the third-degree study at FEIT UNIZA is defined in the Dean's Decision no. 1/2021: https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content /uploads/2021/02/Rozhodnutie-dekana-_1_2021-1.pdf.

At the university level, the processes, procedures, and structures are defined by Directive No. 219 – Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad and by Directive No. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina.

Usually, an integral part of the doctoral student's activities in the full-time form of study, prescribed in the study plan, is the active participation of the doctoral student during the stay abroad at the partner workplace of the doctoral student's training workplace. It is recommended to include in the doctoral student's study plan the completion of a stay abroad lasting at least two months or one semester.

• At the faculty level, all relevant information is available in a clear structure on the faculty website in the section https://feit.uniza.sk/studenti/mobilitaerasmus-2/
• Contact person for the content of the current subpage / Mgr. Silvia Pirníková / +421 41 513 2062 / silvia.pirnikova@feit.uniza.sk
• At the level of the department and the program, the department's Erasmus + coordinator is available to students: prof. Ing. Aleš Janota, PhD. /ales.janota@uniza.sk/.

At the level of the university, faculty, department and program Process Control, processes, procedures, and structures are defined in  Directive No. 207 –  Code of Ethics of the University of Žilina in Žilina (abbr. (the) UNIZA Code of Ethics)  and Directive No. 201 – Disciplinary Regulations for Students of the University of Žilina in Žilina.

A disciplinary board is established at the faculty level.

At the level of the university, faculty, department, and program Process Control, processes, procedures, and structures are defined in Directive No. 198 – Support for Applicants for Study and Students with Specific Needs at the University of Žilina in Žilina

In terms of admission of students with special needs for doctoral studies, the regulation "Principles and rules of admission to study at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology for the 3rd degree of study in the academic year 2022/2023" https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content / uploads / 2021/11/FEIT_Zasady_pravidla_prijatia_2022-2023_PhD-1.pdf, in Article 2 "Principles and rules of the admission procedure for the 3rd level of higher education", in the section "Admission to studies for FEIT study programs", in paragraph 5, states:

An applicant with specific needs at his request and based on evaluation of his specific needs following §100, paragraph 9, letter b) of the Act on Higher Education Institutions, the Dean determines the form of the acceptance examination and the manner of its examination, taking into account its specific needs and following Directive No. 198 – Support for Applicants for Study and Students with Specific Needs at the University of Žilina in Žilina.

Detailed information for students can be found on the website:

https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/studenti-so-specifickymi-potrebami

At the faculty level, there are coordinators and contact persons:

doc. Ing. Mariana Beňová, PhD. (vice dean for education), mariana.benova@uniza.sk Bc. Emília Pekárová, (Education Officer), emilia.pekarova@uniza.sk

At the university level, the processes, procedures and structures are defined by Directive No. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/2022/smernica-UNIZA-c-110.pdf 

At the faculty level through published e-mail contacts of responsible persons, through students represented in the student part of the Academic Senate of the FEIT and via the link "Poradíme vám" /We'll advise you/:  https://feit.uniza.sk/studenti/poradime-vam/ 

or Odkaz pre dekana (message to the dean): https://odkaz.feit.uniza.sk/

Academic year plan:

Link: https://feit.uniza.sk/studenti/akademicky-kalendar/

There is no fixed schedule for doctoral students, studies based on project teaching and individual consultations prevail due to different directions of dissertations and different study plans adapted to this.

Compulsory courses

Compulsory optional courses

Optional courses 

Name, surname, titles: Aleš Janota, prof. Ing., PhD. EurIng

Function: Head of Department of Control and Information Systems at FEIT UNIZA

Contact (mail, tel.): ales.janota@uniza.sk; 041/513 3300, mob. 0944343549, email: ales.janota@uniza.sk 

Contents is generated from Study plans.

Contents is generated from Study plans.

In the monitored period, no students studied in English, therefore no final (dissertation) theses were completed.

Note: For illustration, a list of supervisors of final theses can be given with assignment to topics defended in the full-time SP provided in the Slovak language:

Ing. Marek Bujňák

Brief description of the person: doctoral student of the second grade (year) of the study, SP Process Control at FEIT UNIZA.

e-mail: marek.bujnak@feit.uniza.sk

Name and surname: Ing. Peter Nagy, PhD.

