Comenius University in Bratislava is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, with the institution marking the occasion on Thursday at a ceremonial event in its main lecture hall that was also attended by President Andrej Kiska.
As the university's rector Karol Micieta said in his speech, the establishment of the university (27 June, 1919) was significant for the development of culture, science and research in Slovakia, as the institution was the first Slovak university that enabled students to receive the highest level of education in their mother tongue. Micieta also said at the event, which was attended by numerous members of Slovak and foreign academe as well as diplomatic officials, that the university is spearheading the efforts of Slovak universities to join a network of university institutions in developed European countries, especially through its involvement in international institutions that coordinate this process. According to Micieta, the university has all the prerequisites to develop as a modern comprehensive centre of education and science and facilitate the comprehensive instruction of students. Meanwhile, Kiska said in his speech that this is his first public presidential speech and recognised the university's educational and scientific activities to date, and after 1989 in particular. "I sincerely congratulate the teachers, scientists and all personnel who have made efforts conducive to the flourishing of their alma mater and its ranking among leaders of university education in Slovakia. It's worthy of admiration what Comenius University has accomplished," according to Kiska.
