The students of the Study Programme (SP) Automated Production Systems have the possibility to choose from two main specialisations – two directions of their personality development as a scientific and research worker (in compliance with the map of prerequisites, point 4; and the standards of the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education that emphasise the possibility to select their specialisation), namely: Specialist for Automation of Mechanical Engineering Production and Specialist for Chip Machining Methods, Progressive Technologies and Bearing Production. 

The graduates of the third degree of the university education of the SP Automated Production Systems will acquire knowledge and skills necessary for research and development of the automation of the mechanical engineering production.  They will achieve theoretical knowledge of the technological processes and possibilities of their implementation in the machinery enterprises taking into account the qualitative, technical and economic as well as ecological aspects. The graduates are able to work independently in the scientific area; they are prepared to develop and deepen their knowledge in specialisation in a creative way and to solve the most demanding tasks of the technical practice.

The part-time form of doctoral study serves primarily to increase qualifications and also to acquire knowledge at the highest level of knowledge for practitioners.

The SP Automated Production Systems prepares the graduates especially for the positions of:

• the employees of the research and development departments of the manufacturing enterprises,
• the experts in the top management positions, management of the manufacturing departments with a sophisticated production technology,
• the experts for the public and private research institutions, e.g. at the institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and at technical universities,
• other areas – e.g. experts of the consultancy companies and organizations requiring the technical education of the third degree.

EDUCATION GOALS

The main goal of the PhD education of the SP Automated Production Systems is a graduate in the form of a complexly developed, creative and independent personality of a scientific and research employee for the mechanical engineering area oriented on the automation of the mechanical engineering production possessing the following portfolio:

• the acquired key theoretical and professions knowledge in the area if the automation of the mechanical engineering production and the chip machining methods of producing components (by gradual acquisition of the knowledge  about the theories and methodology of developing complicated mechatronic systems, about the theory  of the computer integrated production, the scientific approaches, the models and methodologies for assessing, modelling, simulating and intensifying the cutting process  and technical means),
• the mutually connected skills necessary for the scientific and research activity in the area of the automation of the mechanical engineering production and technologies used in the mechanical engineering areas (operating complicated measurement appliances and sensoric systems, experimental activities, etc.),
• together with the acquired transferable competences and social and communication skills (the capability to lead a national or international team of experts, to present  the research results, etc.) to find solution of particular technical problems in their practice oriented on the scientific and research activities.

The partial objectives of this process are as follows:

• achieving the highest level of knowledge and implementing the acquired knowledge in the area of Advanced Industrial Engineering to the ability to realise the research and development in a complex way and to solve the problems of practice in the context of the synergy effects,
• preparing the graduates for activities in the areas of the theoretical and applied research and university education,
• interconnecting the knowledge in the area of Industrial Engineering with the knowledge from other basic specialisation areas.

These educational goals are achieved through suitable methods of education and through realising measurable educational outputs in individual subjects of the SP (the methods as well as the measurable outputs are presented in the information sheets of individual subjects) and in the framework of the whole SP and correspond with the level of the ESG Qualification Framework.

EDUCATIONAL OUTPUTS:

The graduate of the PhD SP Automated Production Systems will acquire the following knowledge, skills and competences:

1. KNOWLEDGE – the graduate:

• understands the essence of the scientific and research activities in specialisation, is able to formulate the scientific hypothesis and to verify it too; can use the exact methods (both stochastic and determinist) and the methods of the theoretical and empiric research aiming at the machinery area and the automated production systems (see e.g. the subjects Methodology of Scientific Work; Scientific Work 1 – 4; Dissertation Project 1 – 4);
• knows the highest level of development and knowledge in the area of the automation of mechanical engineering production that serves as a basis for innovations and originality in practice or in research; for designing the research and development or development of the professional practice (e.g. the subjects Theory and technology of Production Systems, Non-Conventional Robotic Systems, Optimisation Approaches in Programming CNC Production Technique, Innovations in Technological Processes, Mechatronic Approach for Development of Machines and Equipment);   
• knows the specifics of the academic language from the vocabulary, grammar, reading the technical text, listening, speaking to professional writing both in Slovak and English (Scientific Work 1 – 4; Dissertation Project 1 – 4; English for PhD Students 1 and 2);
• has theoretical knowledge about the processes/activities of the cutting process, about the thermal stress states inside of the material and on the surface after machining. He/she is able to utilise this knowledge during deigning the parameters of the production technologies with the goal to achieve a qualitatively new result ( the subjects Technological Design in Production Processes, Experimental Verification of Production Processes, Technological Level and Product Quality, Computer Simulation of Production Processes in Mechanical Engineering, Theory and Technology of Production Systems);
• has practical experience with implementing the latest experimental and diagnostic methods for studying and assessing the materials (the subjects Experimental Verification of Production Processes, Transfer of Theoretical and Application Disciplines, Advanced Methods of Measurement and Diagnostics on Mechanical Engineering Production);
• has the ability of an independent analysis and synthesis of the knowledge and experimentally acquired results (the subjects Experimental Verification of Production Processes, Dissertation Project 1 – 4);
• is able to think, assess and evaluate the relevant technologies independently in regard to sustainable development (Scientific Work 1 – 4; Dissertation Project 1 – 4; Dissertation Exam and Dissertation Thesis).

1. SKILLS – the graduate:

• based on the thorough analysis of the input requirements is able to design, innovate, develop and optimise automated manufacturing and assembly systems in a complex way, to design and implement  advanced automation and mechatronic elements in the mechanical engineering production with the goal to make the processes more effective, to remove the human factor and to manage the production and assembly equipment automatically (the subjects Methodology of Scientific Work, Mechatronic Approach for Development of Machines and Equipment, Optimisation Approaches in Programming CNC Production Technique,  Scientific Work 1 – 4, Dissertation Exam and Dissertation Thesis),
• is able to design, programme, simulate and manage complicated production systems with industrial robots, CNC manufacturing technique, intelligent sensoric and control systems and through scientific approaches and methods to intensify their utility properties (the subjects Methodology of Scientific Work, Mechatronic Approach for Development of Machines and Equipment, Optimisation Approaches in Programming CNC Production Technique, Scientific Work 1 – 4, Dissertation Exam and Dissertation Thesis),
• is able to design, verify and implement new research and experimental procedures, to design his/her own solutions of the complicated scientific and research tasks, to verify their results and design corrections of experimental programmes,
• is able to analyse the scientific literature independently and to deduce own critical conclusions from the acquired data the subjects (Methodology of Scientific Work, Scientific Work 1 – 4, Dissertation Exam and Dissertation Thesis),
• is able to implement effectively the complex portfolio of the systems of computer support (CAx systems), tools of the concept Industry 4.0, the methods and means of the artificial intelligence and internet of things (IoT) for optimising the pre-production, production and after-production processes across the whole manufacturing enterprise (the subjects Methodology of Scientific Work, Mechatronic Approach for Development of Machines and Equipment, Optimisation Approaches in Programming CNC Production Technique, Scientific Work 1 – 4, Dissertation Exam and Dissertation Thesis),
• is able to utilise the modern measurement, experimental and diagnostic means for a complex assessment of the quality of the manufacturing machines and robots; to identify and differentiate individual errors of the integrity of the components’ surface after machining; to orient in the basic quality legislation according to the ISO standards; to implement the statistical methods and the methods of the geometrical specification for ensuring the product quality (the subjects Experimental Verification of Production Processes, Transfer of Theoretical and Application Disciplines, Advanced Methods of Measurement and Diagnostics on Mechanical Engineering Production);
• is able to create documents, process and analyse the data, to use the technical documentation, to utilise the software support for communication, analysis and processing data and creation of documents or simulation (the subjects Scientific Work 1 – 4, Dissertation Project 1 – 4);
• is able to analyse, optimise and intensify the cutting process, to create technological procedures for the area of chip machining; to implement the chip and progressive manufacturing technologies using the modern production means for the bearing production, the general mechanical engineering production or production of components from the difficult-to-machine materials (the subject Innovations in Technological Processes);
• is able to prepare, process, analyse, visualise and assess the process data using the selected tools , devices, mathematical aids and to process them by PC and software tools (the subjects Optimisation Approaches in Programming CNC Production Technique, Scientific Work 1 – 4, Dissertation Project 1 – 4);
• is able to assess the areas of safety, economics, energy effectiveness and ecology (the subject Innovations in Technological Processes);
• is able to cooperate with the manufacturing and technical departments (the subject Technological Design in Production Processes).

1. COMPETENCES – the individual key competences (capabilities) are mutually interconnected. They are acquired as a product of the overall educational process and self-education, e. a complete educational programme and other developing activities that belong to the SP framework. There is a set of the hard and especially the soft/transferable competences, e.g.:

• the work with information – the ability to search for, select and process information from various information sources and to implement it for solving complex problems in practice; the ability to gain new knowledge and information actively; to integrate and utilise it for the development of the mechanical engineering specialisation aiming at the automated production systems; to solve the theoretical and practical tasks in the area of designing and realising the automated production and assembly systems in a creative way;
• the ability to analyse, identify and solve the problems in the area of automating the mechanical engineering production;
• the ability to solve the professional tasks, projects, partial and specific tasks regarding to the professional orientation independently and creatively;
• the ability to plan own education, to organise activities and gain new knowledge independently (selection of the SP and stays during study);
• the ability to define and maintain the time schedule of the project solution effectively (to implement modern approaches to planning the working hours) with the goal to minimise the costs and eliminate the project risks (presentations and semester works solved in individual subjects);
• the ability of adaptability and flexibility of the way of thinking;
• the ability to think in the analytical and practical way (presentations and semester works solved in individual subjects);
• is prepared to work in a team effectively, to cooperate with and motivate people, the ability to coordinate the procedures in the teams, to lead the projects individually and take responsibility for a complex solution on the basis of the acquired deep knowledge in the area of general mechanical engineering, to work effectively in the teams and manage the local and international teams of experts during multidisciplinary solutions of the complex technical problems (presentations and semester works solved in individual subjects);
• the presentation skills – he/she is able to present, enforce and defend the outputs of the individual and also the team creative activity and to subordinate the solution to constructive criticism, to present own standpoints and technical solutions for various audiences at different levels of management and also in a foreign language in a professional way
• the language and informatics competences – he/she is able to utilise both the print and electronic resources in the Slovak and also a foreign language (mainly in English or German) and to communicate with the experts abroad;
• the ability to identify with the principles of the academic ethics and integrity or protection of the intellectual ownership (information in the framework of all subjects, especially in the subject Dissertation Project).

The basic documents of the SP Automated Production Systems are also available at the Faculty web site (see also point 11): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=263

The basic documents of the SP Automated Production Systems are also available at the Department web site (see also point 11): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia

From the occupational point of view the graduate of the SP Automated Production Systems (the third degree – PhD)  is prepared for the following jobs (see the qualification framework):

• Mechanical engineering specialist of automation (C2144004-00781) https://www.kvalifikacie.sk/karta-kvalifikacie/781
• Mechanical engineering specialist – process engineer (C2144002-00803) https://www.kvalifikacie.sk/karta-kvalifikacie/803
• Mechanical engineering specialist  - designer, project manager (C2144003-00804) https://www.kvalifikacie.sk/karta-kvalifikacie/804
• Mechanical engineering employee in machinery production (C1321012-00819) https://www.kvalifikacie.sk/karta-kvalifikacie/819
• Mechanical engineering specialist  - production control (C2144007-00821) https://www.kvalifikacie.sk/karta-kvalifikacie/821
• Specialist of quality management system https://www.sustavapovolani.sk/karta_zamestnania-5552
• Mechanical engineering specialist  - research and development (U2144001-00802) https://www.kvalifikacie.sk/karta-kvalifikacie/802

According to the statistical classification of occupations – SK ISCO-08_2020: Štatistická klasifikácia zamestnaní (https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/prilohy/SK/ZZ/2020/449/20210101_5289809-2.pdf) the following occupations were identified for the graduates of the SP Automated Production Systems (based on the internal specialisation of the graduate):

• the manager inn the area of research and development  (1223),
• the leading employee of a research institution  (1223001),
• the manager of research, development and technical development in production (1223002),
• the manager of mechanical engineering production (1321012),
• the specialist in the area of the science, research and innovation development (2422016),
• the university teacher (2310).

The portal – profesia (occupation) – The potential of the SP from the point of view of finding a job of the graduates (vacancies at the portal  https://profesia.sk  available for 03/2022, required education – 3rd degree of university study):

• the automation engineer,
• the production manager,
• the automotive programme manager,
• the consultant for innovations, research and development,
• the research and development employee ,
• the process engineer,
• the simulation engineer,
• the development engineer for mechatronic systems,
• the project manager.

The graduates of the PhD SP Automated Production Systems (3rd degree) are prepared to continue their gradational growth at the UNIZA or at other Slovak universities and the universities abroad. They are well prepared for their scientific and pedagogical activities in the study programme APS or similar SPs.

The study programme does not prepare for occupations requiring the standpoint concerning the compliance of the acquired qualification with the sector-specific requirements for the occupation.

The spectrum and depth of the knowledge and skills (in the area of machining, metrology, automation of the mechanical engineering production, robotics, designing the manufacturing and assembly workplaces, integrations of computer controlled machines and equipment including the modern directions – e.g. the implementation of the artificial intelligence methods and the Industry 4.0 concept, as well as the active teaching methods with practical presentations and lab tasks and independent works (with an emphasis on making individual decisions and defence  of the acquired results) ensure the assumptions for a fast adaptability of the graduate in practice and his/her successful employment in the industrial branches oriented especially on the mechanical engineering production and its automation with the possibility of finding a job in the area of science and research. The result is a demanded graduate with prospects to find employment on the global labour market in occupations requiring scientific education of the graduates.

The graduate of the third degree of the university study of the SP Automated Production Systems acquires knowledge and skills necessary for research and development of the automation of the mechanical engineering production. He/she will acquire theoretical knowledge of the technological processes and possibilities of their implementation in the machinery enterprises taking into account the qualitative, technical and economic and ecological aspects. He/she is ready to solve the most demanding tasks of the technical practice.

The graduates of the PhD SP Automated Production Systems find their employment especially in:

• the research and development departments of the manufacturing enterprises,
• the top management positions and in managing the production departments with a sophisticated production technology,
• the institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences,
• the technical universities as a scientific and research and pedagogical employee (lecturer) prepared for a further gradation growth in the framework of the habilitation and inauguration proceedings or taking the position  in the framework of the organisational structure of the department , faculty or university.

He/she can also find employment in the consultancy companies and organisations requiring the technical education of a higher degree. The graduate is able to realise independent scientific activities, he/she is prepared to develop and deepen the knowledge of the specialisation.

The graduate of the SP Automated Production Systems (3^rd degree – PhD):

• utilises a critical, independent and analytical way of thinking for assessing the theories, concept and innovations,
• is able to create and formulate new hypotheses, judgements and strategies for the further development of the area of science,
• is able to implement own findings resulting from the theoretical analysis and own scientific investigation of a complex and interdisciplinary character,
• is able to design, verify and implement new research and working procedures and to present the research and development results for a community of experts.

The graduate of the SP Automated Production Systems (3^rd degree – PhD) is able:

• to work effectively as an individual, a team member or a team leader,
• to plan his/her development and the development of the company in the context of the scientific and technical progress,
• to take into account the social, scientific and ethical aspects for direction of his/her own scientific investigation,
• to take over responsibility for leadership in the given field of science.

The graduates of the SP Automated Production Systems (3^rd degree – PhD) find employment also with regard to their specialisation on the following areas:

• as the scientific and research specialists in the area of designing the automated manufacturing and assembly systems and automation of the mechanical engineering production with an emphasis on the chip machining technologies.
• As engineers and specialists in the area of mechanical engineering production oriented on the chip machining technologies.

Due to the acquired knowledge and skills not only of the professional/specialised character but also due to a certain portfolio of the transferable competences, our graduates are able to find jobs also in associated areas of economy or as businesspeople.

The employment rate of the graduate of the SP Automated Production Systems is available also at the Faculty web site:

 https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=263   

The employment rate of the graduate of the SP Automated Production Systems (APS / 3rd degree - PhD.) in practice is 100 % (source: Schedule of funds from the state budget for the public universities for 2021 -  (www.minedu.sk – https://www.minedu.sk/rozpis-dotacii-zo-statneho-rozpoctu-verejnym-vysokym-skolam-na-rok-2021 / table No.2. employment rate of graduates, SP Automated Production Systems). or: Schedule of funds from the state budget for the public universities for 2020 (www.minedu.sk – https://www.minedu.sk/rozpis-dotacii-zo-statneho-rozpoctu-verejnym-vysokym-skolam-na-rok-2020/).