Mail: peter.nagy@feit.uniza.sk

Tel: 041/513 3357

https://feit.uniza.sk/zoznam-studijnych-poradcov/ 
https://www.uniza.sk/flexpapers/sprievodca-prvaka/ 

Access to counseling: consultation hours, information on the web, individual consultations

Consultation schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 to 11:00 outside the timetable.

Name and surname: Assoc. prof. Ing. Mariana Beňova, PhD. Area of responsibility / Competences: Vice-dean for education

tel.: +421 41 513 2119; e-mail: mariana.benova@uniza.sk 

Name and surname: Bc.Viera Beláková and Bc. Emília Pekarová

Area of responsibility / Competences: Office for education, study agenda.

phone: +421 41 513 2064, 2063; e-mail: studref@feit.uniza.sk  

At the level of the university, faculty, department, and the Process Control program, Directive No. 217 – Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina defines processes, procedures, and structures.

The study program of the third level of Process Control is provided primarily in the teaching premises of the Department of Control and Information Systems, Building AB, 2nd and 3rd floor. https://kris.uniza.sk

Lectures and seminars of faculty and professional courses of the Process Control program are taught in the halls, classrooms, and laboratories of the university and the FEIT faculty. For teaching and research in the field of process control, the Department of Control and Information Systems has built modern laboratory rooms (https://kris.uniza.sk/laboratoria/) provided with audio-visual equipment (projector, screen, magnetic board, etc.), which allow to carry out the teaching of courses in all forms of study and the implementation of research tasks in the field of control, automation and informatization of transport and industrial processes. These laboratories are built primarily from the department's internal grant resources. In addition to lecture rooms and laboratories, students have at their disposal in agreement with the head of the lab. the opportunity to use the premises outside the schedule to prepare for teaching or discussion with colleagues. The mentioned classrooms are visualized in 3D at http://priestory.uniza.sk/kris/.

At the university level, the processes, procedures and structures are defined by Directive No. 217 – Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina and Directive No. 218 – On the Collection, Processing, Analysis, and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes.

The basic information system supporting the process of education and teaching at the University of Žilina (UNIZA) is the Academic Information and Education System (AIVS). AIVS is available to students from the university domain as well as from the Internet, while the university WiFi network supports EDUROAM.

At present, the AIVS covers the student's life cycle of its study program, from the submission of the application to the final defence and activities related to the completion of studies at the university. AIVS supports the management of the study agenda at the faculties and other parts of the university in all levels, forms, and types of higher education. Within each study program, it serves to register applicants, students, and graduates, to monitor study results, to support the study credit system in accordance with  § 62 zákona o vysokých školách 131/2002 Z.z., na podporu tvorby rozvrhu and more. It supports the generation of ECTS information packages (§ 20 section .1 (e)), activities related to the completion of studies (certificates, diplomas), as well as the processing of diploma supplements (§ 68 section. 1 (c)).

AIVS consists of several subsystems:

1. Subsystem "Admission procedure" - allows the processing of the application (electronic and classic), results and their evaluation, communication with the applicant (invitations, notifications, and statements), and processing of statistics for the Ministry of Education.
2. The "Education" subsystem - consisting of modules:
   1. student register,
   2. study administration (study programs, study plans, information sheets of courses),
   3. enrollment in study
   4. elaboration of teaching schedule and management of resources (classrooms, technical equipment),
   5. administration of exams (announcement of exam dates, registration for exams),
   6. course of study - registration of study results, continuous evaluation of study results (Internal guideline No. 100 Rules of continuous evaluation of the quality of education provided at the University of Žilina in Žilina),
   7. study stays (mobility) - data are part of the student register and are exported to the central student register
3. Subsystem "State exams" - it consists of modules "final theses" and "state exams" The module "final theses" is aimed at supporting activities:
   1. assignment of final thesis topics by the department or teachers,
   2. selection of the final thesis topic by students,
   3. approval and confirmation of topic and student by the department
   4. export of basic data from AIVS to the local repository of the information system of final theses - EZAP (internal directive No. 103 on final theses),
   5. transfer of finished work to EZAP at UNIZA,
   6. import of data about the state of final work and compliance protocol from EZAP.

For the elaboration of the final thesis, its submission to the EZAP and subsequent steps, the internal directive of UNIZA no. 87 is valid.

