Study

The department guarantees a study program called Teacher Training of Geography in Combination within the bachelor's and master's degree of study.

A graduate of the bachelor's study of Teacher Training of Geography in Combination knows the current concepts of the institutional socialization process, the principles of creating and designing a pedagogical and didactic environment in education, is able to analyze general-pedagogical and general-didactic characteristics of teaching in the classroom, acquires the ability to continuously learn, masters the possibilities and methods of using modern didactic technology, has a basic overview of the content in their approved subjects and also in its connection with the process of upbringing and education, is ready to obtain a teaching qualification in the second degree of university study. The graduate will apply himself as an assistant teacher, or teacher's assistant, pedagogical worker for extracurricular activities, state administration worker or administrative-methodological worker (according to subject specialization, e.g. management of school libraries, computer networks, school technological and laboratory funds, etc.). He/she can also work in supportive components of institutional education.

A graduate of the master's study in Teacher Training of Geography in Combination masters the basic content of the disciplines of his/her specialization, the principles of its structure, is familiar with the methodology of producing the content of the subject and its broader cultural and social contexts. He/she can work with this content as a product of human (scientific) activity and in this context can design it for didactic purposes. He/she knows the disciplines of his/her approved subjects, their structure and at the same time is able to penetrate the broader context of disciplines, pedagogical-psychological and didactic aspects of education. He/she masters the content and didactics of teaching the subject, the structure and application of knowledge in practice and, in addition to mastering teaching skills (designing, implementing and reflecting on teaching in the classroom), is able to create methodological materials for teaching. The graduate will find employment as a teacher in primary, secondary and higher education, a methodologist for teaching the subject, a specialized state administration employee in the field of education and training in primary and secondary schools.

Since the academic year 2004/2005, the department has also guaranteed a bachelor's and master's degree study program entitled Geography in Regional Development.

A graduate of the bachelor's study program Geography in Regional Development has basic cross-sectional knowledge at the level of synthesis in the field of study, including practical and methodological knowledge in the field of geography. He/she knows basic concepts, facts, theories, and methods in the field of geography, can synthesize them and creatively use them in practical tasks using appropriate procedures and tools for processing and evaluating data and in creating documentation necessary for further decision-making. The graduate can design and implement solutions to methodological, professional, and practical problems. He/she can obtain, analyze, and interpret data from the field of geography, evaluate basic phenomena, conduct field research, map and create thematic maps, work with thematic databases, and apply basic geospatial technologies. He/she can creatively work with methods, tools, and models that are used in evaluating the studied area, creating geospatial databases, evaluating and interpreting data at various scale levels. He/She is able to continue independent education and purposefully direct his/her professional development, monitor current knowledge and innovations in his/her field of specialization, and continue his/her own professional advancement. The graduate is able to carry out professional work, independently or in a team to solve problems in a changing environment in the field of geography, propose solutions and decisions. He is able to independently use a wide range of methods and tools for obtaining, analyzing, interpreting and presenting geospatial data and research results. He has effective verbal and written communication skills, can formulate and present his own opinions and evaluate arguments. He is able to plan and organize work tasks and manage a work team at an appropriate level of management.

A graduate of the master's study program Geography in Regional Development has extensive professional and methodological knowledge at the assessment level in several areas of geography. He/she understands the essential connections, principles, theories and concepts of the field, finds and presents his/her own solutions to problems. He/she can independently formulate conclusions based on a critical evaluation of the acquired data and knowledge. He/she can creatively and independently apply the acquired knowledge to problems of geoscientific research or practice. The graduate can design, evaluate and implement solutions to methodological, professional, practical or scientific problems from several areas of the field or practice. The graduate is able to actively acquire, process and creatively use geospatial data, apply the most modern knowledge of the field to problems of geoscientific research and practice. He/she is able to carry out field research in his/her area of ​​specialization and coordinate project work at various levels of complexity. He/she can work with methods, tools and models that are used in specialized territorial research and the implementation of practical tasks. The graduate demonstrates a high degree of independence in solving problems and projects in the field of study in a changing environment. He/she demonstrates the ability to work effectively as an individual, member or team leader. He/she has innovative thinking and is prepared to professionally present the results of his/her own analysis and study to a professional audience, including in a foreign language. He/she is able to work independently with professional problems and texts, compare them, critically analyze and interpret them, and independently formulate conclusions and recommendations of his/her research. He/she is prepared for interdisciplinary cooperation in solving scientific and social problems and proposing their solutions.