According to the portal UplatnenieSk (https://uplatnenie.sk) for the SP Automated Production Systems (APS / 3rd degree - PhD.) there is no available data due to the low number of graduates: (during the given years the study was completed by 1 or 0 graduates). The questionnaire form is available at: https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia

The results of the questionnaire research realised in 2022 with the PhD study graduates showed that 75 % of the graduates worked directly in a branch connected with the SP and 25 % in an area partially connected with the completed SP.

The best results of graduates of the study program Automated Production Systems:

Graduates working in practice (science and research, leadership and management positions, others):

• Eberth Rolf Manfred, Ing., PhD. – research and development in the field of audio systems of luxury cars, acoustic damping, development of control electronics and mechatronic equipment of car interior parts; AUDI AG, I/EE-734, Ingolstadt, Germany (Researcher - Entwicklung Sound / Acoustics)

Graduates working at the university:

• Vladimir Tlach, Ing., PhD. - a researcher professionally oriented to the field of robotics, precision analysis of robotic devices, safety of robotic systems and the application of advanced systems in robotics, simulation of robotic systems; Žilina University in Žilina, Žilina (professional assistant at the Department of Automation and Production Systems)

Note: Data are obtained from publicly available sources within the portal Linked.in (https://www.linkedin.com), facebook (www.facebook.com), ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/) , personal communication

The employers' statement was made through an online questionnaire.

Feedback from employers in order to increase the quality of the study program is carried out through an online questionnaire, which is published on the website of the AVS Department - Quality Assessment of the AVS Study Program (Level III - PhD.) by employers: https://forms.office.com/r/yR6XezRqW7

Results - Evaluation of the quality of the study program by employers are given in the following link: https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia

Statement of authorities from practice

Feedback from the external environment / from employers is also listed on the faculty's website: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/akreditacia/spatna-vazba/externe-prostredie

In total, 4 authorities from practice commented on the Automated Production Systems study program itself:

• VIPO a.s., Gen. Svobodu 1069/4, 95801 Partizánske, Slovak Republic - statement on the harmonization of the SP AVS as the primary authority from practice (the statement is part of the accreditation file),
• Tauricon, s.r.o., Trenčianska 1279, 020 01 Púchov, Slovak Republic - statement on the harmonization of the AVS SP as the primary authority from practice (the statement is part of the accreditation file),
• the company Schaeffler Kysuce, Ltd., Dr. G. Schaefflera Road 1, 02401 Kysucké Nové Mesto, Slovak Republic
• The Association of the Engineering Industry of the Slovak Republic, Ventúrska 10, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

From this, companies are directly commenting on the harmonization process VIPO, a.s. and Tauricon, s.r.o.

In addition to the above-mentioned evaluation of feedback from employers, Schaeffler Kysuce, spol. s r.o., Kysucké Nové Mesto and Association of Engineering Industry of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava:

• http://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/akreditacia/Vyjadrenie-zamestnavatela-PhD.jpg
• http://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/akreditacia/ZSP_PhD_Autorita_ilina.pdf

As an example, the statements of the last 2 authorities from practice are given.

The description of the study programme Automated Production Systems was prepared as part of the proposal to harmonize the existing accredited study programme with the standards of SAAVS and the standards of the Internal Quality Assurance System at the University of Žilina (hereinafter "IQAS UNIZA" or "VSK UNIZA" in Slovak). It is therefore not a proposal for a new study programme. During the harmonization of the study programme Automated Production Systems, all formalized processes of the quality assurance system of higher education at UNIZA, all procedures in individual processes, as well as the responsibility of individual structures were respected.

The study programme was prepared and submitted in full compliance with the formalized processes of IQAS UNIZA - Directive No. 222, which was discussed by the UNIZA Academic Senate on 4.10.2021, approved by the UNIZA Scientific Board on 14.10.2021 and effective from 14.10.2021, Art. 16, point 4, point 5 and point 9. Therefore, in accordance with UNIZA Directive No. 204 is subject to the rules for harmonization of the study programme with the SAAVS standards for the study programme (part 4) - Art. 10 and Article 11.

Throughout the process, the persons assessing and approving the study program (Authority from Practice, the Scientific Board of the FME and the UNIZA Accreditation Board) are different from the persons preparing the draft study program for harmonization. The nomination of members for individual structures is recorded in the minutes of the meetings of the Dean's Advisory Board and the individual members were appointed by the Dean. The composition of individual structures is known and accessible to: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/akreditacia/studijne-programy/phd

At the university level, it defines policies, structures and processes related to a comprehensive internal quality assurance system, with regard to the fulfillment of UNIZA's mission and intentions and the achievement of IQAS UNIZA's compliance with SAAVS standards and UNIZA Directive No. 222 as follows:

• Directive No. 222 - Internal Quality Assurance System at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-222-en.pdf
• Policies: Directive No. 222, Art.7
• Structures: Directive No. 222, Art.10; Directive No. 210 Statute of the UNIZA Accreditation Board; UNIZA Directive No. 214 Internal quality system structures
• Processes: Directive No. 222, Art.16

In addition to the above-mentioned Directive No. 222 additional procedures related to the design of a new study program or the proposed modification of a study program are defined by the following directives:

• Directive No. 203 - Rules for the Creation of Recommended Study Plans for UNIZA Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-203-en.pdf 
• Directive No. 204 - Rules for the Creation, Modification, Approval and Cancellation of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-204-en.pdf  
• Directive No. 205 - Rules for Assigning Teachers to the Provision of Study Programmes at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-205-en.pdf  
• Directive No. 212 - Rules for the Definition of the Workload of Creative Employees of the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-212-en.pdf 
• Directive No. 217 - Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-217-en.pdf 
• Directive No. 218 - On the Collection, Processing, Analysis and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-218-en.pdf 
• Directive No. 220 - Evaluation of the Creative Activity of Employees in Relation to Quality Assurance of Education at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-220-en.pdf 
• Directive No. 221 - Cooperation of the University of Žilina in Žilina with External Partners from Practice: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-221-en.pdf 

The study programme takes into account the mission, but also the strategic goals set in the The Long-Term Plan of the University of Žilina in Žilina for 2021 – 2027 (p. 5, p. 12, https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/Profile-UNIZA-EN/Dlhodoby-zamer-UNIZA-2021-2027-EN.pdf), and the Long-term Plan of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for 2021-2027: (https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/akreditacia/DZ_SjF_UNIZA_2021_2027ex1eng.pdf) in the field of science and research, and especially in areas of education. In designing it, other strategic goals were also respected, such as quality assurance, international cooperation, innovation and technology transfer, university social responsibility, human resources, information systems, administration and development of the university's infrastructure, and economic efficiency. Among other things, these documents state that "The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina is an educational institution with the aim of providing and developing higher education and research in the field of Mechanical Engineering reflecting the needs of society in synergy with the latest trends in scientific knowledge integrating of Industry 4.0 concept“, pp. 5, 6) which directly corresponds to the profile, structure and content of the SP Automated production systems.

Study program Automated production systems in the context of education of doctoral students at world research universities:

The study programme was created or innovated respectively in the intentions of the development trends of such focused study programmes in Europe and in the world. The most important foreign universities offering studies focused on automation of mechanical engineering (and related specializations - automation and control, automated manufacturing, automation and robotics, etc.) include: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, USA (Automation and Control engineering); University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, USA; Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai (PRC); Beihang University, Beijing (PRC); California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA); Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo (JPN); Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh (USA); Aalborg University, Aalborg (DNK); Delft University of Technology, Delft (NLD); University of Sheffield, Sheffield (UK); Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim (NOR); McGill University, Quebec (CAN); Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne (CHE); Polytechnic University of Milan, Milan (ITA); University of Bologna, Italy (ITA); University of Genoa, Genoa (ITA); Kyoto University, Kyoto (JPN); Indian Institute of Science, Karnataka (IND); University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart (DEU); Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (ISR); University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Porto (PRT); Technische Universität Wien, Vienna (AUT); CTU, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Prague (CZE); Brno University of Technology, Brno (CZE); Akademia Techniczno-Humanistyczna, Wydział Budowy Maszyn i Informatyki, Bielsko-Biała (POL); Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (SVK); Technical University of Košice, Košice (SVK);

A complete list of foreign universities with a study focused on automated production systems (automation and control, automation and robotics, etc.) is available at: https://edurank.org/engineering/automation/.

From this point of view, emphasis was also placed on the fact that students during their studies on this study program could complete part of their studies abroad (eg within the ERASMUS +, NŠP, CEEPUS, etc.), in which the departments that provide the study program and SjF UNIZA rich experience and use a wide network of partner universities.

Detailed information about student mobility, about projects and grants obtained for the development of the study programme, etc. is available at: (tab. Doctoral study): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia 

Study programme Automated Production Systems in the context of practice needs:

The doctoral study programme Automated Production Systems was simultaneously created in accordance with the needs of practice and therefore one of the main aspects in the design of profile subjects was the aspect of the applicability of knowledge and competencies in real practice. In terms of objectives (Long-term plan of FME UNIZA), the study programme Automated Production Systems and its study plan were designed to support the independence, autonomy and responsibility of students for their education, while respecting the diversity of students and their needs.

At the same time, doctoral students are actively involved in solving the tasks of science and research at the university (especially within the faculty and departments providing the study programme Automated Production Systems). The list of research and grant tasks for the last 6 years in which doctoral students of the SP Automated Production Systems participated is available at (tab. Doctoral study): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia

The responsible workplaces carry out longstanding research activities in the field of the study program at the national and international levels. From the point of view of the transformation of outputs into both the pedagogical and scientific-research area, it is possible to mention in particular the cooperating workplaces, such as ATH Bielsko-Biala (PL), TU Lublin (PL), PUT Poznan (PL), UJEP Ustí nad Labem (CZ), CTU Prague (CZ), VŠB Ostrava (CZ), VUT Brno (CZ), HTW Mittweida (DE ), UBB Cluj-Napoca (RO), NU Baia Mare (RO), CTU Prague, J.J. Strossmayer University in Osijek (HR), STU Bratislava (Trnava), TU Košice, etc.

Within the cooperation, exchange internships of employees, students and doctoral students are carried out, joint book publications, scientific and professional articles are published, international projects are implemented and projects are prepared, projects within the framework of bilateral scientific-research cooperation are solved. Together with ATH Bielsko-Biala (PL), TU Lublin (PL), PUT Poznan (PL), UJEP Ustí nad Labem (Czech Republic), UBB Cluj-Napoca (RO), NU Baia Mare (RO), and other universities until 2016, the international scientific conference Automation in Production Planning and Manufacturing is regularly organized.

The following departments are the scientific centre of the basic and applied research and international scientific cooperation for the submitted SP Automated Production Systems:

• Department of Automation and Production Systems (DAPS): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/en/
• Department of Machining and Production Technologies (DMPT): https://kovt.uniza.sk/index.php?lang=en&view=home

Both achieved a lot of significant successes during their activities in the area of research. The DAPS aims in its scientific and research activities at developing the advanced automation methods of mechanical engineering production; at the development and research of new specialised automated equipment, at robotics, the manufacturing CNC production technique, the mechatronic systems, the intelligent sensoric systems, the non-conventional kinematic principles in robotics and manufacturing technique, the implementation of Artificial Intelligence, etc. The experimental portfolio is mainly concentrated on the advanced diagnostics of the automated machines and equipment, the automated processing and assessment of big data also with utilising the artificial intelligence. The DMMT is aimed at the development of progressive machining technologies, the methods of assessing the cutting process, the research and development activities at the level of identifying and intensifying the parameters of the cutting process, machining of the difficult-to-machine materials, the research in the area of measurement and diagnostics. Although the SP itself is relatively young (created in 2009), it continues the original SPs Production Systems with Industrial Robots and Handling Devices and Machining and Bearing Production connected with the scientific school of Professor Matejka, Professor Bechný, Assoc.-prof. Poppeová,  Assoc.-prof. Kumičáková, etc.

The results of the department's purposeful activity in the field of science and research are evidenced by awards, such as:

• awarding the title of "Honour Professor" at the Technical University of Cluj Napoca to prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric (Cluj-Napoca, 10/2011),
• awarding of the international Ministry prize for the best CEEPUS project in 2012 to prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric (Bratislava, 11/2012),
• awarding of the international prize for the best CEEPUS project in 2012 at the international Ministerial Conference of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric (Vienna, 04/2013),

Also membership in editorial boards of magazines, organizing committees of conferences, organizations and the like:

• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric in the scientific committee and editorial board of the "International Conference Innovative Technologies in Engineering Production" (until 2018),
• prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric - editor-in-chief of the registered international WEB journal Journal "CA Systems in Production Process Planning", Žilina & Kraków (ISSN 1335-3799) published in English,
• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric in the editorial board of the magazine "Production engineering", since 2003; of "Engineering Review" magazine, since 2008
• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric, in the scientific and program committee "Engineer of 21st century", ATH Bialsko-Biala (PL) .
• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric and prof. Ing. Andrej Czán, PhD. in the editorial boards of a number of scientific journals, such as CA systems, Technologist, guest editor of magazine and many others.
• membership of Assoc.-prof. Ing. Vladimír Bulej, PhD. in the organization Klaster AT+R, z.p.o.
• membership of Assoc.-prof. Ing. Vladimír Bulej, PhD. in the Review Board of the peer-reviewed International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems.
• founder and committee member of prof. Ing. Andrej Czán, PhD. Slovak-Korean Chamber of Commerce at the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
• membership of prof. Ing. Andrej Czán, PhD. in the Czech and Slovak Crystallographic Association (CSCA),
• membership of prof. Ing. Andrej Czán, PhD. in Institute of Natural Science and Advanced Technology,
• membership of prof. Ing. Andrej Czán, PhD. in ACerS The American Ceramic Society,
• membership of prof. Ing. Andrej Czán, PhD. in the editorial board of the international scientific magazine Smart Manufacturing Engineering,
• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Miroslav Neslušan and prof. Ing. Jozef Pilc, CSc. in editorial boards of a number of scientific journals, such as Technologist, Smart Manufacturing Engineering,
• membership of Assoc.-prof. Ing. Dana Stančeková, PhD. in editorial boards of international scientific journals Manufacturing Technology, Transactions of the VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, Mechanical Series.
• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric in the editorial board of international scientific journal Scientific Bulletin Series C Faculty of Engineering,
• membership of prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric in the editorial board of international scientific journal Fascicle Mechanics, Tribology, Machine Manufacturing Technology,
• membership of prof. Ing. Nadežda Čuboňová, PhD. in the editorial board of international scientific journal Computer Software and Media Application,
• membership of prof. Ing. Nadežda Čuboňová, PhD. in SAAVS assessor for study field Mechanical Engineering (from 13.5.2020 to 12.5.2026),
• membership of Assoc.-prof. Ing. Ivan Zajačko, PhD. and Ing. Miroslav Císar, PhD. in the editorial board of international scientific journal Acta Mechatronica,
• membership of Assoc.-prof. Ing. Michal Šajgalík, PhD. in International association of engineers, as well as in Institute of Natural Science and Advanced Technology,
• membership of Assoc.-prof. Ing. Mário Drbúl, PhD. in standard-setting association Technical documentation of products and geometric tolerances, UNMS SR, member TK 62

In this field, it prepares and obtains scientific research projects in the form of domestic and international grants (VEGA, KEGA, APVV projects, incentives, ŠF EU, Manunet, DAAD), or projects for the mobility of scientific and research workers and doctoral students (CEEPUS, NSP, DAAD ) and so on.

Education, scientific research and independent creative activity of the doctoral student

Education in doctoral study programs is carried out on the basis of the individual study plan of the doctoral student, under the guidance of the supervisor (list of supervisors in SP Automated production systems: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/odborova-komisia/skolitelia_DDP_Strojarstvo_AVS.pdf).

Education is based on the acquisition of knowledge at the level of current knowledge and the doctoral student's own contribution to it. It is the result of scientific research and independent creative activity of the doctoral student. The quality in the 3rd level of higher education depends on the quality of scientific research work, therefore it is necessary that the individual study plans of doctoral students are linked to the scientific research activities of supervisors and training workplaces, which are carried out mainly through research projects.

The doctoral student's study plan is compiled within the specified rules and in accordance with the study regulations for the 3rd level of university studies at UNIZA (Directive No. 110) by the supervisor in cooperation with the student. The study plan of the doctoral study is developed as an individual study plan. The content and structure of individual study plans reflect the activities, knowledge and skills formulated in the accreditation file of the study program. To ensure their fulfillment, requirements and criteria are defined in the study plan, the fulfillment of which is subject to regular inspection.

The doctoral student's study plan consists of:

• the study part completed by the Dissertation Exam,
• the scientific parts,
• and defence of the Dissertation Thesis.