E-vzdelávanie (e-learning):

At the university, e-Learning is based on LMS Moodle. The organization of the courses is based on guided study with the support of information and communication technologies in close connection with the Academic Education and Information System (AIVS). E-learning has been used at the university since the academic year 2004/2005.

SP Process Control is also supported by its own information system in the form of departmental websites, where students can find current information needed for their studies.

At the faculty level, students have free access to many scientific and technical databases containing scientific papers and electronic versions of books and textbooks (STN online, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, IEEE Xplore, Springer, Springer Link, Wiley) thanks to a university and nationwide license. Students have access to another large collection of study literature through the University Library (http://ukzu.uniza.sk), either in the form of a loan or study of literature in the comfortable premises of the library. An inseparable part is also the KRIS sub-library, which contains specific professional books defined in the CIS as study literature, specific professional literature is provided to the doctoral student by his supervisor as needed. In addition, the library provides a wide range of electronic services in the e-resources section (http://ukzu.uniza.sk/e-booky/). EDIS publishing house provides printing of dissertations.

The study program Process Control is provided in full-time form.

Betamont s.r.o. Zvolen,  J. Jesenského 1054/44, 960 03 Zvolen, Slovensko https://www.betamont.sk/

Betamont is a company with a 25-year tradition on the Slovak market, which develops and integrates its own intelligent transport technologies in road and rail transport. A representative of the company (Ing. Juraj Maciak, director of the division for research and technical development in the company Betamont s.r.o. Zvolen, maciak.juraj@betamont.sk) is a member of the Board of SP Automation (1st degree) members of state commissions of the 1st degree of study. The department has long-term and successful cooperation with the department in several areas - in solving joint research projects that have a significant impact on the topics of dissertations (e.g. APVV-15-0441 Measuring system with an optical sensor for Weight In Motion systems, 2016-2020;

ITMS-26220220089 New methods for measuring physical dynamic parameters and interactions of motor vehicles, traffic flow and road, 2010-2015 and others), in equipping and building common laboratories (e.g. IBM and Betamont Integrated Laboratory). Cooperation in the organization of a professional conference Railway Communication and Security Technology (17th year in 2021, guarantor Prof. Ing. Karol Rástočný, PhD.) Appointed by the representative of economic practice.

Siemens Mobility, s. r. o.,  Lamačská cesta 3/A, Bratislava 841 04, Slovensko https://www.mobility.siemens.com/sk/sk.html

Siemens is one of the strategic industrial partners of the department and FEIT UNIZA and a major employer of technically educated university graduates. The cooperation takes place in several areas: long-term participation in state commissions of bachelor and master study, assignment and supervision of qualification theses at lower levels of study, specialized professional lectures (e.g. http://www.feitcity.sk/prednaska-od-priemyselneho-partnera-siemens-mobility/), offer of internships for students, membership representative in the SP Council Process Control in the 2nd level of study (employers' representative), discussion and assessment of the SP process Control in the 3rd level of study from the position of authority from practice, establishment and operation of a detached company workplace in the department and others. Contact: Ing. Rastislav Kušpál, Head of the Competence Center in Siemens Mobility s.r.o. Bratislava, rastislav.kuspal@siemens.com

Furthermore, several collaborating entities in the field of research activities can be mentioned:

a) Companies abroad:

• Scheidt & Bachmann Mönchengladbach, Germany - in the past the most important project "Traffic management on secondary lines" (contract no. EF / 2/2000, 2000-2003);
• Siemens AG, Austria - cooperation in the form of several projects (from 2005 until now), focused on assessing the safety of the SIMIS W SK generic application interface, which is continuously deployed on ŽSR lines;
• ALTPRO company, Croatia - cooperation on two projects from 2009 to 2018; consultations related to the adaptation of the RLC23 system (crossing security system) and its implementation on ŽSR lines;
• Company AŽD Prague, Czech Republic - cooperation takes place in the form of several projects from 1999 until now, focused on the development and evaluation of safety control systems for railway applications - this is the creation of mathematical-graphical models for the JAZZ system to determine the monitored parameters of reliability and safety for this system; reciprocal lectures - lectures for AŽD employees (Use of Markov models to evaluate the integrity of system safety; creation of models based on UML, interpretation of articles of standard EN 50129, ...)
• Company První Signální Ostrava, Czech Republic - the cooperation takes place in the form of several projects from 1997 until now, focused on the development of safety-related control systems - development of safety PLC with SIL4 under the trade name NEXUS (specifically, the design of the output circuit solution, risk analysis and the creation of models to assess safety integrity);
• Company SignalBau Přerov - cooperation takes place in the form of several projects since 2015 (safety assessment of safety systems EAH-88, VEAH-11);
• Company První SaZ Plzeň a. with. - cooperation on the project in the years 2016 - 2017.

