Abstract:

The declaration of an emergency situation in the Slovak Republic in connection with the pandemic of the coronavirus COVID 19 reached the university in the middle of teaching in the summer semester. In addition to complying with the established measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease of the Central Crisis Staff of the Slovak Republic, the universities had to deal with many other restrictions and challenges. Within a few days, the universities switched from contact teaching to distance teaching. However, the provision of teaching is only one part of the processes of a higher education institution. The extraordinary situation required the introduction of a new form, procedures and measures in the organization of state examinations, admission procedures or enrollment for studies, solving science and research projects, or ensuring other logistics processes of the faculty from an economic, personnel and material point of view.

The article focuses on best practices in processes implemented at the Faculty of Security Engineering of the University of Zilina (FBI UNIZA), which has a unique position in the education system of the Slovak Republic due to its focus on crisis management, protection of persons, property, infrastructure and information, rescue services and industry safety. The slogan of the faculty "Study safety and security, you will influence the future" seemed to be extremely topical during the pandemic. Due to the activities of the faculty in the field of security, the faculty was also cooperating in the summer semester in supporting logistics activities in resolving an emergency situation. FBI UNIZA created a database of volunteers from among students and employees who, in addition to fulfilling their study and work duties, also participated in individual activities according to the current needs of the Central Crisis Staff of the Slovak Republic and the Crisis Management Section of the Ministry of the Interior. The article describes the management and provision of educational and research processes in non-standard conditions of the COVID 19 pandemic, the methods and tools of distance teaching used, as well as the processes provided by students and faculty staff within the ordered measures of the Central Crisis Staff.

Keywords:

COVID 19, crisis management, security and safety studies, organization of studies.