Currently the following focal areas of research and science of both departments ensuring the SP belong (and achieve result of international significance):  

• the research in the area of mechanisms with a parallel and hybrid kinematic structure and their implementation in robotics and manufacturing technique,
• the implementation of AI, the neuron networks, the methods of deep learning and the Industry 4.0 technologies and IoT for a broad portfolio of applications in industry – especially the detection and classification of errors, detection of the shapes positions of the objects, control of the robotic and automation means based on the visual information or the multi-sensoric information,
• the research in the area of the non-destructive methods of detecting the state of the component surface after machining by the method of scanning the Barkhausen noise,
• the defectoscopy of the surfaces after machining by the method of the X-ray diffractometry,
• the research and development in the area of the cutting materials the machining process of the difficult-to-machine materials – the Nickel and Titanium super-alloys, e.g. for the area of the dental implants,
• the research in the area of intensifying the cutting process by implementing an auto-rotating tool or a tool with enforced rotation.

The study part of the PhD Study Plan consists especially of the participation in the lectures, seminars and individual study of the professional literature during individual study years according to the aim of the Dissertation Thesis that are assigned credits  by the supervisor in compliance with the credit system of the study. The individual PhD Study Plan involves the list of subjects, including the technical foreign language in the extent of two semesters that the PhD student is to pass, the list of the Dissertation Exam subjects selected from the list approved by the expert commission or the working group and a list of the obligatory and recommended literature the PhD student is to study in the framework of his/her individual preparation for the Dissertation Exam. The profile subjects of the SP are defined for the student to acquire knowledge, skills and competences necessary for his/her occupation and represent the theoretical and methodological basis in the corresponding area of the PhD student´s scientific preparation. The PhD student´s Study Plan contains also the deadline in the framework of which the PhD student is to pass the individual subjects and the Dissertation Exam.

The scientific part of the PhD Study Plan consists of the individual or team scientific activities that are connected with the topic of the Dissertation Thesis. The supervisor guarantees the scientific part of the PhD Study Plan. The active participation of the PhD student in the international scientific conferences and colloquiums and publishing the results of his/her investigation  in the anthologies from the scientific conferences and in the scientific magazines, especially indexed in the international databases – WOS, SCOPUS, CCC – are an inevitable part of the PhD student´s activities. As a rule, an inseparable part of the PhD student´s activities in the daily study defined in the Study Plan is an active participation of the PhD student in a stay abroad at a partner workplace of the supervisor´s institution.

In compliance with the Dublin Descriptors and at the same time according to the national qualification framework of the graduate of the SP Automated Production Systems will acquire the 8^th qualification level (SKKR 8).

The recommended Study Plan of the SP Automated Production Systems and the standard duration of the study are adjusted according to the Law about Universities. The Study Programme in compliance with the UNIZA SO maintains the rules of the European system of transferring and collecting the credits and the load of the student per the academic year. It maintains the defined workload expressed by the volume of lessons of the contact learning together with all activities necessary for preparation and completion of the subject. Form individual subjects the number of credits were defined in such a way that they take into account the demandingness of the subject from the point of view of the specific area of the teaching staff and the method of completion of the subject. The subjects in the framework of the recommended Study Plan enable to achieve the defined educational outputs.

The educational outputs and connected criteria and the rules for their assessment are adjusted in such a way that all educational goals of the SP Automated Production Systems are fulfilled and are presented in the information sheets of the subject. The educational activities – lectures, seminars, exercises, lab exercises, Final Work, lab work, expert practice, excursion, state exam, etc. – suitable for achieving the educational outputs are presented in the information sheets of the subjects are stated for each educational part of the Study Plan/subject. The information sheets also contain the prerequisites, co-requisites and recommendations for creating the Study Plan. There are also the methods by which the educational activity is realised (face-to-face, distance or combined), the subject syllabi, the student´s workload (i.e. the extent for individual subjects and educational activities independently), the credits assigned to every part on the basis of the outputs achieved and the connected workload, the persons ensuring the subject (i.e. the subject guarantors) with the contact, the subject teachers and the venue.

The rules for creating the study plans  of the SP are thoroughly desribed in the Directive No. 203 - Rules for the Creation of Recommended Study Plans for UNIZA Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-203-en.pdf

Students of the Automated Production Systems study programme have the opportunity to choose two main specialisations (in accordance with all mentioned in point 2 – Graduate profile, Educational objectives), two directions of their personal development as a scientific and research worker (in accordance with the map of prerequisites and the standards of SAAVS, where the emphasis is placed on the possibility to choose your profile), namely:

• researcher specialist in the automation of production (automation, robotics, CNC production technology, mechatronics),
• researcher specialist in chip machining methods, progressive technologies, bearing production and production quality.

Detailed rules for creating study plans in the study programme are described in Directive No. 203 - Rules for the Creation of Recommended Study Plans for UNIZA Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-203-en.pdf.

The structure of the doctoral study programme Automated production systems from the point of view of the content, as well as from the point of view of the number of received credits, meets the requirements arising from the description of the study field Mechanical Engineering. The representation and structure of the proposed compulsory and compulsory optional (Electional) subjects creates the conditions for a deeper profiling of doctoral degree graduates, the 3rd degree of study.

Compulsory optional (Electional) subjects are chosen by the student in agreement with the supervisor based on the specific focus of the dissertation and they are specified in individual study plan.

In order to improve language skills and support foreign mobility, the subjects English language for doctoral students 1 and English language for doctoral students 2 were included in the study part of the study plan, focused on presentation skills, professional terminology and publishing the results of the dissertation solution to the professional community.

In the case of study programme Automated production systems, the core subjects of the study field of Mechanical Engineering comprise 180 out of 180 credits, which represents a 100% share (matching the core knowledge of the field).

The regular completion of the study is defined by:

• Directive No. 110 - Study Rules for the Third Level of University Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_110.pdf
• Directive No. 215 - On Final, Rigorous and Habilitation Theses in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-215-en.pdf

The regular completion of the study requires achieving 180 credits for the whole study. A condition for a regular completion of the PhD study is the passing of the dissertation exam that belongs to the state exams and the defence of the dissertation thesis. The dissertation thesis is the final work. The university certificate, certificate about the state exam and appendix to the diploma are the documents about graduating from the PhD study.                

The basic means of inspection during the study according to Directive No. 110 includes:

• The annual assessment of the PhD student (article 8): The supervisor until 31^st August (at the latest) of the academic year submits the annual assessment of fulfilling the study programme of the PhD student to the Dean and states if he/she recommends continuing the student´s study. The supervisor assesses the state and fulfilment of the PhD student´s SP, fulfilling the deadlines, he/she assigns the credits and if necessary he/she submits a proposal to adapt the student’s individual study programme. Based on the annual assessment of the PhD student the Dean decides if the PhD student is able to continue the study and if necessary, about the possible changes of his/her study programme.
• The dissertation exam (article 8): The dissertation exam belongs to the state exams and is public. As a rule, the PhD student of the daily PhD study registers for the dissertation exam within 12 months but at the latest within 18 months from the date of enrolment to the study, the external PhD student at the latest 36 months from the date of the enrolment. The PhD student is obliged to submit (together with the registration form for the dissertation exam) also the written work worked out for the dissertation exam. The failing of fulfilling the conditions for registering for the dissertation exam or failing to submit the written work in the stated deadline without previous consent of the supervising institution causes his/her exclusion from the study. The written work to the dissertation exam is created by a project of the dissertation thesis containing an overview of the current state of the knowledge about the given topic, an outline of the theoretical basics of the future solution and an analysis of the methodological approach to solving the given area. One opponent works out an assessment of the written work to the dissertation exam.      
• The defence of the dissertation thesis: The dissertation thesis together with its defence creates one subject. The defence of the dissertation thesis is a state exam and in the framework of the standard duration of the study it has to be realised at the latest during the last month of the last academic year of the standard study duration. The defence of the dissertation thesis has to be realised at the latest within two years from expiring the standard study duration. During this time period the PhD student has no right for the scholarship, he/she continues fulfilling his/her working duties and pays the fees for the extra duration of the study. The rules for assigning, processing, external examination, defence and assessments of the final works are defined by the Directive No. 110 (articles 10 to 15) and the Directive No. 215.

Interruption and finishing the PhD study

The PhD student can (both during the standard and extra duration) ask for an interruption of the PhD study (also repeatedly) due to the maternity leave, the health reasons, the study stay abroad that is not part of the individual study plan or other serious reasons. During the interruption the PhD student loses the rights and duties of the student. The supervisor gives his/her attitude to the application of the PhD student for interrupting the study.

The interruption of the study is approved by the Dean. The PhD student who registered with a topic of the dissertation thesis announced by an external educational institution will do it only after a positive declaration of the statutory of the external educational institution. 

The total time of interrupting the PhD study usually does not exceed 18 months. In specific and justified cases, e.g. in the case of a longer maternity leave the Dean can decide about interrupting the study for a longer time, however, the upper limit is 36 months.

The PhD study is completed by the defence of the dissertation thesis or leaving the study, failing to complete the study in the stated deadline, exclusion from the study, cancelling the study programme in the study specialisation, death of then student. 

The processes, procedures and structures for verifying the outputs of education and assessment of the students and the possibility of corrective procedures against this assessment are defined by:

• Directive No. 110 - Study Rules for the Third Level of University Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_110.pdf
• Directive No. 216 - Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-216-en.pdf 

PhD Study Credit System and Assessment of Study Results

The credit system is valid in both forms of the PhD study in compliance with the approved Faculty credit system. The credits are numerical values assigned to the subjects expressing the amount of work necessary for achieving the defined education results. The standard workload of the student for the whole academic year in the daily form of the study is expressed by 60 credits, for one semester 30 credits and for one trimester 20 credits. The standard workload of the student for the whole academic year in the external form of the study is expressed by maximally 48 credits in dependence on the standard duration of the corresponding study programme and the number of the credits necessary for regular completion of the study.

The PhD student during his/her study acquires the credit for the following activities

• Participation in specialised PhD lectures and seminars according to the PhD student´s study plan,
• Dissertation exam with successful results,
• Reaching activity in the daily form of the study – extent 4 lessons a week; on the external form the obligation to present selected lectures and fulfilment another professional activity,
• Independent activity in the scientific, research and pedagogical area (publishing with an emphasis on the outputs in the impact magazines ranked in the international indexed databases, participation in solving scientific tasks etc., leading the scientific activities of the undergraduates, leading the final theses of the BA study, etc.), submitting the dissertation thesis for defence.

The Faculty credit system determines the amount of the credits the PhD student is obliged to achieve for:

• Promoting to the next year of study,
• Registering for the dissertation exam,
• Submitting the application to defend the dissertation thesis,
• Realising other activities according to the individual study plan of the PhD student.

If the PhD student realised part of his/her study somewhere else than at the determined educational institution (e.g. abroad), the credits achieved at this institution are valid in full extent if he/she had been sent to this institution in the framework of fulfilling his/her study plan and if the credit system of the sending organisation and the other institution are compatible or they are defined in advance (the transfer credits).

If the study programme of the study specialisation is changed, the until that time achieved credits can be acknowledged if it is in compliance with his/her new study plan. The Dean decides about the transfer or acknowledgement of the credits. The supervisor includes/writes the achieved credits to the student transcript and the electronic UNIZA information system at the latest until the end of the corresponding academic year and includes them also to the annual assessment of the PhD student.

Individual study plan:

The PhD student´s study plan is worked out as an individual study plan in compliance with ensuring the required quality of the scientific work and education of the PhD students. The PhD student´s supervisor is responsible for the quality and level of the study and the individual study plan and the PhD student actively participates in its creation. The expert team or working group and the guarantor of the study programme approve the individual study plan.

The content and structure of the individual study plans reflect the activities, knowledge and skills formulated in the accreditation document of the study programme. To ensure their fulfilment the study plan defines the requirements and criteria whose fulfilment is regularly checked. The study consists of the study, educational and scientific parts whose contents and mutual ratio from the point of view of the credits are defined by the UNIZA internal regulations. The organisation of realising the PhD study programmes at UNIZA is managed by the provisions of the Directive No. 110.

The PhD student is assigned credits for individual activities and it is necessary to acquire 180 credits for a successful completion of this study. The credits are acquired for the dissertation exam subjects, the foreign language, dissertation exam and defence of the dissertation thesis. From the point of view of the scientific and research activity the PhD students gets points for the dissertation projects, publication outputs, utility patterns, citations, active presentations at the conferences and seminars, see Appendix 2 of the Directive No. 216.

In the case of the study programmes that assign credits for the individual and team scientific work, the points are calculated, see Appendix 2, according to the study plans for the given PhD study programme. The points /credits are assigned only for publications connected with the topic of the dissertation thesis and the number of the points/credits is calculated according to the percentage share of the PhD student.

The study of a foreign language is an inseparable part of the PhD study – the duration is two semesters and the goal is to learn the technical vocabulary of the given specialisation in the foreign language. The creation and writing the scientific works and outputs in the form of articles for magazines and papers at conferences in the foreign language, preparation of presentations and active presentations at the conferences are parts of this activity. Every individual study plan involves the subjects of the dissertation exam with a defined amount of the credits. 

Assessing the quality of the study and outputs of the PhD student:

The PhD study is assessed according to the principles of the credit system in compliance with the regulation of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic 614/2002 Coll., about the credit system of the study as amended, paragraph 54, section 2  of the Law about Universities and the principles presented in this article. The quality of the PhD study is assessed during its whole duration and then after its completion. A successfully completed study is when all the required criteria are fulfilled and the PhD student published the results of his/her work in the form of the defined outputs that are involved in the individual study plan. The facts connected with fulfilling the content of the individual study plan of the PhD student are assessed during realising the study plan. The assessment is carried out once a year at the end of the academic year by the supervisor and is approved by the guarantor of the given study programme and subsequently by the Dean, in the case of the university-wide study programmes by the Rector. 

The decisive activities are the dissertation exam and defence of the dissertation thesis. The PhD student who did not fulfil all the duties and lacks the credits cannot register for the dissertation exam and ask for the defence of the dissertation thesis.

The quality of the PhD study is assessed by the FME Scientific Board or the UNIZA Scientific Board  once a year in the framework of assessing the level of the public university in the area of the educational activity and science, technique or art.

A high-quality publication and artistic activity is part of the PhD study. The fulfilment of the defined requirements in the area of the publication outputs of the PhD student in the individual study plan and the minimal criteria of the PhD study outputs in individual study specialisations and UNIZA programmes necessary for a successful completion of the PhD study are required for a successful finish of the PhD study and create the Appendix 1 of the Directive No.  216. 

The supervisor (in the framework of the annual assessment) regularly assesses the quality of the outputs of the PhD student and his/her presentations at the conferences, seminars or in magazines, the supervisors then submits the results to the guarantor, Dean or Rector. The commission and external examiners assess the quality of all publication outputs, patents, utility patterns or other achieved results in the framework of the dissertation thesis defence. They check their international level and contribution for the development of the study specialisation and the originality of the achieved results also in connection with the plagiarism checker. The Rector´s Collegium deals with and assesses the output quality especially of the last year PhD students.

The processes, procedures and structures at the university level is defined mainly by:

• Directive No. 110 - Study Rules for the Third Level of University Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_110.pdf
• Directive No. 216 - Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-216-en.pdf
• Directive No. 219 - Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-219-en.pdf

The supervisor (at the latest until 31^st August of the given year) submits the annual assessment of the PhD student to the Dean and defines if he/she recommends if the student is/is not to continue the study. The supervisor evaluates the state and level of fulfilling the study programme, fulfilling the deadlines, he/she assigns the credits and if necessary, he/she submits a proposal to adapt the individual study plan of the student. Based on the PhD student´s annual assessment the Dean decides if the PhD student can continue his/her study and also about the changes of his/her study programme, if necessary.

As a rule, an inseparable part of the PhD student´s activities in the daily form defined in the study plan is the participation of the PhD student in a study abroad at a partner institution of the PhD student´s department. It is recommended the PhD student to spend a stay abroad that takes at least two months or one semester. The passing of part of the study at another university is given by an application for the exchange study and by confirmation about acceptation by the partner institution, an agreement between individual partner institutions about the study (in the case of UNIZA with another partner institution that has an accredited programme in the given study specialisation at the partner institution or a similar study specialisation at the partner institution abroad and that has a certified/accredited internal quality management system of the university education or in compliance with ESG 2015, an agreement between individual partner institutions about a common study programme that is commonly accredited as a common study programme in compliance with the internal quality management system of the university education at UNIZA, by a statement of the study results. The credits achieved at this institution are included in full extent on the basis of the partner´s confirmation about passing the study stay. The student can acquire credits for passing a particular subject only once during the study. If the study programme of the study specialisation is changed, it is possible to acknowledge the credits acquired until that time if it complies with the PhD student´s study plan. The Dean decides about transferring or acknowledging the credits – in the case of the university-wide study programmes the Rector. The supervisor writes in the acquired credits to the statement of studies and to the UNIZA information system at the latest until the end of the given academic year and he/she also presents them in the annual assessment of the PhD student.     