b) Universities abroad:

• TU Budapest, Hungary - prof. Ing. Dr. G. Tarnai, - cooperation in the field of risk analysis (the most important project: Safety Classification of Railway Transport Systems. HUN / SK / UNIZA / 05 / GVOP, 2005-2006; reciprocal lectures for students);
• TU Braunschweig, prof. Ing. Dr. E. Schneider - cooperation in the field of safety analysis of control systems (most important projects: Tool-assisted modelling, analysis and synthesis of railway signalling systems by Petri net technologies. German - Slovak project 03 Cost 04 24/604, 2003 - 2006; Safer European Level Crossing Appraisal and Technology MVST / SELCAT, FP6, 2006 - 2008, coordinator: Prof. Dr. Eckehard Schnieder, Dr.h.c.);
• TU Katowice, Poland - prof. Ing. Dr. J. Mikulski, cooperation in the field of safety analysis of signalling systems (project Assessment of the safety of railway signalling systems. APVV SK-PL-0015-09, 2009-2012; common textbook Rástočný et al.: Elements of signalling systems. 2012, ISBN 978-80 -554-0593-3; reciprocal lectures for students).

When solving tasks in cooperation with companies, it was necessary to solve some problems at a general level and then use the proposed solutions in specific applications. Therefore, many topics of doctoral theses were focused on solving general problems related to modelling of the reliability and safety properties of control systems, without a direct link to a specific cooperating company. It was a matter of enabling the publication of the results of doctoral theses while respecting the condition arising from individual contracts concluded with specific companies - not to provide the results to a third party.

At the university level, the possibilities of social, sports, cultural, spiritual, and social activities are described in Directive No. 217 – Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina - in particular Articles 17, 18 and 19.

Initial and summary information about all the basic facts necessary for a full academic life is provided to students in the form of an information manual (distributed by paper and electronically).

Students have the opportunity to participate in UNIZA on various interest or self-governing organizations - Gamma Club, Council of accommodated students Veľký Diel, Council of accommodated students Hliny, Internet club, student television í-Téčko, Club of railway friends UNIZA, Dormitory radio RAPEŠ and Radio X, Erasmus Student Network (ESN), University Fire Brigade Club UNIZA, OMNIA Choir, STAVBÁR Folklore group, University Pastoral Centre at the University of Žilina.

The Institute of Physical Education offers students sports - teaching the course of physical education (23 sports), in addition to these sports activities, outdoor activities (rafting, cycling, skiing, windsurfing, ...), organizing university competitions, regeneration (sauna). There are several sports facilities - FIT-CLUB HLINY V (Fitness centre, aerobic hall, squash court, multipurpose playground, regeneration complex, gym for martial arts, climbing wall), FITCLUB VEĽKÝ DIEL (Fitness centre, multipurpose hall, ricochet court, gym T18 Veľký Diel, gym Májová ul., tennis courts, football grass field, athletic track). For those interested in performance sports, there are sections of the ACADEMIC UNIZA sports club. The Institute of Physical Education regularly organizes one-day and multi-day rafting sports courses (Soča, Salza, Váh, Hron, Belá), cycling stays connected with tourism, as well as winter ski courses (Low Tatras, Alps).

The university library provides a range of library services (lending services, interlibrary lending services, international lending services, bibliographic information services, information consulting, COPY centre, HandLab, 3D printing, and more).

EDIS publishing house operates on the premises of the university, offering the sale of study literature, promotional items, copying services, printing and binding of final theses, etc.

Students obtain a student card, which entitles them to use several services such as. access system, catering system, external services outside the university (TRANSCARD - especially bus transport), university library, accommodation facility, LDAP account enabling access to information systems.

There are two accommodation facilities available on the university campus, within which SP is provided - Veľký Diel and Hliny, where students find sports, culture, information, and other leisure facilities, associations and clubs, and student organizations organized by or for students.

Catering - students have the opportunity to use the services offered by the canteen, which provides catering in its 7 centres. Meals can be taken using a student card.

