Teaching in Slovakia

Originally posted January 8, 2007

Most of my previous emails have been about spas, Christmas Markets, trips to various places, etc. and not about the reason we are here in Slovakia. So this email is about my experiences teaching at the Institute of Foreign Relations and Approximation of Law (an unfortunate name) at the Law Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

During the first semester, just completed, I taught two courses, International Business Transactions and Comparative Law. I anticipate teaching two other courses, International Dispute Resolution and Advanced International Business Transactions, during the next semester. One area which I was not expecting but which worked well was the need to develop distance learning. Some of the students in the program are unable to attend many of the classes because of the distance involved or other conflicts. We developed a plan using web sites with resource material, PowerPoint slides and lecture notes which allowed these students to keep up with what was happening in class. I developed these web sites with the help of the IT staff at Comenius University and the staff of the Institute of International Relations and Approximation of Law, my host group at Comenius University.

I had 73 students in the International Business Transactions class and about 30 students in the Comparative Law Course. In addition I had about 12 students who were taking the courses online using the distance learning web sites we developed. This was many more students than I expected based upon previous experience with similar courses in prior years, when they had about 25 students in the IBT class. I had purchased about 35 course text books using the funds made available as part of the Fulbright grant. Thus we did not have enough text books to go around. I was able to supplement the text books with material which I placed on the web site.


The students were generally a conscientious and bright group. A surprising number of the students were students from other EU countries, such as Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria and other countries under the Erasmus program promoted by the EU to give students experience in other EU countries. These students brought an additional perspective which helped the class. A lot of the Slovak students were from business or government positions and were taking graduate level courses on a part time basis. These students also brought a practical experience to the classes which was very helpful.


The Law Faculty at Comenius University, and particularly the staff and head of the Institute, have been enormously helpful in providing material and support and encouraging the online learning capability. The head of the Institute, Dr. Vlasta Kunova, called a meeting of the Institute faculty to demonstrate and encourage web based education. She is an expert on EU law and the institute is funded by grants from the EU. However the University itself is woefully underfunded. Virtually all of the faculty are part time, holding several positions, either in government or other universities.

Not long ago we had a celebration of the Law Schools 85th anniversary. That is young as European law schools go. Jagiellonian University in Kracow Poland dates back to 1364. Other law faculties also trace their roots back to the middle ages. But it was a big event at Comenius University. It was held in the Great Hall of the building, which resembles a throne room. I earlier received an engraved invitation to the event, but no one explained what was involved. I was escorted to a seat on the second row. I had a young assistant as my interpreter who explained what was going on. I looked over at the row in front of me and the President and Prime Minister of Slovakia were seated there together with a number of other dignitaries from the Judiciary and government agencies. Then I heard a trumpet fanfare from the rear of the room. Two men marched in, dressed in academic robes with scarlet berets, carrying large gold and silver maces. They were followed by a number of deans and assistant deans, dressed in scarlet robes, but with gold chains around their necks and a large gold medal hanging from the chains. I noticed that the law school dean had jewels on his gold chain. There were more women than men in the gold chain group.

The Rector of the University (similar to the President or Chancellor of a U.S. University) then came in, with a fur trimmed academic robe and even more jewels on his chain. There were several speeches, in Slovak, from the Dean, the Rector and the President of Slovakia, who was a former member of the faculty at the law school. This was then followed by what was described as a “cultural interlude”. Two opera singers came out. One I recognized as probably the most famous soprano in Slovakia and the other was an excellent tenor from Russia. They proceeded to sing several arias from Carmen, accompanied by a pianist. That was followed by the Slovak National Anthem and a procession back out, in which I discovered to my surprise, I was part of. We then went to a reception across the hall, with toasts with sparkling wine. After this the faculty members adjourned to a nearby restaurant for a nice lunch. What a day! The Europeans sure know how to put on a ceremony.

With all best wishes for the New Year.

Charles and Susan Routh
Namestie SNP 23
81101 Bratislava 1
Slovakia
Tel: +421 9/11335672 (Charles)
+421 9/14 220 832 (Susan)
email: crouth@gsblaw.com
charlesrouth@chello.sk