The Faculty coordinator who is usually the Vice-dean for international relations (at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UNIZA it is prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric) is appointed the chief coordinator for ensuring the mobility of the students  as well as the study in compliance with the conditions defined in the study order. The task of the coordinator is to organise the partner (usually international) cooperation in the educational area. The solution of the tasks connected with sending a accepting the students and providing the advisory services are ensured at the Faculty by Mgr. Renáta Janovčíková.

In the case of the mobilities and stays abroad the Directive No. 219 defines the processes, procedures and structures of the conditions for acknowledging the study.

Rules for prolonging the study are included in the study order. The PhD student can (both during the standard and extra duration) ask for an interruption of the PhD study (also repeatedly) due to the maternity leave, the health reasons, the study stay abroad that is not part of the individual study plan or other serious reasons. The interruption of the study is approved by the Dean. The total time of interrupting the PhD study usually does not exceed 18 months. In specific and justified cases, e.g. in the case of a longer maternity leave the Dean can decide about interrupting the study for a longer time, however, the upper limit is 36 months.

The basic university document, Directive No. 110, also defines the procedures and corrective means against the results of the assessment given to the student duting his/her examination:

Subjects:

• If the PhD student fails to pass the exam, he/she can repeat it once more (article 8/section 4)

Dissertation exam:

• The PhD student who fails to pass the exam can repeat it only once more, at the latest after three months from the day of unsuccessful dissertation exam – the date is given by the chairman of the examination commission. A repeated failure is the reason for exclusion from the PhD study (article 9/section 11)

Dissertation thesis:                  

• If the commission for defence suggests not to award the academic title to the PhD student on the basis of the results of the defence or for his/her unexcused absence at the procedure, the Dean/in the case of the university-wide study programmes the Rector determines the resit for the dissertation thesis defence in the same study programme. The defence of the dissertation thesis can be repeated only once, at the latest within two years from ending the standard study duration (article 15/sections 13, 14)

LINKS:

• Dissertation topics for which an applicant can apply as part of the admission procedure for doctoral study programs are published, together with the names of supervisors, on the faculty's website: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=%20com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=195  (or directly list of topics for ŠP AVS: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/prijimacky_doktorandi/Automatizovan-vrobn-systmy.pdf ), no later than two months before the last day for submitting applications . The applicant applies for one or more of the listed topics, states the name of the study program and the form of study he is interested in studying.
• List of final theses topics for the last 6 years / currently conducted - alt. 1 (Doctoral study tab): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia
• List of final theses topics for the last 6 years / currently conducted - alt. 2 (on FME homepage): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=263

The rules for assigning, working out, defending and assessing the final theses are defined by:

• Directive No. 110 - Study Rules for the Third Level of University Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_110.pdf
• Directive No. 215 - On Final, Rigorous and Habilitation Theses in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-215-en.pdf

The final work verifies the knowledge, skills and competences the student acquired during the study and his/her capability to use them for solving tasks and particular problems connected with the study specialisation. The final work at the third university degree is understood the dissertation thesis.

The student´s dissertation thesis of the third degree demonstrates the capability and preparedness of the student for an independent scientific and creative activity in the area of research or development or an independent theoretical and creative artistic activity. The thesis presents the results of the scientific investigation and implementation of the research results to practice. The result of the dissertation thesis should bring an achievement of new knowledge in the given area. The scientific research is a process of acquiring new scientific knowledge and extending the cognitive boundaries of the mankind. The student has to prove deep systematic understanding of the study specialisation, he/she has to show skills in the research work and implement the methods of the scientific research. The student is to prove that he/she realised a substantial part of the research by himself/herself, that he/she outlined, designed, realised and optimised it in an ethically clear way.   

Assigning the dissertation theses

The Faculty Dean announces the topics of the dissertation theses the students can apply for in the framework of the admission procedure at the latest two months before the last day determined for submitting the applications. The Dean approves the topics of the dissertation theses according to the proposal of the supervisor and after the previous consent of the chairman of the expert commission or the chief of the working team. If it is a topic announced by an external educational institution, the name of this institution has to be presented. Each announced topic involves the name of the study programme, the name of the supervisor, the form of study (full-time, part-time), the deadline for submitting the applications and the date of the admission procedure. The topics of the dissertation theses together with all prerequisites are published on an official board and are presented massively according to a special guideline. The applicants register for the selected topic of the dissertation thesis in the framework of submitting the application for the PhD study.

Leading and working out the dissertation thesis

The supervisor leads the PhD student during the study, manages and professionally guarantees the PhD student´s study and scientific programme, determines the aim of the project of the dissertation thesis and specifies (with the PhD student) its content, leads the PhD student during solving the dissertation thesis and works out the assessment of the dissertation thesis and the working characteristics of the given PhD student.

The function of the supervisor for the given study specialisation at the Faculty where the PhD study takes place can be carried on by a university teacher and another expert from an institution outside the university after the Scientific Council approves it. The supervisor function for the dissertation theses issued by an external educational institution can realise the supervisors approved by this institution.

The Directive No. 215 defines the procedure and details of working out the dissertation thesis. The principles of working out the final theses, formal prerequisites and the method of plagiarism check are based on the valid Methodological Guideline of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic about prerequisites of the final theses, their bibliographical registration, storing and making accessible.

In compliance with the provisions of the Law about Universities the student has to send the final work in electronic form to the Central Register of Final, PhD and Habilitation Theses (CRZP in Slovak) and based on the information from this institution the rate  of originality of the PhD and habilitation theses will be verified. The student submits the final work at the latest on the day determined by the Faculty universal academic calendar. 

Application for permission to defend the dissertation thesis

The PhD student submits an application for permission to defend the dissertation thesis to the Dean in compliance with the study schedule if he/she acquired the determined amount of the credits. In a special case the Dean determines (in a written form) a supplementary date for submitting the application for permission to defend the dissertation thesis but the duration of the study is not to exceed the standard duration determined by the accredited study programme in the study specialisation by more than 2 years.

The PhD student submits the dissertation thesis in Slovak. With a written consent of the Dean he/she can submit it in a foreign language. The PhD student can submit as a dissertation thesis also his/her own publications or published works that deal with the area of the dissertation thesis topic and correspond with the theses of the project. If the PhD student submits a file of his/her own publications, he/she completes it by a detail introduction that will clarify the current state of the given area, the goals of the dissertation thesis and conclusions arisen after solving the topic of the dissertation thesis. If the attached publications are from several authors, the PhD student encloses declaration of the authors about his/her author share. The dissertation thesis prerequisites are defined by the article 11 of the Directive No. 110 and articles 7 and 8 of the Directive No. 215.

External examination of the dissertation thesis

The Dean appoints the external examiners on the basis of the proposal of the chairman of the expert commission or the chairman of the working team. The external examiners are chosen from the experts in the framework of the solved area. Each external examiner has to be from a different organisation. One external examiner can come from the Faculty/university-wide institution the PhD student works for.

The dissertation thesis is assessed at least by two external examiners. At least one external examiner has to have the university degree Professor or Associate Professor and has to carry out the professor function or he/she has to possess the degree Doctor of Sciences or he/she has to be a research worker with an acknowledged qualification degree I. or IIa. The other external examiners have to be scientific and pedagogical experts at the function of visiting professors, employees with the academic title PhD (or its older equivalent), foremost experts from practice with the academic title PhD (or its older equivalent). The external examiner must not belong to the PhD student´s family, must not be his/her chief or subordinate at work or a similar working relation and also the supervisor.  

The rules and procedures for external examination of the dissertation thesis are defined in the article 14 of the Directive No. 110.

The external examiner´s assessment contains an objective and critical analysis of pluses and minuses of the submitted dissertation thesis; it is brief and does not repeat the content. The external examiner expresses his opinion especially to:

• The up-to-dateness of the selected topic
• The fulfilment of then stated goals of the dissertation thesis,
• The chosen methods of processing,
• The achieved results, it is to present which new knowledge the dissertation thesis is bringing and where it was published,
• The contribution for further progress of science, technique or art and for practice.

In the conclusion he/she unambiguously states if he/she based on the submitted dissertation thesis suggests or does not suggest awarding the title PhD in the corresponding study programme of the study specialisation. 

Defence and assessment of the dissertation thesis

The dissertation thesis and its defence create one subject. The defence of the dissertation thesis is a state exam and in the standard duration of the study the PhD student has to pass it during the last month of the last academic year of his/her standard duration of the study. The defence of the dissertation thesis of an above standard duration of the study has to be realised at the latest within two years from ending of the standard duration of the study. During this time period the PhD student of the daily form of the PhD study has no right for a scholarship and he/she fulfils the duties of his/her job and pays fees for the above standard duration of the study.

The defence of the dissertation thesis is public. In exceptional cases, the Dean can announce it as non-public – in such a case when the public defence could threaten a secret protected by a special law. The defence of the dissertation thesis is realised in the form of a scientific discussion. The PhD student presents the content of his/her dissertation thesis, results and benefits. The external examiners present their assessments and the PhD student expresses his/her point of view to them. The discussion verifies the correctness, feasibility and scientific originality of the knowledge included in the dissertation thesis.

The rules and procedures of the defence of the dissertation thesis are defined in article 15 of the Directive No. 110.

The defence procedure is documented by the minutes. This document is then signed by the Commission Chairman for the defence, the commission members who are at the procedure and external examiners. The Commission Chairman for the defence announces the result of the vote to the PhD student and other participants who are present at the defence during a public meeting. The Commission Chairman for the defence submits the proposal for awarding/rejecting the academic title to the PhD student together with minutes and documentation material of the PhD student.

The Dean determines (in writing) the date of the second examination for the defence of the dissertation thesis in the same study programme to that PhD student who failed to obtain the academic title due to the result of the defence of the dissertation thesis or for his/her unexcused absence at the procedure. The defence procedure can be repeated only once, at the latest within two years from ending the standard duration of the study.

The Dean after the positive assessment of the proposal of the Commission for Defence of the dissertation thesis to award the PhD student the academic title “doctor” or “doctor of art” submits the Rector the documents about graduating from the study.

The students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of UNIZA can take part in the international mobility programmes of the EU – CEEPUS and Erasmus+ where the applications and rules for acknowledging of this education are managed by the rules of the given programmes. The list of the participating institutions is regularly updated. The instructions are published in the Faculty web site. In the framework of the scientific activities or the supervisor´s projects, the students are sent to the partner universities and research institutions not only in Europe but also worldwide. They can utilise also the bilateral international mobility projects, e.g. through the Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA) and the National Scholarship Fund (NSP).

The binding contractual partnerships enable the participation of the interested parties and their representatives in the procedure of designing, approving, realising and assessing the study programme. The agreements with the partners concretise the conditions for participation of the the partner´s employees in realising the study programme and conditions for providing the premises, material and information sources and ensuring the study quality realised in the partner´s premises including the final works.

The UNIZA has the possibility to send the students abroad in the framework of its partnerships to 56 universities. There are even broader possibilities covering practically the whole world and are involved in other schemes especially in the framework of Erasmus+ and activities of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic realised through SAIA. They are especially CEEPUS, NSP, the Action Austria – Slovakia, Visegrad Fund, etc. Except for the Erasmus+ the Faculty has a contractual cooperation with the AGH University of Science and Technology (Kraków, Poland), Technical University of Varna (Bulgaria), International Visegrad Fund.

The processes, procedures and structures of the students´ participation in the mobilities are defined by the Directive No. 219 - Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-219-en.pdf 

The possibilities of participating in the student mobilities are published at the UNIZA web site:

• in section possibilities of study: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/study/study-options/erasmus 

At the Faculty web site:

• in the section international cooperation: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/medzinarodna-spolupraca/podpora/erazmus 
• and on the section general information – study abroad: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/erasmus/application-procedure 

The basic conditions for the UNIZA students´ mobilities abroad:

The procedures of the students´ participation in the mobilities are defined by the Directive No. 219.

The attendance of part of the study at a university abroad is specified by:

• The application for the exchange study and confirmation about acceptation by the partner institution (mobility or stay abroad),
• The agreement between individual partner institutions about the study (in the case of the UNIZA cooperation with another partner institution that has an accredited study programme in the study specialisation at the partner institution or similar study specialisation at the partner institution abroad and that has a certified/accredited internal management of the university education or ESG 2015),
• The agreement between individual partner institutions about a common study programme that is, at the same time, commonly accredited as a common study programme in compliance with the internal quality system of the university education at UNIZA.

For studying at a university abroad we conclude an agreement between the student, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UNIZA and the partner institution providing the study. The agreement is concluded before the student starts studying at the university abroad.

Participation in mobilities – procedure:

The basic obligations of the student sent for a study stay are defined by the articles 6 and 7 of the Directive No. 219. The student who was approved by the Selection Commission:

• Submits the document about approval for the stay abroad or the contractual basis for spending part of his/her study at a university abroad,
• Creates a study plan from the offer of the subjects at the foreign university in the extent of the standard load of the student (the conditions for creating a study plan are specified in the articles 3 to 5 of the Directive No. 219),
• Before sending for the stay abroad he/she fills in the Agreement about Study/Stay (Learning Agreement) and information about the planned study stay,
• Notifies the Head of Department and the department that organises of his/her study stay
• Informs the relevant teacher about the subject whose equivalent he/she will study at the foreign university or whose subject he/she will not study at UNIZA due to his/her stay abroad
• At the latest within 30 days (in justified cases 45 days) from the day of completion the study stay abroad he/she submits all documents confirming the participation in the study stay abroad to the Vice-Dean with the competence for the international cooperation of the Faculty

The subjects the student passed at the university abroad are acknowledged by the guarantor of the study programme and at the Faculty by the Vice-Dean for education or the Vice-Dean whose competence is the international cooperation. The student submits an application that contains the statement of the study results from the foreign university at the end of his/her study as well as the information sheets or syllabi of the subjects passed. The office for education includes the assessment of the subject to the AIS. The application and the whole documentation becomes part of the study documentation of the student at the Office for Education.

Rules for Observance the Academic Ethics and Concluding Consequences are stated by the Disciplinary Order for the Students of the University of Žilina inŽilina, Disciplinary Commission of the UNIZA Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ethical Code, Ethical Commission of UNIZA. The most important rules can be find in Directives No. 207, Directives No. 215 and Directive No. 226.

• Directive No. 201 - Disciplinary Order for UNIZA Students: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_201.pdf 
• Directive No. 207 - Code of Ethics of University of Zilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/smernice-predpisy/2021/12072021_S-207-2021-Eticky-kodex-UNIZA.pdf 
• Directive No. 209 - Study Order for the 1st and 2nd Level of University Study at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_209.pdf 
• Directive No. 215 - On Final, Rigorous and Habilitation Theses in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-215-en.pdf
• Directive No. 226 - On Copyright Ethics and the Elimination of Plagiarism in the Conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina:  https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-226-en.pdf
• UNIZA documents - Code of Ethics: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/university/general-information/ethical-codex 
• FME - Disciplinary Commission of the UNIZA Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (available in Slovak) - https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/disciplinarna-komisia
• Rule of procedure of the UNIZA disciplinary commissions (available in Slovak): - https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/smernice-predpisy/2021/09072021_S-167-2018-Rokovaci-poriadok-disciplinarnych-komisii-UNIZA.pdf
• Ethical code of UNIZA expresses the basic, moral and ethical requirements on the academia and other university employees according the the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, with the law 131/2002 Coll., about universities as amended, the Statute of the University and other regulations - 12072021_S-207-2021-Eticky-kodex-UNIZA.pdf

The Ethical Code of the University of Žilina in Žilina defines the ethical principles in the following areas (Directive No. 207):

• The general ethical principles valid for all persons employed or studying at the university (Art. 2)
• The relation to the university and general public (Art. 3)
• The principles for the pedagogical activities (Art. 4)
• The principles of the scientific and research activities (Art. 5)
• The principles of the research practice at UNIZA and unacceptable practices of the research (Art. 6)    
• The principles for the university students (Art. 7)

The Ethical Code binds all employees and students of the university to behave in compliance with its requirements. Any breach and subsequent measure is solved by the Ethical Commission of the university appointed by the Rector (the current members of the commission can be find at: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/univerzita/vseobecne-informacie/eticky-kodex

In connection with observing the Ethical Code every academia member and university employee has the right to initiate a procedure of the Ethical Commission. Such an incentive can be submitted by any UNIZA employee, Faculty employee UNIZA student or any other person that learned about the behaviour of an UNIZA student or employee having the signs of breaching the Ethical Code through submitting it to Chairman of the Ethical Commission in writing and own signature or in the electronic form with an authorised electronic signature. If the document sent electronically is not authorised and is sent from an unidentifiable address, the submitting person has to complete the letter by his/her own signature or authorised electronic signature within three days, otherwise the document is not accepted. The initiation has to contain minimally the name and surname of the submitting person, his/her signature, a brief description of the situation, the provision of the Ethical Code that was breached or was not applied. If the document is anonymous, it is registered; however, it will not be taken into account.                     