Science and Research

The department focuses on the following priority areas of research:

Focusing on physical geography and geoecology – geomorphological research (lowland, mountainous and alpine areas – mapping of relief forms, research on the intensity of selected morphodynamic processes, landslide risk), pedogeographic research (soil mapping, soil erosion), hydrogeographic research (flood risk mapping), research on spatiotemporal changes in natural geosystems, human impact on natural geosystems (prof. Boltižiar, doc. M. Vojtek, doc. J. Vojteková, dr. M. Nemčíková, doc. L. Petrikovičová),

Focusing on human geography – transformational changes in individual sectors of the economy (industry, agriculture, services, tourism, etc.), human resources of territories, socio-geographical phenomena in society, social disparities, research on the quality of life (doc. A. Krogmann, doc. J. Némethová, dr. G. Repaská, dr. K. Vilinová, dr. M. Trembošová),

Focusing on regional and applied geography and regional development – ​​research of regions at various hierarchical levels (Slovakia, Nitra Region, districts of the Nitra Region, microregions, municipalities, etc.), border areas, regional labor market, problems of rural development, possibilities of forming new spatial structures, assessment of the country's potential and analysis of its problems at various hierarchical levels, regional disparities of the territory, regional and sustainable development of territories at various hierarchical levels (dr. H. Kramáreková, dr. M. Nemčíková, dr. D. Oremusová, doc. J. Némethová),

Focusing on environmental geography – analysis of environmental elements and their quality, environmental problems of various hierarchical levels, environmentally endangered areas of Slovakia (dr. D. Oremusová, dr. H. Kramáreková, dr. M. Nemčíková, prof. M. Boltižiar),

Focusing on geography didactics – mastering diversified teaching concepts, creating teaching texts, analyzing organizational forms of teaching specific to geography education, working with talented youth (extracurricular activities in the field of geography – especially the Geography Olympiad, SOČ) (dr. M. Nemčíková, dr. H. Kramáreková, doc. J. Vojteková),

Focusing on geoinformatics – using geo-information technologies: geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) in solving geographical problems at various spatial levels, creating a local and regional geographic database, creation of digital maps, performance of spatial-statistical analyses and modelling (1D, 2D and 3D space) (prof. M. Boltižiar, doc. M. Vojtek, doc. J. Vojteková),

Focusing on landscape ecology – assessment of long-term changes in land use or land cover in the context of natural and socio-economic conditions (prof. M. Boltižiar, doc. J. Vojteková, doc. L. Petrikovičová).

Cooperation with Social Practice

The portfolio of activities of the department in relation to social practice consists of:

- creation of strategic development documents at various hierarchical levels (region, district, city, microregion), especially economic development and social development programs (PHSR),

- processing of spatial analyses in the GIS environment, creation of digital maps,

- implementation and processing of questionnaire surveys,

- creation of routes through the territory (educational trails, cycling trails, religious trails, etc.),

- creation of local Agenda 21 documents,

- creation of promotional materials about municipalities and cities,

- creation of tourist guides,

- creation of monographs about regions, municipalities, cities,

- creation of regional geography textbooks for microregions.

The spectrum of activities is also completed by lectures of a professional focus by the department's employees, e.g. at meetings with mayors of municipalities or at conferences organized by various regional development entities.

The department has established a network of contacts, partnerships and cooperation with the following entities of practice:

- ministries (e.g. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic),

- VÚC offices (Office of the Nitra Self-Governing Region, Office of the Trnava Self-Governing Region),

- district offices (e.g. Nitra, Šaľa, Stará Ľubovňa),

- regional development agencies (e.g. RRA Nitra, RRA Novozámocko, RRA Topoľčiansko, RRA Komárno),

- local governments (e.g. municipal offices Oponice, Košúty, Brezany, Kozmálovce, Vrbov; town offices Nitra, Nováky, Šurany),

- civic associations (e.g. MAS Termál, MAS Malohont, MAS Dudváh, MAS Orava, OZ Radošinka),

- specialized institutes and institutions (e.g. Institute of Geography SAS, Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS, Slovak Environment Agency, Geodetic and Cartographic Institute, Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, Topographic Institute),

- business entities (e.g. ErasData-Pro, s.r.o., GeoPLUS, s.r.o., ISAX, s.r.o., G-BASE, s.r.o., T-MAPY, s.r.o., GEODETICA VISION, s.r.o.).