News about life at the university and especially the faculty is provided to students of the SP through a special web portal FEIT City.

At the faculty level, there are other possibilities, such as (in case of a favourable epidemiological situation) the FEIT Ball, the FEIT Sports Day, the Christmas Punch with the Dean, etc.

List of student organizations: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/studentsky-zivot/studentske-organizacie

The mission of student organizations operating at the University of Žilina is to bring together students with common interests and try to develop their skills in the field, provide their services to other students, represent UNIZA at various competitions and events, and spread its reputation.

Other possibilities of social, sports, cultural, spiritual, and social activities of a student of SP Process Control: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/studentsky-zivot/volny-cas

https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/studentsky-zivot/studentske-organizacie

At the level of the university, faculty, department, and program Process Control Directive No. 219 – Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad defines processes, procedures, and structures.

At the faculty level, all relevant information is available in a clear structure on the faculty website in the section https://feit.uniza.sk/studenti/mobilita-erasmus-2/

Contact person for the content of the current subpage / Mgr. Silvia Pirníková / +421 41 513 2062 / silvia.pirnikova@feit.uniza.sk

At the faculty level there are coordinators and contact persons:

prof. Ing. Peter Brída, PhD. (Vice-Dean for Foreign Relations), peter.brida@uniza.sk

Mgr. Silvia Pirníková (faculty Erasmus coordinator), silvia.pirnikova@uniza.sk

At the department level there is a coordinator and a contact person: 

prof. Ing. Ales Janota, PhD. (Departmental Erasmus Coordinator), ales.janota@feit.uniza.sk

At the university, faculty level, processes, procedures and structures are defined by Directive No. 206 – Principles and Rules of the Admission Procedure for the Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina

At the faculty level, current information on the offered study programs of the 3rd degree is published:

Ponúkané študijné programy - doktorandské štúdium - Fakulta elektrotechniky a informačných technológií (uniza.sk)

The required skills and prerequisites for admission to study are as follows

1. The basic condition for admission to doctoral studies (third-degree study program) at FEIT UNIZA is the acquisition of a second-level higher education (Zákon o vysokých školách č.131/2002 Z. z. v znení neskorších predpisov) in the same or related study program.
2. In the case of a foreign applicant or student who has completed his / her studies abroad, he / she must submit the application for university study, a decision on recognition of the diploma of secondary education by the relevant institution in the SR or UNIZA will apply for recognition of the diploma.

They are in the document "Principles and rules of admission procedure for studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies for the 3rd degree of study in the academic year 2022/2023" based on Directive No. 206 – Principles and Rules of the Admission Procedure for the Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina.

https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FEIT_Zasady_pravidla_prijatia_2022-2023_PhD-1.pdf

and are part of the doctoral study agenda published on the faculty website: 

https://feit.uniza.sk/studenti/doktorandske-studium/

At the university level, Directive No. 206 – Principles and Rules of the Admission Procedure for the Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina applies: https://akreditacia.uniza.sk/doc/S_206_2021pdf.

At the faculty level, admission procedures and all related facts are described in https://feit.uniza.sk/studenti/doktorandske-studium/.

There are:

1. The official board https://feit.uniza.sk/oznamy-pre-doktorandov/ summarizes the currently valid legislation and conditions of (non) payment of tuition fees
2. Principles and rules of admission procedure for study https://feit.uniza.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FEIT_Zasady_pravidla_prijatia_2022-2023_PhD-1.pdf define:

• method of submitting the application (where, how, corrective procedures, what in case of non-participation / failure, mandatory parts of the application, amount and implementation of payment)
• dates valid in the given academic year
• offered accredited study programs
• link to curricula and information sheets of courses https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/vzdelavanie/plany.php
• conditions of admission: registration on a specific topic; written invitation; personal participation; criteria for assessing the applicant (results of previous studies, language proficiency, previous publishing activities, activities of the applicant (SVOS, stays, internships), prerequisites for independent scientific work based on the discussion on the selected topic); presentation of an identity card for admission conditions for applicants with special needs
• evaluation of the admission procedure (method of informing - web and delivery of a written decision on admission to study within 30 days, informing about enrolment with its course, rights of the applicant in case of non-admission, rules for foreign applicants)
• enrolment and method of its implementation