The Ethical Commission is obliged to discuss an appropriately submitted initiation at the latest within one month from its receipt or to pass it to the chief of the section according to the articles 6, section 7 of this Directive No. 207. When the initiation is solved there is a necessity to emphasise the coaction of all participating parties and maintaining the highest possible privacy.

In the case of detecting a breach the statement of the Ethical Commission will contain recommendations or suggestion of corrective measures for the further steps of the bodies authorised to make decisions – the Rector, the Dean, Chief of the UNIZA department in compliance with the Organisational Order of UNIZA. All participating parties have to be informed about the Commission recommendations in writing. The employee touched by the statement of the Ethical Commission has the right (within 7 days) from the receipt of the statement to ask for correction against the statement of the Ethical Commission in the form of an application for correction and explanation to the Rector, the Dean or another leading UNIZA employees in compliance with the Organisational Order of UNIZA and the asked person will consider the situation for defining the corrective measures.  

The result of the discussion of the Ethical Commission can be also a recommendation for the next procedure according to the paragraph 108f of the law 131/2002 Coll. about universities as amended.

If a disciplinary offense was detected, it is passed to the Disciplinary Commission of UNIZA or the Disciplinary Commission of the Faculty. The procedure is defined by the Directive No. 201 – Disciplinary Order for Students of the University of Žilina in Žilina - https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/fstroj/pdf/Predpisy/02092021_S-201-2021-Disciplinarny-poriadok-pre-studentov-UNIZA.pdf

The basic rules of the author ethics as an unwritten law involving the moral principles that the author, employee or student are to respect during writing the professional and university publications and the stance of UNIZA to respecting the legal and moral requirements of the authors and the principles of a correct publication practice are defined in the Directive No. 226 – Author Ethics and Eliminating Plagiarism in the Condition of the University of Žilina in Žilina - https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/2021/smernica-UNIZA-c-226.pdf

The rules of the author ethics are closely connected with the framework principles of good behaviour in research, the European Code of Ethics and Integrity of Research and support improving the scientific and research standards of the UNIZA academia according to the Directive No. 207 – Ethical Code of the University of Žilina in Žilina. In the long term UNIZA aims at increasing the consciousness  about the importance of fulfilling the rules of the author ethics of its employees and students and principally refuses any unauthorised takeover of the author texts and ideas without any reference to its author and in this way it tries to eliminate the possible plagiarism. It carefully checks the originality of the outputs of the intellectual or industrial ownership of the students and employees and in the case of any doubt about the authorship of the presented work or breaching the rights of the intellectual or industrial ownership, it principally rejects them, see articles 1 section2 of the Directive No. 209; the Directive No. 110 as well as the article 6, section 2 and article 11 section 11 of the Ethical Code of UNIZA.  

To eliminate plagiarism, UNIZA has begun to check the originality of not only the final, PhD and habilitation works in the conditions of the University of Žilina in Žilina through the Central Register of Final Works but also to check the originality of all types of scientific and professional outputs (publications) of the employees and students, the semester works of the students or outputs of a similar character.

The failure to observe the author ethics and behaviour according to the article 3 of this Directive is considered a breach of the working duties of the UNIZA employees and if the students breach it, these facts are qualified as a breach of the Directive No. 209; the Directive No. 110, of the Directive No. 201. In the case of detecting a breach of the Disciplinary Order of the University of Žilina in Žilina it will be handed over to the Disciplinary Commission of UNIZA or Disciplinary Commission of the Faculty.

Current measures to strengthen awareness of copyright ethics and the elimination of plagiarism

Pursuant to the Dean's Decision no. 1/2022 of 10.02.2022 (https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/zamestnanci/vseobecne-informacie/oznamy/1973-rozhodnutie-dekana-c-1-2022 ) o autorského ethika a eliminácii plagiarism in the conditions of FME UNIZA, due to strengthening awareness of respect for author ethics and elimination of plagiarism, the dean of the faculty ordered teachers to acquaint students with full-time and part-time study, at all levels of university education with Directive No. 226 (instruction record).

The procedures applicable for the students with special needs are described at UNIZA web site - https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/studenti-so-specifickymi-potrebami

The Centre of Support for Students with Special Needs is working at UNIZA. The centre provides information, consultancy, supporting services and educational activities for applicants and students with special needs, teachers and general public. At the Faculty there is a coordinator for supporting the students with specific needs who assesses the possibilities/restrictions and the risk rate of studying the given study programme for the students with specific needs. He/she suggests adequate adaptations and supporting services determined for a student with specific needs and realises the consultancy and mediatory activity. He/she participates in creating a system of hybrid education and support for the students with special needs.

The conditions for the applicants for study with special needs during the admission procedure and during the study at UNIZA are described by the Directive No. 198 – Support for Applicants for Study  and Students with Specific Needs ar the Iniversity of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/specificke-potreby/2021/10082021_Smernica-c-198-Podpora-uchadzacov-o-studium-a-SSP-na-Zilinskej-univerzite-v-Ziline.pdf

For a student with special needs, in accordance with Directive No. 198 - Support for applicants and students with special needs at the University of Žilina in Žilina, the student considers:

• with sensory, physical and multiple disabilities,
• with a chronic illness,
• with impaired health,
• with a mental illness,
• with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders,
• with learning disabilities.

Organizational chart to support students with special needs at UNIZA

At UNIZA and its individual faculties, university coordinators for students with special needs and faculty coordinators for students with special needs, or coordinators for students with special needs in university-wide study programs provide care for study applicants and students with special needs.

UNIZA also provides services of the Consultancy and Career Centre UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pozadia/uniza_a5_ppcentrum_web.jpg

https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie/poradenske-a-karierne-centrum-uniza

The Consultancy and Career Centre UNIZA was established by the Directive No. 149 – Organisational Order of the University of Žilina in Žilina (by amendment 13) as to 1^st September 2021. The statue of the centre is defined in the Directive No. 225 - https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/2021/smernica-UNIZA-c-225.pdf

The workplace was established by joining the consultancy services in the Centre of the Psychological Support, Social Consultancy and the newly created career consultancy. The advisory centre with complex services will ensure that the students will have a simple access to the consultancy and other services corresponding with their needs. Its mission is to help the students cope with their study, prepare their entrance to the labour market, support their relationship with the university and create links between the university ground and employers.

The CCC UNIZA provides a complex advisory service to the students and employees of the university (further only “clients”). The main objective of the CCC UNIZA is to provide the psychological, career, social consultancy and intervention oriented on the development of the clients´ personality and support for solving the problems of the intrapersonal character (the problems connected with the university study, the area of the social problems, the orientation in the area of personal and career targets) and the interpersonal character (the adaptation to the study and working group and also the group of people of the same age, starting and maintaining full-fledged personal and working relations). The task of the CCC UNIZA is a) to provide the clients with the possibility of individual consultations in the framework of solving their difficulties and problems and developing the personality potential; b) to provide the clients with the possibility of the group sessions of the educational and advisory character; c) to help utilise the knowledge from the area of psychology, career advisory, pedagogical and social work for self-education and self-control; d) to support the development or recovery of the psychical health, to orient on other healthcare institutions to ensure the adequate professional aid and therapy; e) to participate in implementing the inclusive approach to education with the goal to ensure the equality of opportunities, respect to individual educational needs and the active involvement to the educational process of each student.

The procedures of submitting initiations and appeals of the student: 

The student freely expresses his/her professional opinions, respects freedom of speech and critical thinking, free exchange of opinions and information. He/she turns with confidence to his/her teachers, academic officials and the members of the Academic Senate in the case of solving the problems concerning the teaching process and organisation of their life at UNIZA. At the Faculty the students can address (except for the aforementioned possibilities) their initiations to the study advisor (the study advisors are appointed by the Dean at the beginning of the school year, for study programme Automated Production Systems and academic year 2021/2022 it is Assoc.-prof. Ing. Ivan Zajačko, PhD., ivan.zajacko@fstroj.uniza.sk ), they can turn to the representatives of the students´ support (a group created for the purposes of communication and advisory activities), the Head of Department, the SP guarantor or the Chairman of the Trade Union Council or directly to the Dean.

In dependence on the essence of such an initiation it is solved by a person responsible for the given area (the Dean, Vice-Deans, guarantors, Heads of Department) or an established commission (disciplinary, ethical).

At the university level the processes, procedures and structures are defined by the Directive No. 110.

At the same time all student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering have the possibility to send question or recommendations to the Dean freely and anonymously via platform "Ask the Dean".

• Directive No. 110 - Study Rules for the Third Level of University Studies at the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_110.pdf
• Questions for the Dean of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=272

• Academic Calendar - UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/akademicky-kalendar
• Academic Calendar – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/akademicky-kalendar

• The study in the third level of study takes place according to an individual study plan.
• The pedagogical activities of full-time doctoral students are regulated by the current schedule, which is available on the system of electronic education UNIZA / E-EDUCATION: https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/vzdelavanie/rozvrh2.php

Ivan Kuric, prof. Dr. Ing. (https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/1970)

• head of the Department of Automation and Production Systems,
• Vice-Dean for Development and Foreign Relations at FME UNIZA
• ivan.kuric@fstroj.uniza.sk, +421 41 513 2800
• https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/en/employees/management-of-the-department

Contents is generated from Study plans.

Contents is generated from Study plans.

LINKS:

• List of the supervisors of final theses with the assignment to topics - alt. 1 (final theses section): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/images/akreditacia/skolitelia-kavs.pdf   
• List of the supervisors of final theses with the assignment to topics - alt. 2 (Doctoral study tab): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia
• List of the supervisors of final theses with the assignment to topics - alt. 3 (on FME homepage): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=263

Ing. Martin Bohušík, e-mail: martin.bohusik@fstroj.uniza.sk 

• The student is a member of the SP, he defenced succeesfully the diploma work at the DAPS department and has experience with representing the students´ interests in the SP.
• the student is a member of Study Programme Board.

Assoc.-prof. Ing. Ivan Zajačko, PhD., e-mail: ivan.zajacko@fstroj.uniza.sk; phone: +421 41 513 2815; office: PP 119

• Information on the approved study advisor, valid consultation hours for the given academic year is published at the study department of FME UNIZA, resp. on the faculty website:  (https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/akreditacia/poradcoviaPhD.pdf ).
• Access to counseling: consultation hours, information on the web, individual consultations and advice
• For the academic year 2021/2022, the study advisor has consulting hours Tuesday 9.00 - 11.00 (or at another time according to the agreement) or through the e-mail communication or MS TEAMS.

Support staff and papers at FME UNIZA

The Department for Scientific Research Activities (from 3.3.2022 Department of Science and Research, which is in charge of doctoral studies) operates at SjF UNIZA, which are adequately staffed, professionally and financially secured. Supporting professional staff in these departments, which in terms of competence and numbers correspond to the needs of students and teachers of the study program in relation to educational goals and outputs, provide tutoring, counseling, administrative and other support services and related activities for students of FME UNIZA. The responsibilities and competencies of these departments are regulated in the organizational rules of the faculty (available in Slovak): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/fstroj/pdf/AkademickySenat/Organ_poriadok_SjF_6_2021_upravene-3.6.2021.pdf

Study department: e-mail: studref@fstroj.uniza.sk   https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/uchadzaci/vseobecne-informacie/poradime-vam 

The referee of Department of Science and Research is in charge of doctoral students at the SP Automated Production Systems (3rd degree):

Name, surname: Ing. Eva Carmen Gavlas, PhD.
Area of responsibility / competence: science and research officer
Contact (e-mail, phone): carmen.gavlas@fstroj.uniza.sk, +421/41/513 27 05

At the UNIZA Faculty of Mechanical Engineering the Department of Science and Research is in charge of the PhD study that provides adequate activities in the area of HR, technical and financial activities. It is methodologically managed by the Vice-Dean for Scientific and Research Activities: prof. Ing. Eva Tillová, PhD. The supporting staff of the department and their competence and number corresponds with the needs and number of the students at the 3^rd degree in connection with the educational goals and outputs, it ensures the tutorial, consultancy, administrative and other supporting services and activities for the PhD students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The responsibility and competences of the Department of Science and Research are introduced in the Organisational Order of the Faculty: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/fstroj/pdf/AkademickySenat/Organ_poriadok_SjF_6_2021_upravene-3.6.2021.pdf

The Department for Foreign Relations provides the administrative support of the mobilities abroad at the Faculty – Mgr. Renáta Janovčíková, e-mail: renata.janovcikova@fstroj.uniza.sk  (https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/medzinarodna-spolupraca/podpora/erazmus ). This department also deals with advisory activities in the area of the exchange stays of the students and with promotion of the mobilities abroad.

The Department for International Relations and Marketing working at the UNIZA Rector´s Office is in charge of the Erasmus+ activities – the responsible person is Mgr. Lenka Kuzmová - lenka.kuzmova@rekt.uniza.sk who manages all activities of the programme at UNIZA.

Peter Malacký, peter.malacky@uniza.sk  Information about e-education: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie The students of the SP utilise the dormitory of UNIZA with supporting and administrative staff- https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie/ubytovanie https://www.iklub.sk/index.php?q=ubytko&PHPSESSID=6f1f816fca3dfceea64f3d777752d6e9

The Consultancy and Career Centre of UNIZA helps the students solve the problems of the study, partner and family problems, emotional problems, communication problems, identification of  a job for the career,...

https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie/poradenske-a-karierne-centrum-uniza

• The Coordinator of the Psychological Consukltancy of CCC - PhDr. Miroslava Bruncková, PhD. (room: AA022, tel.: +421 41 513 5073, mob.: +421 918 513 952, e-mail: miroslava.brunckova@uniza.sk / pkc@uniza.sk) is also available for the students.
• The students can also make use of the consultancy of the university team of psychological support:
• Consultancy psychologist, psychoterapist, professional coach: Mgr. Peter Seemann, PhD. (room: BF339, tel.: +421 41 513 3226, e-mail: peter.seemann@fpedas.uniza.sk
• Consultancy psychologist: Mgr. PhDr. Eva Škorvagová, PhD. (room: AC211, tel.: +421 41 513 6398, e-mail: eva.skorvagova@fhv.uniza.sk
• Professional consultant of the first contact: PhDr. Katarína Gažová (room: AA016, tel.: +421 41 513 5038, e-mail: katarina.gazova@uniza.sk)
• Psychological consultant: PhDr. Miroslava Bruncková, PhD. (room: AA022; tel.: +421 41 513 5073; mob.: +421 918 513 952; e-mail: miroslava.brunckova@uniza.sk / pkc@uniza.sk
• Professional advisor: Mgr. Valéria Moricová, PhD. (room: MA412; tel.: +421 41 513 6731; e-mail: valeria.moricova@fbi.uniza.sk
• Information for students: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/studenti-so-specifickymi-potrebami
• Coordinator for fees: Jana Závodská, jana.zavodska@uniza.sk. Information about fees: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/praktickeinformacie/skolne-a-poplatky
• Staff of the University Library: http://ukzu.uniza.sk/kontakt/
• Advisors for e-education: Ing. Peter Fraňo, frano@uniza.sk  Ing. Peter Malacký, peter.malacky@uniza.sk; https://www.unita.sk/index.hp/studenti/prakticke-informacie/e-vzdelavanie

At the university level, the processes, procedures and structures are defined by Directive No. 217.

• Directive No. 217 - Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-217-en.pdf

The premises of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering are in the compound of the University of Žilina in Žilina (UNIZA) with a good access by the city means of transport. The list and characteristics of the classrooms at the UNIZA Faculty of MechanicaL Engineering, the classroom of the SP Automated Production Systems and their technical outfit with attached educational outputs can be found at https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/akreditacia/laboratoria/zoznam-lab

The pedagogical process of key subjects within the study program Automated Production Systems takes place in the following classrooms and laboratories:

• The entire list of laboratories and technical equipment can be found at (tab. Doctoral study): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia 
• The entire list of laboratories and technical equipment (in Slovak): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/images/Akre-PHD/AVS-III-PhD___E-Priestorove-materialne-a-technicke-vybavenie.pdf 
• Virtual tour of laboratories at DAPS: https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/zoznam-laboratorii-kavs 

For individual study programs, there is also a 3D photo gallery of premises - classrooms, laboratories, where the teaching of subjects is carried out: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/akreditacia/laboratoria/prehliadka   

A more detailed description of the key laboratories of the main security departments of the SP Automated Production Systems is available on the homepages of the departments:

• DAPS (in Slovak KAVS): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/katedra/vybavenie/laboratoria
• DAPS (section Accreditation):  https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/en/accreditation 
• DMPT (in Slovak KOVT): https://kovt.uniza.sk/index.php?lang=en&view=labs

Relax zone for students and other equipment of UNIZA

Except for the aforementioned classrooms and labs of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering the students of the SP Automated Production Systems utilise also the university premises for their lectures and exercises according to an agreed schedule. All classrooms have the whiteboards and the most modern audio- and video-technique (data projector, etc.) with connections to PC for managing the processes.

