Slovakia's higher education landscape is undergoing a transformative shift with the introduction of the new Higher Education Act (Act No. 300/2025 Coll.), approved by Parliament in October 2025 and set to take effect on September 1, 2026. This legislation marks a pivotal moment for the country's approximately 35 higher education institutions, which serve around 140,000 students annually. At its core, the act mandates that universities establish their own artificial intelligence (AI) usage policies through internal regulations, empowering institutions to tailor guidelines to their specific needs while upholding academic integrity. Students will be required to honestly declare any use of AI tools in final papers, such as theses or portfolios, to prevent fraud and ensure transparency.

This reform is part of a broader strategy to modernize Slovakia's higher education system, aligning it with labor market demands, enhancing global competitiveness, and integrating emerging technologies like AI responsibly. With Slovakia boasting public universities such as Comenius University in Bratislava, the Slovak University of Technology (STU), and the Technical University of Košice (TUKE), the act positions these institutions as leaders in ethical AI adoption amid the European Union's AI Act framework.

Historical Context and Drivers of Reform

Slovakia's higher education has evolved significantly since the 2002 Higher Education Act, which introduced the Bologna Process and credit-based systems. However, persistent challenges—including bureaucratic hurdles, rigid curricula, and lagging digital integration—prompted calls for change. The 2024 amendment to the previous act addressed issues like tuition for extended studies due to parenthood, but the 2025 act goes further, responding to rapid AI advancements and a 43% generative AI usage rate among Slovaks.

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth views AI as a tool to boost efficiency in teaching and research. The Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education Plan 2025–2027, published in September 2025, lays the groundwork by embedding AI into curricula and supporting teacher training. This plan allocates €15 million for AI Competence Centres at public universities from 2026 to 2029, fostering networks with industry and local governments.

Core Provisions of the New Higher Education Act

The act introduces flexibility: students can earn credits via micro-credentials, professional experience, or study abroad, with minimum 30 ECTS per semester for bachelor's programs. Short-cycle programs (Diplomovaný špecialista – DiS) lasting 1-2 years target practical fields like IT and healthcare, mandating internships. Professionally oriented bachelor's degrees involve employer input in curricula and dual training models.

Final assessments offer choice: traditional thesis or supervised internship culminating in a portfolio defended in state exams. This caters to practical learners, with credits standardized at 25-30 hours each. PhD schools unify training in research and teaching skills, while senior faculty (9+ years service) can extend contracts to age 70.

Mandating University-Led AI Policies

A standout feature is the requirement for each university to define AI usage in internal regulations. This decentralized approach allows customization—for instance, specifying permitted tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming but prohibiting undisclosed generation of core content. The goal is ethical integration, balancing innovation with integrity. As STU's 2024 Measure No. 1/2024-O exemplifies, policies cover generative AI (GAI), demanding detailed declarations in theses (e.g., tool used, extent of application).

This aligns with EU trends, where the AI Act classifies education AI as low-risk but emphasizes transparency. Slovakia's model avoids one-size-fits-all rules, promoting experimentation while mitigating risks like plagiarism or bias.

Student Declarations: Safeguarding Academic Integrity

Students must explicitly state AI use in final works, detailing contributions to avoid fraud. This step-by-step process—identification, declaration, defense—ensures accountability. For example, a thesis using GAI for data analysis must note: "ChatGPT summarized literature; original analysis by author." Violations constitute academic misdemeanors, with sanctions per university codes.

Experts praise this for fostering AI literacy: surveys show 82% of higher ed students use AI globally, but only 38-43% in Slovakia consciously do so. The act prepares graduates for AI-driven jobs, where disclosure is standard.

Photo by Trnava University on Unsplash

AI Competence Centres: Hubs for Innovation

Funded by €15 million from the Slovakia Programme, centres at STU Bratislava and TUKE Košice will modernize programs, develop open resources, and bridge academia-industry gaps. They support teacher training, AI research, and digital education quality, targeting all HEIs via networks. By 2029, expect widespread AI-infused curricula, from engineering to humanities.

STU and TUKE, with strong tech foci, lead: TUKE's AI Lab already promotes applications in cybernetics.

Early Adopters: University Policies in Action

Comenius University issued Directive 2/2024 on AI in education, requiring acknowledgments in works. STU's policy details allowed uses (grammar, outlines) vs. discouraged (original ideas), with teacher oversight. These prefigure nationwide implementation, showing proactive integrity measures.

Case study: STU mandates GAI declarations in theses, testing via oral defenses. Feedback indicates reduced plagiarism fears, boosted creativity.

EU Alignment and Regional Comparisons

Slovakia complements the EU AI Act (effective 2024), focusing low-risk education AI on transparency. Unlike rigid French bans, Slovakia's flexibility mirrors Germany's guidelines. Poland mandates AI curricula; Slovakia's centres echo this, but emphasize autonomy.Eurydice on reforms

With 32 public universities, this positions Slovakia competitively in Central Europe.

Stakeholder Views: Enthusiasm with Cautions

Ministry officials hail autonomy; rectors like STU's praise flexibility. Students welcome internship options; experts note brain drain risks if AI skills lag. Reactions positive: OECD notes comprehensive plans. Challenges include training 10,000+ faculty.

Implications for Students, Faculty, and Careers

Students gain practical paths, AI-savvy resumes boosting employability in Slovakia's tech sector (e.g., Bratislava IT hub). Faculty must upskill; links to higher ed career advice aid transitions. Explore higher ed jobs or Europe university positions.

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Challenges, Solutions, and Future Outlook

Challenges: uneven AI literacy (57% Slovaks avoid genAI), equity in rural universities. Solutions: competence centres, training. Outlook: by 2030, AI-integrated degrees; Slovakia as ethical AI leader. Actionable: faculty, review STU policy; students, declare transparently.Ministry stats

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