3. Study guide https://feit.uniza.sk/doktorandske-studium-spvodceca/ available for individual study programs
4. Forms needed within individual study programs https://feit.uniza.sk/doktorandske-studium-temy/
5. Topics of dissertation theses offered with specific study programmes https://feit.uniza.sk/doktorandske-studium-temy/  
6. Working groups and supervisors https://feit.uniza.sk/doktorandske-studium-skolitelia-a-skupiny/
7. Academic calendar for doctoral students https://feit.uniza.sk/akademicky-kalendar-pre-doktorandov-feit/

The application is submitted for a specific study program and the applicant applies for a specific topic of the dissertation, which is published on the faculty's website. In case of interest in more study programs, it is necessary to submit an application for each study program separately with the payment of the relevant fee for the admission procedure.

Applicants fill in the electronic application via the FEIT website (http://feit.uniza.sk/ in the Applicants section) or the UNIZA website https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/prijimacky/index.php.

Submission of a duly completed application within the specified deadline and payment of the fee for the admission procedure within the specified deadline are a condition for inclusion of the applicant in the admission procedure.

Statistics of the admission process over the last period: During the monitored period, no applicants applied (and therefore were not accepted) for the study of SP "Process Control" provided in the English language.

The admission procedure has the character of a motivational interview between the applicant and the admissions committee. The subject is to find out the applicant's ideas about the ways of solving the topic of the dissertation, the assessment of the submitted written materials and the orientational mapping of the selected knowledge of the applicant. Part of the interview takes place in a foreign (English) language. The result is the determination of the order of applicants, then submitted to the dean of the faculty together with the idea of the workplace about the intended number of admissions. Several factors affect the number of applicants:

• Number of graduates in the final year of the engineering study program Process Control
• Interest of graduates from related fields from other universities and other faculties
• Interest of engineering graduates versus "irresistibility" in job offers coming from industry

Procedures for monitoring and evaluating students' views on the quality of the study program

The process of monitoring and periodic evaluation of study programs takes place at UNIZA at three levels:

1. at the level of the Study Programme Board
2. at the level of UNIZA faculties and institutes;
3. at the level of the UNIZA Accreditation Board.

The processes, procedures and structures for collecting, processing, analysing and evaluating information, including feedback from students and evaluating their views on the quality of the environment, are outlined in Directive No. 218 – On the Collection, Processing, Analysis and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes. Information collected on the study program in accordance with Directive no. 218 are evaluated annually by UNIZA and faculty management, academic authorities (UNIZA and FEIT academic senates), the Scientific Council (UNIZA and FEIT) and the academic community. In accordance with the new VSK UNIZA, competencies and responsibilities for the implementation, development and quality assurance of the SP Process Control (guarantor, co-guarantors, SP Board, Accreditation Board) are defined in Directive No. 214 – Structures of the Internal Quality Assurance System for the Creation, Modification, Approval, and Cancellation of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina. All listed entities have a direct relationship to continuous monitoring and periodic evaluation of Process Control SP based on available information.

Specific procedures for monitoring and ongoing evaluation of the environment are regulated by Directive No. 223 – Monitoring and Periodic Review of the Study Programmes. Directive no. 216 - Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at UNIZA applies.

At the faculty level:

A) Feedback from students is obtained through long-term evaluation of courses within the e-learning information system, which is accessible to students at the end of the semester and during the examination period. Students have at their disposal 2 versions of the evaluation survey - an extended and an short version. However, only the short version, the structure of which is indicated below, is feasible (given the students' willingness to fill in some surveys).

A2. SURVEY STRUCTURE (brief description) is given below:

COURSE XYZ (evaluation - short version)

Number of enrolled students per course: ... Number of enrolled answers: ...

Note: individual questions include evaluation (scale 1 to 5 or yes / no) and the number of evaluators

COURSE:

1. Did the course bring you new and wider knowledge and skills necessary for further study and possible practical use? (not at all - reasonably significant)
2. Is the number of credits assigned for completing the course a reasonable assessment for the work during the semester and preparation for the exam? (too low - reasonable - too high)
3. Do you consider the scope of the course to be adequate for its content and importance? (too low - reasonable - too high)
4. What is the level of materials for the course?
5. Teaching and laboratory aids (complete deficiency - partially satisfactory - fully sufficient)
6. Study literature and other information sources (complete deficiency - partially satisfactory - fully sufficient)
7. Do you consider the conditions for obtaining the final test to be: (too low - reasonable - too demanding) - [note. - the term final test as such has been abolished, nowadays meaning all semester duties]
8. Do you consider the requirements for passing the course exam to be: (too low - reasonable - excessively high)
9. Has the teacher mastered the course professionally and pedagogically?
10. lectures: (not at all - satisfactory - excellent)
11. Exercises 2 - seminars: (not at all - satisfactory - excellent)
12. Exercise 3 – laboratory exercises: (not at all - satisfactory - excellent)
13. How do you evaluate the mutual communication between the teacher and the students?
14. Has the teacher enriched the educational process with the latest knowledge from practice, science, and research? (not at all - sometimes - often)

B) Throughout the year, students (or anyone) have at their disposal an anonymous electronic "black box", where the dean of the faculty can be contacted directly: https://odkaz.feit.uniza.sk/. There are 2 components available that interact with the faculty management:

• CURRENT SUGGESTIONS: a general overview of submitted complaints is available (topic, date, status of the solution)
• WRITE TO THE Dean: a form for submitting your initiative (optional form - anonymous or addressed

At the level of the department / SP / course:

Due to the transition of part of the teaching due to the Covid-19 pandemic online in acad. years 2020/21 and 2021/22, at the end of the winter semester 2021/22, the possibility of immediate evaluation of courses (either the course as a whole at the end of the semester or directly individual lessons) was established for students in the form of a simple anonymous questionnaire in the MS Teams environment. The pilot project was first tested for bachelor and master’s degree, with evaluation at the faculty level in March 2022. In the future, this opens up the possibility of a simple and effective assessment tool for PhD. the study. The general form of the survey was made available to teachers from the faculty level, which they can duplicate and apply to a specific course / specific form of teaching, as follows:

Evaluation of the course XYZ (Sample) Microsoft Forms (office.com)

Dear students, I would like to ask you to express your opinion (feedback) on the quality of teaching during the semester. The answers are anonymous. Thank you in advance for your opinion.

Required

1. How satisfied were you with the content and implementation of teaching during the semester? [Answer as a 5-star scale]
2. How satisfied were you with the performance of the teacher? [Answer as a 5-star scale]
3. What did you dislike and what should be changed? [Free text answer]

"Submit" button

The answers of students and their evaluation are anonymous and in addition to their presentation to the teacher, the results are processed and evaluated at the faculty level.

In the monitored period, there was zero number of students studying Process Control in the English language. However, feedback from students studying in the Slovak language was incorporated into the content of the SP - see below:

Supervisors at the SP Process Control have so far held informal discussions with doctoral students to obtain feedback. At the time of preparation of the annual evaluation of doctoral students, the guarantor of the study program talks individually to each doctoral student to obtain targeted feedback on study plans, individual courses, teachers of these courses, and other observations related to study organization and other activities while maintaining the anonymity of presented opinions, observations, recommendations, critical statements, etc. Directive no. 223 is effective from 25.11.2021 and so far not all monitoring and evaluation processes have taken place in terms of defined time frames.

The following recommendations / conclusions emerged from the meetings and evaluations of feedback from doctoral students at the Process Control SP so far:

1. To continue teaching and evaluation of compulsory optional courses on a project basis - but ensure a closer and more targeted follow-up to the focus of the dissertation.
2. To pay more attention to a uniform and formally understood explanation of the basic principles of scientific work (so far solved individually by individual supervisors)

Measures taken in the process Control SP within its harmonization with the internal quality system:

ad 1) Comment analysis:

The course of study so far assumed that, in addition to the world language, the doctoral student in the 1st year completed 3 other (professional) courses, specified in his / her individual study plan. He chose these three courses from the offer of 9 professional courses (Safety-related system communication, Logical and event systems, Modelling and simulation of systems, Process control, Control systems, Reliability and safety of control systems, Theory of automatic control, Theory of signal processing in control engineering, Selected chapters from mathematics), while for each selected course, project elaboration of at least 4 topics was recommended. Project preparation (application of selected course topics to a given dissertation) proved successful, but this approach made it impossible to provide several topics from several courses if the focus of the dissertation required it.