The operation and accessibility of the material, technical and information resources is ensured from the subsidies, means from the entrepreneurial activity and the means of the publicly available grant schemes.

The Institute of Physical Training ensures the sports activity for the UNIZA students. The subject physical training takes place in the extent of 2 lessons a week as an optional subject. After the student successfully passes the lessons of the selected type of sport, he/she can get 2 credits in each semester. Further credits can be obtained at the BA and MA degree for the summer and winter training camps. The goal of the Institute of Physical Training is to offer the student possibilities to choose from a wide range of the sport specialisations. The specialisation is to strengthen the attitude to a certain type of sport, to improve it and actively improve the physical conditions and performance of the student. The current level of mastering the given sport is not important but the interest in this sport. The UNIZA Institute of Physical Training offers the UNIZA student a broad range of the sport specialisations: https://utv.uniza.sk/ponuka-sportov/

• The fitness centre, aerobic hall, squash playground, multi-purpose playground, regeneration facility, gym for the martial arts, climbing wall and sauna are available at the Fit-Club at the housing estate Hliny.
• The fitness centre, multi-purpose hall, ricochet playground, gym T1 Veľký Diel, gym Májová street, tennis courts, football grass playground, athletic track are available at the Fit-Club Veľký diel.

For those who are interested in the high performance sport the teams of the sports club ACADEMIC UNIZA are available. The Institute of Physical Training regularly organises the sport courses of rafting lasting one or several days (Soča, Salza, Váh, Hron, Belá), biking stays connected with hiking but also winter ski courses (the Low Tartras, the Alps, etc.)

Directive No. 217 – Resources for Supporting Educational, Creative and Other Activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina defines the processes, procedures and structures - https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_217.pdf

Access to Internet:

The IT classrooms and labs of the SP Automated Production Systems (departments DAPS and DMMT of the UNIZA Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) are connected to the university network that enables the students to have an unlimited access to the Internet (total of 84 PC). Seven terminals placed in front of the the Study Department of the Faculty offer the possibilities to connect to the network. UNIZA operates its own wi-fi network. The students can connect to the university wi-fi network (available in all university premises) and have a free access to the UNIZA web sites and an unlimited access to Internet after activating the student account. The university wi-fi network supports EDUROAM.

The software packet Microsoft Office 365 is available for the students. https://ikt.uniza.sk/uniza-wiki/office-365-na-uniza/  The student licence enables utilising the web and desktop applications of the packet Office 365 during their whole study.

The University of Žilina is the owner of the licence Total Academic Headcount (TAH) for MATLAB & Simulink - https://ikt.uniza.sk/uniza-wiki/category/software/matlab/ . In the framework of the TAH licence at UNIZA the students obtain the access e.g. to Matlab, Simulink, all main toolboxes - Matlab Online, Matlab Drive and Matlab Mobile. Except for these services the students can take part in the courses Matlab Online Training Suite. The licence enables to utilise Matlab for all teachers and students for the purposes of teaching, research and educations. Matlab can be installed on all university equipment and private computers.     

The University of Žilina in Žilina is the owner of the licence for the engineering and simulation software from the company Ansys - https://ikt.uniza.sk/uniza-wiki/ansys-2/ . The individual software from the programme package ANSYS enables to solve the physical problems for the following types of the fields: deformation fields in flexible bodies, flow of fluids, temperature fields, high-frequency electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic fields, optics. It is possible to solve also tasks from the area of the mixed fields and a lot of other technical problems in the areas of mechanical engineering, electrotechnical engineering, building industry, security engineering, medicine, transport, optics, 3D print, etc. The algorithms and computational models are based mainly on the FEM that is the most universal method for solving the partial differential equations and variation tasks for searching for extreme.

Electronic information system:

The Academic Information and Educational System (in Slovak the abbreviation AIVS) is the basic information system for the educational and teaching process. AIVS is available for the students at the university domain and also on Internet. It also covers the detached university workplaces. Currently AIVS covers by its services the whole life cycle of the university student from submitting the application to the final exams and activities connected with completing the study at the university. The system AIVS is created by the following subsystems:

The subsystem “Admission Procedure” provides the processing of the application (electronic/classical), results and their assessment, communication with the applicant and processing statistics for the Ministry of Education.

The subsystem “Education” - https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/vzdelavanie/ - created by the modules: students´ register, enrolment, schedule of lectures and administration of resources, development of the study, registering the study results, preliminary assessment of the study results, study stays (mobilities.

The subsystem “Completion of Study” created by the modules “Final Work” and “State Exams”.    

AIVS is integrated with other information systems that belong to the university intranet – the university library, emitting the student ID and administration of the student IDs, the access system, the list of users (identity management), the time and attendance system of the PhD students. AIVS is linked with the system of the university e-mail addresses of the students and with the application for the digital certificate and electronic signature in the selected services of AIVS. The application UniApps enables to access the data and AIVS services from the mobiles with OS Android in compliance with the university concept of implementing the mobile technologies. UniApps enables access to information independently of the place and time with the usage of the mobile device for the daily students of the 1^st to 3^rd degree. 

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UNIZA that utilises more than 700 PCs in the pedagogical and scientific and research process is connected with AIVS (the students of the 1^st to 3^rd degree of study utilise 363 PCs) and with the programmes MatLab® & Simulink® in the framework of the university licence Total Academic Headcount (TAH), LabVIEW, ME´scopeVES 5.0 (Vibrant Technology), ANSYS, ADINA, MSC.MARC, MSC.AUTOFORGE, MSC.FATIGUE, MSC.ADAMS, Mathematica, SYSWELD, ABAQUS, Axio Vision 4 with the package  Materials Package, , the module for analysing the phases, analysing alloys and module for topography, Witness Horizon 21 – software for modelling and optimising the manufacturing and maintenance processes, TechOptimizer 2.5 – for innovations, IQ-RM PRO 6.5 - FMEA a FMECA, Catia, Simpack, AMR-WinControl, Pro/ENGINEER, AutoCAD, VisiLogic, CodeVision AVR Evaluation, simulation programmes for industrial robots (TriVariant v9.exe, HEXAPOD prototype simulation v1.0.exe, RoboSim.exe ) and mobile robots (MobilnyRobot.exe), DELMIA Dasault Systemes, Siemes Tecnomatix for PLM containing Tecnomatix Jack, Tecnomatix Process Simulate, Tecnomatix Plant Simulation, Tecnomatix Robcad, Tecnomatix Facory Cad a Factory Flow, a complex software package Siemes Teamcenter for data administration, etc.

UNIZA is the member of the project SIVVP – Slovak Infrastructure for High-Performance Computers – approved in March 2009. The project was realised in 2012. The high-performance computing (HPC) or High-Performance Computers (VVP) means using supercomputers and computer clusters for solving the numerically or data demanding tasks in various branches of the science and technique, e.g. medicine, physics, chemistry and economics. The students can utilise the software ANSYS, COMSOL, COMSOL – cluster computing, Genome Trax, Mathematica 11.1, Matlab – licence for GRID, Matlab – TAH licence and SIMPACK.

Access to the study literature:

The University Library of the University of Žilina in Žilina (UK UNIZA http://ukzu.uniza.sk/ ) is a central workplace ensuring the complex library and information activities in the framework of the UNIZA activities, its individual study specialisations and subjects, relevantly according the current needs and changed requirements in the form of acquisition, professional processing and making the monographs, textbooks, standards, journals, legislative documents, periodical literature, statistical overviews and almanacs, language and professional dictionaries, encyclopaedias, electronic carriers of information, electronic information sources, electronic books available. The information about acquiring the study and other professional literature are published first of all for the UNIZA users but also the general public through the electronic online catalogue. All provided services are ensured automatically including the book loan, the inter-library and international book loan, the research activity, providing the DDS services and the electronic reference services.

The students have an access to a lot of paid fulltexts and databases - WOS, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Springer Online, Wileys, Oxford Publishing, etc.

The UNIZA Library has three study rooms for its users (92 places - http://ukzu.uniza.sk/sluzby-kniznice/) – its area is 540 m². The studies and workplaces for borrowing books are equipped with PCs with a direct Internet connection (46 PCs). In the study rooms there are available 11,292 books for the reference study (the basic study literature, electronic and audio-visual documents, final and qualification works, standards, etc.) and periodicals. At the study rooms (and also through other UNIZA IP addresses) there are available electronic databases complying with the subject specialisation of the university – 35 databases making mostly fulltext sources available. A study and relax zone, a silent box and the so called “brain relaxation room” are also available.

Except for the library collection accessible directly in the Library premises, the departments have their own “partial libraries” (109 partial libraries) where the students can also borrow publications. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is doing its best to bring the students as much information as possible and therefore part of the study literature (the textbooks, articles, presentations, aids for exercises, etc.)  is issued electronically.  They are published by their authors at the Internet sites of the departments and in the university system of e-learning. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering issues its own study texts (monographs, university textbooks) mostly in the publishing house EDIS that is part of UNIZA. UNIZA issues also scientific magazines - https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/vedci-a-partneri/vyskumne-zazemie/vedecke-casopisy

Coverage of the study program Automated Production by basic study literature (selected book publications and scripts) issued by teachers providing subjects of SP:

ČUBOŇOVÁ, N. - BULEJ, V.- NÁPRSTKOVÁ, N. - DODOK, T. - TLACH, V.: Automatizácia strojárskej výroby. V Žiline : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline : EDIS-vydavateľstvo UNIZA, 2021. - 259 s., ISBN 978-80-554-1836-0, 265 s.
KURIC, I., NIKITIN, J.-R., ZAJAČKO, I. Programmirovanije i upravlenije mechatronnych sistem : klassičeskij universitetskij učebnik  [electronic] = Programming and control mechatronic systems : classical university textbook / - 1. vyd. - Ostrava : Jiří Pustina TISKSERVIS, 2018. - 156 s. [CD-ROM]. - ISBN 978-80-87691-23-6 (skriptá)
DODOK, T. - ČUBOŇOVÁ, N. – CÍSAR, M. Základy CAD/CAM systému Edgecam 2020.0 [print] / - 1. vyd. - Žilina : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline, 2020. - 129 s. [11,06AH] [print]. - ISBN 978-80-554-1672-4 (skriptá)
KURIC, I. - KOŠTURIAK, J. - JANÁČ, A. - PETERKA, J. - MARCINČIN, J.: Počítačom podporované systémy v strojárstve. Vydavateľstvo EDIS, 2001. Žilina, ISBN 80-7100-948-2.351 (učebnica)
KURIC, I. – MATUSZEK, J. – DEBNÁR, R.: Computer Aided Process Planning in Machinery Industry. Politechnika Lodzka, Bielsko Biala, 1999, ISBN 83-87087-00-9, 139s. (učebnica)
COTETIU, R. – KURIC, I. – MARCINCIN, J. – UNGUREANU, N.: New Trend in Mechanical Design and Technologies. ISBN 973-751-084-4, 2005, RISOPRINT Cluj Napoca Publisher, 210p., (učebnica)
KURIC, I. – GROZAV, S. – ČUBOŇOVÁ, N. – KUMIČÁKOVÁ, D. – CÍSAR, M. – BULEJ, V. – et al.: Mechanization and automation equipment for processing. - Cluj-Napoca: Publishing House Alma Mater, 2015. - ISBN 978-606-504-188-2. - p. 482. (učebnica)
CÍSAR, M. - BULEJ, V. - ZAJAČKO, I. - ČUBOŇOVÁ, N.: Základy programovania CNC strojov s riadiacim systémom Sinumerik 840D: podpora pri vývoji multikriteriálnej diagnostiky. - Vyd. 1. - V Žiline : Žilinská univerzita, Strojnícka fakulta, 2018. - 164 s., fotografie, ilustrácie, schémy. - ISBN 978-80-554-1529-1. (skriptá)
URÍČEK, J. – BULEJ, V.: Automatizačné prvky v strojárstve. Vyd. 1. - V Žiline : Žilinská univerzita, Strojnícka fakulta, 2015. - 145 s., ilustr. - ISBN 978-80-554-1123-1. (skriptá)
ČUBOŇOVÁ, N.: Počítačová podpora programovania CNC strojov, EDIS ŽU v Žilina, 2012, ISBN 978-80-554-0514-8,115 s. (učebnica)
ČUBOŇOVÁ,N. - SALAJ,J. - URÍČEK,J: Obrábanie v systéme Pro/ENGINEER. Vysokoškolská učebnica. EDIS ŽU Žilina, 2000, ISBN 80-7100-620-3, 297 s. (učebnica)
POPPEOVÁ, V., ČUBOŇOVÁ, N., URÍČEK, J., KUMIČÁKOVÁ, D.: Automatizácia strojárskej výroby. EDIS ŽU Žilina, 2001, ISBN 80-8070-009-5 (učebnica)
KUMIČÁKOVÁ, D. – JAKUBČÍK, M.: Programovanie robota Fanuc LR Mate 200iC. Učebné texty a príručka k programovaniu robotov. Žilinská univerzita, Strojnícka fakulta, KAVS, 2013, Žilina, 65s. (študijný materiál)
KURIC, I. - KUBA, J. Počítačová podpora návrhu technologickej dokumentácie. - Žilina : Žilinská univerzita, Strojnícka fakulta, 2002. - 128 s., grafy, sch., tab. - ISBN 80-7100-925-3 (skriptá)
PILC, J. - PODKONICKÝ, M.: Prípravky a nástroje, VŠDS Žilina, 1991, ISBN 80 - 7100 - 043 – 4 (skriptá)
NESLUŠAN, M. – ČILLIKOVÁ, M..: Teoretické základy trieskového obrábania. Žilina: Edis – vydavateľské centrum ŽU v Žiline 2015, str.248 , ISBN 978-80-554-1032-6 (učebnica)
NESLUŠAN, M. – ČILLIKOVÁ, M.: Teória obrábania 2007. Žilina EDIS, 2007, 166 S., ISBN 978-80-8070-790-3. (učebnica)
MIČIETOVÁ, A. 2016. Progresívne technológie. Žilina : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline, 2016, s. 408, ISBN 978-80-554-1288-7 (učebnica)
MEDVECKÁ, I., BIŇASOVÁ, V. 2017. Záverečný projekt - návody na cvičenia. Žilina : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline, 2017, vydanie prvé, ISBN 978-80-554-1384-6 (skriptá)
KRAJČOVIČ, M. - HANČINSKÝ, V. 2014. Projektovanie výrobných a montážnych systémov : návody na cvičenia. Žilina : Žilinská univerzita, 2014. 276 s., ISBN 978-80-554-0920-7 (skriptá)
KRAJČOVIČ, M., GABAJOVÁ, G., FURMANNOVÁ, B. 2020. Rozšírená realita a jej využitie v priemyselnom inžinierstve. 1. vyd. Žilina : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline, 2020. 225 s. ISBN 978-80-554-1697-7 (učebnica)
KRAJČOVIČ, M. 2020. Digitálne projektovanie výrobných a logistických systémov. Žilina : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline, 2020. 82 s. ISBN 978-80-554-1747-9 (skriptá)
GREGOR, M. – KRAJČOVIČ, M. – BUBENÍK, P. 2010. Operačný manažment – návody na cvičenia. 1 elektronický optický disk, 1. vydanie, Žilina, Žilinská univerzita, 2010, 183 s., ISBN 978-50-554-0246-8. (skriptá)
BUČKOVÁ, M. - GRZNÁR, P. 2020. Modelovanie a simulácia. Žilina : Žilinská univerzita v Žiline, 2020. 143 s. ISBN 978-80-554-1716-5 (skriptá)

The study is primarily delivered in the face-to-face form but the teachers are able to switch immediately to the distance form of teaching if necessary - e.g. in case a situation similar to the current COVID-19 pandemic occurs. In this case the teaching process will be realized through the systems Moodle and MS Teams.

