Matej Bel University is a public research university in the central Slovak town of Banská Bystrica. The university was established in 1992. It bears the name of Matthias Bel, a Hungarian-Slovak Lutheran scholar of the 18th century. UMB comprises six faculties that differ in character and history, each retaining substantial autonomy on financial and institutional affairs. The university provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Academically, Matej Bel University is noted mainly for international relations and finance.[2]
As of October 2020, UMB’s alumni, faculty, and staff have included: one prime minister of Slovakia; four justices of the Constitutional Court of Slovakia, two of whom currently serve; three Olympic medalists, and multiple senior EU and Slovak officials.
Governance and faculties
The Matej Bel University has traditionally been a decentralized institution, with governing authority shared among its academic faculties. The Governing Council is the unicameral legislative organ of the central administration, overseeing general academic, business and institutional affairs. The rector is appointed by the council as the chief executive.
Matej Bel University currently comprises six faculties:
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Political Science and International Relations
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Education