Measure: The content and number of courses offered were fundamentally rearranged in the processed proposal in order to facilitate an easier and more efficient composition of topics related to the dissertation - a compulsory course (Process control and automation), contains the topics most often required within the dissertation theses (systems, architectures, management, modeling, simulation, application areas, selected states from mathematics), and a compulsory-optional subject, chosen from the offer of 3 courses (Intelligent control systems, Risk analysis and safety/security of controlled processes, Robotic autonomous systems), thematically summarizing three substantially wider profiling basic areas.

ad 2)

Measure: In order to unify and formalize students' approach to the principles and principles of scientific work, a new course Basic Research Work was included in the composition of compulsory courses within the proposal for harmonization of the SP Process Control. The same course (with modified content or the same content) was included in all third-degree study programs at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, and all doctoral students of the faculty gained a uniform basis for their scientific research activities.

Note: In accordance with the newly introduced IQS UNIZA and its individual guidelines, continuous collection and processing of information about the study program will be carried out by students at the end of the semester, once a year from employers and teachers. The results of the feedback and related measures to increase the quality of the environment will be the course of the activities of individual VSK authorities and the evaluation processes performed will be recorded in the information system https://akreditacia.uniza.sk.

No PhD. graduates were reported in the monitored period.

Note:

The guarantor and supervisors in the SP Process Control have so far held informal discussions with graduates of doctoral studies provided in the Slovak language on various occasions to obtain feedback. Directive no. 223 is effective from 25.11.2021 and so far not all monitoring and evaluation processes have taken place in terms of defined time frames.

No recommendations/conclusions emerged from the discussions with the graduates of the doctoral studies in the SP Process Control.  

UNIZA guidelines related to the internal quality assurance system (IQS) at UNIZA: 

Directive no. 226 - On Copyright Ethics and the Elimination of Plagiarism in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 225 - Statute of the UNIZA Counseling and Career Center

Directive no. 223 -  Monitoring and Periodic Review of the Study Programmes 

Directive no. 222 – Internal Quality Assurance System at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 221 - Cooperation of the University of Žilina in Žilina with External Partners from Practice

Directive no. 220 - Evaluation of the Creative Activity of Employees in Relation to Quality Assurance of Education at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 219 - Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad

Directive no. 218 - On the Collection, Processing, Analysis and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes 

Directive no. 217 - Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 216 – Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina 

Directive no. 215 - On Final, Rigorous and Habilitation Theses in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 214 – Structures of the Internal Quality Assurance System for the Creation, Modification, Approval and Cancellation of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 213 – Quality Assurance Policies at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 212 - Rules for the Definition of the Workload of Creative Employees of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 211 – Procedure for Obtaining the Scientific-Pedagogical Titles and Artistic-Pedagogical Titles Associate Professor and Professor at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 210 – Statute of the Accreditation Board of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 209 - Study Regulations for 1st and 2nd level of university studies at UNIZA

Directive no. 208 – Rules for the Acquisition of Rights, Harmonization of Rights, Regulation and Cancellation of Rights to Habilitation and Inauguration Proceedings at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 207 – Code of Ethics of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 206 - Principles and rules of the admission procedure to study at UNIZA

Directive no. 205 - Rules for Assigning Teachers to the Provision of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 204 - Rules for the Creation, Modification, Approval and Cancellation of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 203 - Rules for the Creation of Recommended Study Plans for UNIZA Study Programmes

Directive no. 202 – Criteria for Filling the Positions of Professors and Associate Professors and the Principles for Filling the Positions of Visiting Professors

Directive no. 201 - Disciplinary code for UNIZA students

Directive no. 200 – Principles of the Selection Procedure for the Employment of University Teachers, Researchers, Positions of Professors and Associate Professors

Directive no. 198 – Support for Applicants for Study and Students with Specific Needs at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 197 - Creation, commenting, approval and publication of VP UNIZA

Directive no. 189 - Rules for allocating accommodation and price discounts for study members. organizations in UZ UNIZA

Directive no. 180 - Grant system of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 178 - Principles of conducting a rigorous examination and defending a rigorous thesis at VÚVB UNIZA

Directive no. 167 - Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Committees of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 159 - Staff Regulations

Directive no. 152 - Principles of Publishing Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 149 - Organizational Rules

Directive no. 133 - On the management of intellectual property under UNIZA

Directive no. 132 - On Free Access to Information

Directive no. 118 - Regulations for DPŠ at UNIZA

Directive no. 114 - Principles of property management

Directive no. 110 – Study Regulations for the Third Degree of the University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina

Directive no. 106 - Statute of the University of Žilina in Žilina