Thanks to the package MS Office 365 - https://ikt.uniza.sk/uniza-wiki/office-365-na-uniza/  used by UNIZA it is possible to share large files, carry out online classes as well as testing in a reliable regime with a continuous transfer of data files at the same time. The on-line classes and testing in the framework of this package are realized through Teams and Forms. The Dean of the Faculty informs the students about the transfer from the face-to-face study to the distance one by a mass electronic e-mail. If there is only a short-term transfer in the framework of a certain subject the students are informed in advance by the responsible teacher. The students are informed about the conditions of passing a subject during the transfer from the face-to-face form to the distance one at the beginning of the semester.

The standard part of the teaching process is to provide the study materials to the students. There are several approaches how to do it. The basic information about the subject´s content is published in the information sheet of the subject that also contains the description of the relevant sources of literature inevitable for gaining knowledge determined by the subject content. The Faculty is doing its best to ensure the necessary study literature through the university library and department libraries. The next method is to publish the presentations and other study materials at the Faculty web site for the given subjects in the framework of individual departments in compliance with the copy right. A new and more sophisticated method is to publish the study materials through the system Moodle and various e-learning tools that enable the students to use the study materials in the form of presentations, videos, tests and enable a direct communication with the teacher in the form of lectures, seminars, exercises and consultations.

The individual subjects of the study program are provided by the necessary teaching texts (textbooks, etc.) that are regularly innovated in the framework of the plan of the editorial activity at UNIZA. Except for the University Library UNIZA has also a shop for selling the literature - EDIS https://edis.uniza.sk/ponuka/1/Studijna-literatura/ and EDIS shop: https://www.edis.uniza.sk/

Coverage of the study program Automated production systems by basic study literature (selected book publications and scripts) issued by teachers providing subjects of the SP: - see point 8b

Partners and their participation on educational activities:

• VIPO, s.r.o., Partizánske - participation in the formulation of scientific problems solved within the dissertations, consulting activities for dissertations, solution of joint research tasks and transfer of know-how to the educational process, preparation of a joint workplace at UNIZA (participation of students in solving practical tasks + research)
• MTS, spol. s r.o., Kriva, Zilina - participation in the formulation of scientific problems solved within the dissertations, consulting activities for dissertations, implementation of research projects, selected lectures from practice,
• Schaeffler Slovensko, spol. s r. o., Kysucké Nové Mesto - participation in the formulation of scientific problems solved within the dissertations, consulting activities for dissertations, implementation of research projects, selected lectures from practice,
• ECCO Slovakia, a. s., Martin - participation in the formulation of scientific problems solved within the dissertations, consulting activities for dissertations, implementation of research projects, selected lectures from practice,
• KOVAL SYSTEMS, a.s., Beluša - participation in the formulation of scientific problems solved within the dissertations, consulting activities for dissertations, implementation of research projects, selected lectures from practice,
• Hyundai Transys Slovakia s. r. o., Žilina - excursions of students, presentation for students, solution of robotic cell
• Continental Matador Rubber, s.r.o., Púchov - solving joint research tasks and transfer of know-how to the educational process
• NEOGRAFIA, a.s., Martin-Priekopa - participation in the formulation of scientific problems solved within the dissertations, long-term internships of students, consulting activities for dissertations

At the university level, the possibilities of social, sports, cultural, spiritual and social activities are described in Directive no. 217 - Resources to support the educational, creative and other related activities of the University of Žilina in Žilina, in particular Articles 17, 18 and 19: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/2021/smernica-UNIZA-c-217 .pdf

The web site of the University of Žilina in Žilina presents the possibilities of the social, sports, cultural and intellectual activities - https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/studentsky-zivot/volny-cas

The catering services for the students are ensured by the UNIZA Catering Facilities – Nová menza - https://menza.uniza.sk/

The accommodation of the UNIZA students is ensured by the dormitories Veľký Diel - https://vd.internaty.sk/ and Hliny http://hliny.internaty.sk/

The Institute of Physical Training ensures the sports activities for the UNIZA students - https://utv.uniza.sk/, that offers the basic possibilities of the sports activities:

• The Fit-Club of the dormitory at Hliny V offers: the fitness centre, aerobic hall, squash playground, multi-purpose playground, regeneration facility, gym for the martial arts, climbing wall and sauna.
• The Fit-Club of the dormitory at Veľký Diel offers: the fitness centre, multi-purpose hall, ricochet playground, gym T1 Veľký Diel, gym Májová street, tennis courts, football grass playground, athletic track are available at the Fit-Club Veľký diel.
• High-performance sport: for those who are interested in the high performance sport the teams of the sports club ACADEMIC UNIZA are available. The Institute of Physical Training regularly organises the sport courses of rafting lasting one or several days (Soča, Salza, Váh, Hron, Belá), biking stays connected with hiking but also winter ski courses (the Low Tartras, the Alps, etc.)

The following institutions offer the cultural and artistic activities in Žilina:

• Stanica Žilina-Záriečie (https://www.stanica.sk/)
• Dom umenia Fatra (http://www.skozilina.sk/)
• Považská galéria umenia (https://www.pgu.sk/)
• Nová synagóga (https://www.novasynagoga.sk/)
• Mestské divadlo Žilina (https://www.divadlozilina.eu/)
• Bábkové divadlo (http://www.bdz.sk/

The University Pastoral Centre ensures the religious activities for the students - https://upc.uniza.sk/

Several organisations at the university offer common activities for the students (see the Guide for the First Year Student - https://www.uniza.sk/flexpapers/sprievodca-prvaka/ ), e.g.:

• GAMA klub - http://gamaklub.uniza.sk/
• I-TÉČKO - http://itecko.uniza.sk/
• Internet klub - https://www.iklub.sk/
• RÁDIO X - http://www.radiox.sk/
• RAPEŠ - https://www.rapes.sk/
• Folklore ensemble STAVBÁR http://fsstavbar.sk/
• Club of Friends of Railways - http://fpedas.utc.sk/~kpzzu/

At the university level, Directive No. 219 - Mobility of students and staff of the University of Žilina abroad defines the processes, procedures and structures abroad: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/2021/smernica-UNIZA-c-219.pdf

Students of FME UNIZA can participate in international mobility programs of the European Union such as CEEPUS and Erasmus +, where registration and rules of recognition of this education are governed by the rules of the respective programs. The list of participating institutions is regularly updated. The instructions are published on the faculty website. As part of their scientific work on their own projects, or on the projects of the trainer, they are sent to partner universities and research institutions not only within Europe but also elsewhere in the world. They can also benefit from bilateral international mobility projects, e.g. through the Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAAIA) and the National Scholarship Fund (NŠP).

Binding contractual partnerships allow for the participation of stakeholders and their representatives in the design, approval, implementation and evaluation of the study program. The agreements with the partners specify the conditions of participation of the partner's employees in the implementation of the study program and the conditions of providing spatial, material and information resources and quality assurance of the study carried out at the partner's premises, including final theses.

UNIZA has the opportunity to send students abroad for study or internships in its partnerships at 56 foreign universities. Even wider possibilities covering practically the whole world exist within other schemes, especially within the Erasmus + program and activities covered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Slovak Republic, implemented through SAIA. These are in particular: the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS), the National Scholarship Program (NSP), the Austria-Slovakia Action, the Visegrad Fund, etc. In addition to Erasmus +, the faculty has further contractual cooperation with AGH University of Science and Technology (Kraków, Poland), Technical University of Varna (Bulgaria), International Visegrad Fund.

Erasmus + coordinators working at the faculty help applicants draw up a precise study plan at a foreign university, which is a prerequisite for the recognition of studies completed abroad at FME UNIZA. Detailed information on the participation of students in international mobility for individual academic years is provided by the annual reports of the faculty (https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/fakulta/vseobecne-informacie/uradna-tabula)

Possibilities and conditions of participation of students of the study program in mobilities and internships, instructions for registration, rules of recognition of this education are described in the Directive No. 219.

Basic information on Erasmus + mobility:

• Mobility selection criteria: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/erasmus/StrategiaVyberuUNIZAPridelovaniegrantov.pdf
• Link to the Erasmus + program page: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/erasmus

Contact persons at the FME level:

• Name, surname, titles: prof. Dr. Ing. Ivan Kuric
• Responsibilities: FME Vice-Dean for Foreign Relations, Erasmus + FME Coordinator.
• Contact (e-mail, phone): ivan.kuric@fstroj.uniza.sk, +421415132800
• Name, surname, titles: Mgr. Renáta Janovčíková
• Area of responsibility / competences: Erasmus + program officer at FME
• Contact (e-mail, phone): renata.janovcikova@fstroj.uniza.sk, +421415132518

Contact persons at UNIZA level (name, contact data, area responsibility / competences):

• prof. Ing. Jozef Ristvej, PhD. - Vice-Rector for International Relations and Marketing, Institutional Erasmus + Coordinator, Contact (e-mail, phone): jozef.ristvej@uniza.sk, +421415135130
• Mgr. Lenka Kuzmová - coordination of Erasmus + activities KA103 projects, Erasmus + cooperation agreements, coordination of study stays and student internships, Contact: lenka.kuzmova@uniza.sk, +421415135133
• Anna Súkeníková - coordination of Erasmus + teacher mobility; Contact (e-mail, phone): anna.sukenikova@uniza.sk, +421415135132
• Ing. Jana Andrlová - coordination of Erasmus mobility of KA103 employees and KA107 teachers; Contact (e-mail, phone): jana.andrlova@uniza.sk, +421415135139
• Mgr. Lucia Jendrichovská - Erasmus + coordination of incoming students, student accommodation; Contact (e-mail, phone): lucia.jedndrichovska@uniza.sk, +421415135149

The document Principles and Rules for Admission Procedure for the Third Degree of University Study at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina in Žilina https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=219 defines the principles and rules for the admission procedure for the study of the PhD study programmes (the third degree of the university study) ensured by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina in Žilina. The rules are worked out according to the Directive No. 206 – Principles and Rules of Admission Procedure for Study at Unibersity of Žilina in Žilina -   https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_206.pdf  annually approved by the Academic Senate of the Faculty. 

All information concerning the admission procedure (admission conditions, deadlines, accredited study programmes and the planned numbers of the accepted students) are published on the Faculty web site and the portal of the universities on the determined day. Important links:

• https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/education/studies/study-programs-ph-d 
• https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/prijimacky/index.php 
• https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/uchadzaci/moznosti-studia/prijimacie-konanie
• https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=219
• https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/fstroj/pdf/Studijne/SJF_PHD_2022.pdf
• https://www.portalvs.sk/sk/

The admission procedures take place for all accredited programmes of the UNIZA Faculty of Mechanical Engineering that respects and implements these principles and guarantees that:

• The admission procedure is just, transparent and reliable;
• The conditions of the admission procedure are inclusive and guarantee the same opportunities for every applicant who demonstrates the necessary assumptions for graduating for the study;
• The selection of the applicants is based on appropriate methods of assessing their capability for the study;
• The criteria and requirements of the applicants are published in advance and are easily accessible.

It is assumed that the applicant has abilities for an independent creative activity in the specialisation Mechanical Engineering and a high level of professional knowledge from the SP subjects for the second degree connected with the selected PhD SP and selected topic of the dissertation thesis.

Basic conditions for admission:

The basic condition for admission for the PhD study (the study programme of the third degree) is to acquire the academic title at the second degree of the university study (Law 131/2002 Coll., about universities as amended - further only “law”).

The applicant who does not submit the confirmation about completing the second degree at the time of the admission commission meeting, can be accepted conditionally; but at the latest on the date determined for enrolment he/she will submit this document.

For those applicants who acquired the education necessary for fulfilling the basic admission condition at an acknowledged educational institution outside Slovakia (it does not concern the Czech Republic) it is necessary that the document about the acquired education is equal with the document about education issued by an acknowledged educational institution in Slovakia (acknowledging the documents about education for the purpose of continuing the study according to the law 422/2015 Coll., about acknowledging the documents about education and about acknowledging professional qualifications, as amended). Thorough information see - https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/uchadzaci/vseobecne-informacie/uznavanie-dokladov

The study of the SPs at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering requires the knowledge of the Slovak or Czech language orally and in writing at an adequate level (minimally the level B1), the UNIZA offers the language courses. The knowledge of at least one world language at an adequate level is also necessary (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian).  The study programmes taught in English require the knowledge of English minimally at the B1 level.

Admission of foreign students:

The foreign students have the same admission conditions as the applicants from the Slovak Republic. The foreign students who study in another language than Slovak, pay the fees according to § 92 section 8 of the law about universities. The fee is stated by the UNIZA guideline and published at the university web site for the given year. The foreign students studying in Slovak do not pay the fees. The applicants from the Czech Republic can use the application form valid in the Czech Republic. The applicants who do not speak Slovak or Czech are required to pass the language training (it is also possible at UNIZA). For those foreign students who are accepted on the basis of the international agreements, bilateral treaties or are the scholarship holders of the Slovak government the conditions of the given documents are valid.

The Directive No. 206 - Principles and Rules of Admission Procedure for Study at University of Žilina in Žilina -   https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_206.pdf defines the processes, procedures and structures at the UNIZA level.

The further conditions of admitting the applicants for the PhD programmes at the Faculty are defined according to § 57 of the law. The admission procedure is realised in the form of a selection procedure with the goal to ensure that the applicants who are to start the study have the necessary capabilities and assumptions. All applicants pass a selection procedure.

The selection procedure for the PhD study is realised in the form of an interview separately with each applicant with the admission commission. One of the main activities of the PhD study is the scientific and research and artistic creative activity of the PhD student that is a substantial part of the PhD study (see the information of the current PhD students - https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=229

The goal of the admission exam for the PhD study at the SP Automated Production Systems is to verify the applicant´s assumptions to study at the selected SP and to find out his/her capabilities for an independent creative activity. The admission procedure verifies these facts with the goal to ensure the high educational level and achievement of the internationally accepted results as follows:

• The assumptions of the applicant for the independent creative activity in the area of the materials engineering (e.g. by participating in the UNIZA Grant System for the student of the second degree according to the Guideline 180 – Grant System of University of Žilina in Žilina),
• The level of the professional knowledge from the second degree SP subjects connected with the PhD study and the selected topic of the dissertation thesis,
• The ability to create publication outputs of the results of the creative activities and their publishing in the magazine and anthologies,
• The ability to present the results of his/her work at the conferences and competitions in Slovakia and abroad,
• The ability to utilise the available scientific and professional sources especially from the international indexed databases,
• The knowledge at least of one foreign language at an adequate level.

We expect from the PhD student and verify his/her motivation for the study, the professional capability, assumptions for the creative and independent work, an active approach to fulfilling the tasks and personal responsibility.

The admission exam is realised before an admission commission consisting of at least four members - it is created by the chairman and at least two members, the next member is the supervisor for the given topic. An order of the applicants is then created according to:

• The admission exam results,
• The results achieved at the second degree of the university study,
• The assessment of the diploma thesis defence,
• The participation in the student scientific conferences,
• The applicant´s publication activity.

A report is written about the results of the admission exam. The applicants are accepted for the study on the basis of the order of the admission exam. The final decision about the result of the admission procedure is made by the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering based on the recommendation of the admission commission. In the case when the conditions for admission are fulfilled by more applicants than planned, the Dean of the Faculty can decide about admission of a higher number of these applicants. The decisions about the admission / non-admission for the study will be delivered by the registered mail to the hands of the applicant in the deadline according to the law. The decision about admission also contains the enrolment procedure for the study.

The applicants with specific needs based on their request and on the assessment of the specific needs are given the form of the admission exam and the method of its realisation taking into account his/her specific needs in compliance with the Directive No. 198 – Support of Applicants for Study and Students with Specific Needs at the University of Žilina in Žilina ( https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_198.pdf ).

The topics of the dissertation theses the applicant can ask for in the framework of the admission procedure for studying the PhD PSs are published at the Faculty web site together with the names of the supervisors - https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/component/sppagebuilder/?view=page&id=196

The topics of the dissertation theses of the SP Automated Production Systems can be found at following links. 

LINKS:

• Dissertation topics for which an applicant can apply as part of the admission procedure for doctoral study programs are published, together with the names of supervisors, on the faculty's website: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=%20com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=195  (or directly list of topics for ŠP AVS: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/prijimacky_doktorandi/Automatizovan-vrobn-systmy.pdf ), no later than two months before the last day for submitting applications . The applicant applies for one or more of the listed topics, states the name of the study program and the form of study he is interested in studying.
• List of final theses topics for the last 6 years / currently conducted - alt. 1 (Doctoral study tab): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia
• List of final theses topics for the last 6 years / currently conducted - alt. 2 (on FME homepage): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=263 

The topics are published at the latest two days before the last day determined for submitting the applications. The applicant registers for one or several topics, presents the name of the study programme and the form of study he/she is interested in. The applicants fill in the form – Application for Study – 3^rd Degree or use the electronic form. The filled in form is to be sent to: https://vzdelavanie.uniza.sk/prijimacky/index.php. The applicant can follow the whole procedure from registering until completing the procedure in the information system. The university portal https://prihlaskavs.sk/sk/ can be used too. All the required appendixes can be inserted electronically as scanned documents. Also in the case of the electronic application it is necessary to print the application form, to sign it, attach the required appendixes and the document about paying the fee and to send it by post to the Faculty address until 31^st May 2022. The incomplete application or an application sent after the deadline will not be accepted. In the case of absence or if the students fails during the admission procedure, the Faculty does not return the fee for the admission procedure. If the applicant wants to participate in several admission procedures at the UNIZA faculties, the application is to be submitted separately to each faculty and the fees have to be paid for each application. 

