FACULTY PROFILE

As a pillar of domestic industry, engineering has been struggling for years with a shortage of skilled workers. Demands on product quality, organisation and security of production activities also require significant changes in the field of higher education with a link to quality research and development. Real life in companies requires finding better and, above all, demanding solutions in terms of quality and content. That is why today the process of knowledge and research in technology, and not only in technology, conditioned by quality higher education.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina provides university technical education based on its scientific research activities and a broad professional community with domestic and foreign technical practice. It trains bachelors, engineers and doctoral students who are capable of solving demanding technical tasks. The main objective of the faculty is research, development of scientific knowledge and education oriented to the field of engineering and technology in general.

In particular, the focus is on current topics related to intelligent manufacturing systems in connection with the ideas of the Industry 4.0 challenge, green energy in transport, alternative energy sources and, last but not least, intelligent materials and progressive technologies, especially in mechanical engineering. This direction is based on the transformation of traditional engineering fields such as applied mechanics, materials engineering, process engineering, machine construction, energy machinery and equipment, transport and handling technology, industrial engineering, automation of process control, and machine and equipment renewal.

HISTORY OF THE FACULTY

The history of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina dates back to the establishment of the university itself, i.e. to 1953, when the faculty formed one of the five independent faculties of the newly founded Railway University in Prague. After the transfer of the school to Žilina and its renaming to the Transport University, changes took place, which led to the merging of the faculties, thus creating the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (SET). In the first academic year 1959/60 in the new location, the SET faculty had 607 full-time students and began its broader orientation in the field of science and research and the training of professionals not only for transport, but also for other areas of mechanical and electrical engineering in the then Czechoslovakia. This faculty was manifested gradually also quantitatively, in the number of students. For example, already in 1963, the faculty had around 1200 students and 15 years later, it already had 2500 students in full-time studies and more than 1000 students in part-time studies. The faculty's fields of study have also evolved. In addition to the original four transport fields from 1961, the field of Mechanical Engineering Technology was by government decision added, with close links to the strongly developing engineering industry in central Slovakia. The pedagogical process at the SET faculty was continuously innovated in relation to the needs of industrial practice and with targeted application of the results of basic and applied research. The extensive cooperation and coordination of faculty development with several industry departments and major enterprises and abroad has contributed to this in the long term.

The faculty gained independence by the decision of the Academic Senate of the VŠDS, when two separate faculties of mechanical and electrical engineering were with effect from
1 September 1992 established. This also determined the further trend of its direction and development so that based on traditions and implementation of the latest results of science and technology the faculty gained a significant position in fulfilling the tasks of social practice, in national and international educational and scientific research activities.

GOAL, MISSION AND VISION OF THE FACULTY

The strategic goal of the faculty is to increase the level of education and scientific research activities in order to improve knowledge and knowledge, especially in terms of current needs of practice in close connection with not only the Slovak, but also especially the European educational and research area.

The mission of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Žilina is higher education in study programmes of all three degrees, conducting basic and applied research and development.

Education and research, which are inseparable and reflect the current state of knowledge in technology, especially in mechanical engineering, remain priorities. The need for effective transfer of advanced technologies and new information between the faculty and the industrial sphere prevails.

In terms of the research direction of the Faculty, the priority area will be targeted industrial research focused primarily on the challenges of engineering and other relevant sectors, not only domestically but also internationally. A natural task is to support the all-round development of the faculty staff, coupled with the continuation of building a culture of cooperation, relationships and a creative environment at the faculty.

The vision of the faculty is to achieve recognition by the domestic scientific and industrial community, especially in the field of training new technical cadres, and to achieve acceptance in the field of science and research, especially as a respected and reliable partner not only in domestic, but also in especially in international projects.

LONG-TERM PLAN of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for 2021-2027

The Long-Term Plan of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University of Žilina for 2021 - 2027 declares the faculty´s own identity, defines its mission, vision and determines its strategic procedures for achieving the expected goals.