The applicant for the study of the third degree attaches to the application the following documents:

• CV,
• The confirmation about paying the fee for admission procedure,
• The scan of the application signed by the applicant (in the case of electronic application),
• The copies of the documents about achieved education, the accepted applicant is obliged  to submit the verified copies of the documents about the achieved education at the latest on the day of the enrolment (the UNIZA graduates are not obliged to attach a verified copy),
• A brief idea of solving the selected topic of the dissertation thesis (the motivation letter).

If they are available, the applicant can attach the following documents that he/she delivers to the Faculty at the latest on the day of the admission exam:

• A list of his/her published and non-published works, articles or the expert assessments of these works,
• A list of awards acquired,
• The copies of documents about participations and placements at the student scientific conferences,
• The copies of the documents about other significant results of his/her professional and scientific activity.

UNIZA archives the documentation from the admission procedure, about the enrolment and enrolments for other parts of the study, statements of the study results, copies of the documents about graduating from the study and other documents at least 25 years from the day of graduating from the study.

Study Programme Automated Production Systems:

NOTE (*): The table above lists the applications submitted in the classic way. In the academic year 2021/2022, a part of doctoral students from the Mechanical Engineering Technologies study programme, conducted at the Department of Machining and Manufacturing Technology - DMMT, was included under the Automated Production Systems study programme. For that reason, in the academic year 2021/2022, following students supervised at DMMT were assigned under the SP Automated Production Systems, specifically:

• 2 students from the full-time form of study belonging to DMMT switched into the Automated Production Systems, 3rd year, part-time form of study:     Ing. Silvia Slabejová - 3rd year; Ing. Pavol Timko - 3rd year.

In addition, 4 students in total were assigned to the SP Automated Production Systems, full-time form of study (1st year - 2 students: Ing. Vladimír Bechný and Ing. Peter Kozový; 2nd year - 1 student: Ing. Miroslav Cedzo; 3rd year - 1 student:  Ing. Andrej Horák).

The procedures of collecting, analysing and utilising the relevant information for an effective management of the SP are part of the formalised processes of the processes of the internal system.

The fulfilling of the formalised processes of utilising the relevant information ensures that information used for assessing the SP and for the proposals of its adaptations and improvement will be analyses. These procedures are worked out in the Directive No. 223 - Monitoring and Periodic Review of the Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-223-en.pdf

The Directive No. 218 - On the Collection, Processing, Analysis and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-218-en.pdf  states the rules, procedures and responsibilities concerning systematic collecting, processing, analysing and assessing the information for managing the educational activity and creative activities.

The monitoring of the study programme at UNIZA includes the continual observation and analysis of the educational process in the given study programme, realisation of the planned activities that are to direct the quality improvement of the education, to achievement the outputs and goals of education, fulfilment of the relevant legislation and other legal guidelines.

The assessment of the study programme based on the data acquired from monitoring is realised periodically with the goal to improve the SP quality systematically and to achieve the goals and outputs of the education effectively. This activity is part of the UNIZA quality and offers an objective view at further discussions about the quality of education at UNIZA. The following parties participate in monitoring and periodical assessment of the study programme:

• The internally involved parties:
• UNIZA students through the feedback at the level of the subjects and the study programmes realised on an annual basis;
• UNIZA graduates through the feedback mapping their entrance to the labour market and adaptation in their employment realised on a three-year basis;
• The employers through the feedback mapping the preparedness of the SP graduates for the practice realised on a three-year basis.

 Based on the research and analysis of the detected facts the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering realises measures that it implements to the educational process and all concerned areas. After implementing the results we realise monitoring of effectiveness of the adopted measures that follow the change of the students´ satisfaction who are in the individual phases of the student´s life cycle. The Faculty is implementing procedures for monitoring and assessing the students´ opinions concerning the quality of the study programme. The department responsible for science and research ensures the measurement and assessment of the customers´ satisfaction once for the given academic year during the summer semester.

Questionair - Feedback from doctoral students at SjF UNIZA for the purpose of improving the quality of the study program was implemented through a form via MS TEAMS::
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S_8kg8gU9UuwfqBxMXnzfg0sNN22pyVDlcQXoP_sUzlUMVQyTkgzMTlVVlNXR0MxWkRDMk1VQ0VIWS4u 

The anonymous survey was attended by 46 full-time doctoral students (from all SP) out of 55 doctoral students enrolled in the academic year 2021/2022, i.e. 83% of students.

The results are documented at:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/AnalysisPage.aspx?id=S_8kg8gU9UuwfqBxMXnzfg0sNN22pyVDlcQXoP_sUzlUMVQyTkgzMTlVVlNXR0MxWkRDMk1VQ0VIWS4u&AnalyzerToken=SyUXj01xKHDmQcjRbjfrSHC2EUhhCqU0 

The results show that:

• 84% of students are satisfied with the course content;
• 82% of students are satisfied with the scientific level of study;
• 65% of students had the possibility of consultations, or realization of experiments abroad (note: mobility abroad is usually attended by students of up to 2 or 3 years of study);
• 73% of students are satisfied with the instructor's approach and 76% with the approach of other teachers at the training workplace;
• 84% of students expressed satisfaction with the possibility of foreign mobility;
• 15% of students would welcome more help, training in ensuring pedagogical activities;
• 84% of students are satisfied with the access and availability of information in the relevant study department for the 3rd level of higher education (Department of Science and Research);
• 78% of students are satisfied with the provision of literature at the training workplace, or access to scientific databases;
• 73% of students are overall satisfied with the study program and would definitely recommend it to other students (8% of students are dissatisfied);

The guarantors of the study programs and the SjF management (college of the dean) analyze the data from the received feedback, identify possibilities and suggestions for strengthening the strengths, using potential opportunities for improvement and eliminating identified weaknesses and possible threats.

The results of the feedback on the education carried out and the identified opportunities for improvement will subsequently be analyzed, evaluated by the Study Programme Board and are the basis for the creation of the Study Program Evaluation Report as part of the study program's periodic evaluation by the Study Programme Board.

The statement of the graduates was realized through an online questionnaire.

Feedback from graduates in order to increase the quality of the study program is realized through an online questionnaire, which is published on the website of the AVS Department - Quality Assessment of the AVS Study Program (Level III - PhD.) By part-time graduates: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=S_8kg8gU9UuwfqBxMXnzfnWOCiBBJGdGgTQkIu0zobFUQ1VVRDA1RU5SUzhCVFI1VlVTUVRaMElIUC4u 

Results - Evaluation of the quality of the study program AVS (III. Degree - PhD.) By part-time graduates are given in the following link: https://forms.office.com/pages/designpagev2.aspx?subpage=design&id=S_8kg8gU9UuwfqBxMXnzfnWOCiBBJGdGgTQkIu0zobFUQ1VVRDA1RU5SUzhCVFI1VlVTUVRaMElIUC4u&analysis=true  

RESULTS at DAPS webpage (tab. Doctoral study): https://www.kavs.uniza.sk/index.php/sk/akreditacia 

Application of SP Automated production systems in a given company:

The guarantor of the study program analyzes the data from the obtained feedback, identifies possibilities and suggestions for strengthening the strengths, using potential opportunities to improve and eliminating the identified weaknesses and possible threats.

The results of the feedback on the implemented education and the identified opportunities for improvement are subsequently analyzed, evaluated by the Study Program Board and are the basis for the preparation of the Study Program Evaluation Report within the periodic evaluation of the study program by the Study Program Board.

From the current survey conducted on graduates from previous years (approximately since 2014), it can be seen that SP Automated Production Systems has both strong (flexibility) and weaknesses (weaker development of practical skills). Securing persons are constantly working to increase the level of the AVS environment also through continuous development and modernization of technical equipment. This has been particularly successful in recent years, but has been marked by a shift to hybrid and online forms of education. However, we consider this a potential for the future.

It is also clear from the feedback received from graduates that similar tools for monitoring and obtaining feedback are important and will therefore be given more attention, and we also plan to carry out more detailed analyzes of the data obtained. This is also in line with the recommendations and comments of the Authority from Practice (VIPO, a.s., Partizánske) and this effort was also supported by the SP Council Automated Production Systems.

• List of the valid directives (Slovak language): https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/akreditacia/studijne-programy/zoznam-smernic
• List of the valid directives (English language): https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/smernice-pre-vnutorny-system-kvality-uniza-en
• Directive No. 106 - Statute of UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/17012019_S-106-2012-Statut-UNIZA-v-zneni-Dodatkov1-az-5.pdf
• Directive No. 110 - Study order for 3rd degree of university study at uniza:  https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/doktorandske-studium/Smernica2015.pdf
• Directive No. 132 about Free Access to Information:  http://uniza.sk/document/Zasady_SI_ZU_VI-2015.pdf
• Directive No. 149 - Organisational Order:  https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/smernice-predpisy/2021/02092021_S-149-2016-Organizacny-poriadok-UNIZA-D1-az-D16-07062021.pdf
• Directive No. 152 - Principles of Editorial Activity of  UNIZA:  https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/edicna-cinnost/SM152-zasady-edicnej-cinnosti-31032020.pdf
• Directive No. 159 - Working Order: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/smernice-predpisy/S-159_2017-Pracovn-poriadok_03112017.pdf
• Directive No. 163 - Accommodation Order of UNIZA dormitories: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/ubytovanie/27082018_Ubytovaci-poriadok-od-01092018.pdf
• Directive No. 167 - Rules of Procedure of Disciplinary Commissions: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/smernice-predpisy/2021/09072021_S-167-2018-Rokovaci-poriadok-disciplinarnych-komisii-UNIZA.pdf
• Directive No. 180 - Grant System of University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/grantovy-system-UNIZA/2021/04082021_S-180-2021-Grantovy-system-Zilinskej-univerzity-v-Ziline-v-zneni-Dodatku-c-2-26072021.pdf
• Directive No.  200 - Principles of Selection Procedure for Filling the Working Positions of University Teachers, Research Workers, the Positions of Associate Professors and Professors:  https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_200.pdf
• Directive No.  201 - Disciplinary Order for UNIZA Students: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_201.pdf
• Directive No.  202 - Criterions for appointing the posts of professors and associate professors and rules for appointing to hosting professors: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-202-en.pdf
• Directive No.  203 - Rules for the Creation of Recommended Study Plans for UNIZA Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-203-en.pdf
• Directive No.   204 - Rules for creating, adapting, approving and cancelling the SPs of UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-204-en.pdf
• Directive No.  205 - Rules for assigning teachers for ensuring the SPs at UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-205-en.pdf
• Directive No.  206 - Principles and Rules of Admission Procedure for Study at UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_206.pdf
• Directive No.  207 - Ethical Code of UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/smernice/S_207.pdf
• 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: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-208-en.pdf
• Directive No.  210 - Statute of the Accreditation Board of the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-210-en.pdf
• Directive No.  211 - Procedure for Obtaining the Scientific-Pedagogical Titles and Artistic-Pedagogical Titles Associate Professor and Professor at the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-211-en.pdf
• Directive No.  212 - Rules for the Definition of the Workload of Creative Employees of the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-212-en.pdf
• Directive No.  213 - Quality Assurance Policies at the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-213-en.pdf
• 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: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-214-en.pdf
• Directive No.  215 - On Final, Rigorous and Habilitation Theses in the Conditions of the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-215-en.pdf
• Directive No.  216 - Quality Assurance of the Doctoral Degree Studies at the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-216-en.pdf
• Directive No.  217 - Resources to Support Educational, Creative and Other Related Activities of the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-217-en.pdf
• Directive No.  218 -  On the Collection, Processing, Analysis and Evaluation of Information to Support the Management of Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-218-en.pdf
• Directive No.  219 - Mobility Programmes of UNIZA Students and Staff Abroad: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-219-en.pdf
• Directive No.  220 - Evaluation of the Creative Activity of Employees in Relation to Quality Assurance of Education at the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-220-en.pdf
• Directive No. 221 - Cooperation of the University of Žilina in Žilina with External Partners from Practice: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-221-en.pdf
• Directive No.  222 - Internal system of quality assurance at UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-222-en.pdf
• Directive No.  223 - Monitoring and Periodic Review of the Study Programmes: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-223-en.pdf
• Directive No.  226 - On Copyright Ethics and the Elimination of Plagiarism in the Conditions of the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-226-en.pdf
• Directive No. 227 - Rules for the Creation, Modification, Approval and Cancellation of the Joint Study Programmes at the University of Žilina: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-227-en.pdf
• Directive No.  228 - Professional Development of the UNIZA University Teachers: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-228-en.pdf
• Directive No. 229 - Procedures for the Recognition of Learning Outcomes, Issuing and Recognition of Diplomas and Certificates of Study: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/kvalita/EN/smernica-UNIZA-c-229-en.pdf
• Web Sites of UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/
• Web Sites of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/
• Web Sites of Department of Industrial Engineering: https://www.priemyselneinzinierstvo.sk/
• Internal System of Quality Assurance at UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/university/general-information/uniza-internal-quality-assurance-system
• Internal System of Quality Assurance Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/fakulta/vseobecne-informacie/vnutorny-system-kvality-sjf
• Long-Term Objective of  UNIZA: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/Profile-UNIZA-EN/Dlhodoby-zamer-UNIZA-2021-2027-EN.pdf
• Long-Term Objective of  Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/akreditacia/DZ_SjF_UNIZA_2021_2027ex1eng.pdf
• Study Guide: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/education/studies/study-programs-b-sc, https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/education/studies/study-programs-m-sc, https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/en/education/studies/study-programs-ph-d
• List of PhD Students at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/uchadzaci/moznosti-studia/vizitky-doktorandov
• Information about Study - brochure: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/fstroj/pdf/Uchadzaci/Brozura_SjF_20_21-akt.pdf
• Guide of First Year Student: https://www.uniza.sk/flexpapers/sprievodca-prvaka/
• Reports about Assessing Educational Activity: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/spravy-o-vzdelavacej-cinnosti/sprava-o-vzdelavacej-cinnosti-2020.pdf
• Orders of the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UNIZA: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/fakulta/vseobecne-informacie/prikazy-dekana-sjf
• Students´ Accommodation: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/study/practical-informations/accommodation
• Current Guideline for Fees:  https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie/skolne-a-poplatky, https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/skolne-a-poplatky/2021-2022/24022021_S_116_2014-skolne-a-poplatky-v-zneni-Dodatkov-1-az-10-a-Prilohy-1-az-3-Dodatok-c-10-od-01092021.pdf
• Scholarships: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/vseobecne-informacie/stipendia
• Centre of Psychological Support: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie/poradenske-a-karierne-centrum-uniza
• University Religious Centre at UNIZA: https://upc.uniza.sk/
• Catering: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/en/study/practical-informations/catering
• Student Scientific Conference TRANSCOM: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/OZNAMY/2021/24052021_TRANSCOM2021-programme.pdf
• Student part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Academic Senate: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/fakulta/vseobecne-informacie/akademicky-senat
• Student Council: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/studentsky-zivot/studentska-rada-sjf
• Student Organisations at UNIZA (GAMA klub; Council of Accommodated Students, Internet klub, Í-tečko, Club of Friend of Railways of UNIZA, RAPEŠ, Rádio X, Erasmus Student Network, University Club of Fire Protection Sport UNIZA): https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/studentsky-zivot/studentske-organizacie
• Student ID: https://www.uniza.sk/index.php/studenti/prakticke-informacie/preukaz-studenta
• Students´ Questionnaire - satisfaction - assessment: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/Kvalita/2018-PRESKMANIE-MANAMENTOM--SjF.pdf
• Awarding Students – in the Report about Activity of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: https://www.fstroj.uniza.sk/images/pdf/uradna-tabula/2-SjF_2019_FINAL.pdf
• Academic Information System AIS – manuals and instructions for  students: https://ikt.uniza.sk/it-sluzby/#hlavne_sluzby
• University e-mail and Office 365: https://ikt.uniza.sk/uniza-wiki/office-365-na-uniza/
• Software: https://ikt.uniza.sk/uniza-wiki/category/software/
• Magazine Spravodajca: https://www.uniza.sk/images/pdf/spravodajca/ARCHIV/2021/Spravodajca_UNIZA_4_2021_web.pdf