The rector of the higher education institution together with the institution's management staff manage, represent and act on behalf of the higher education institution.  Public higher education institution managing staff include the bursar and the individual heads of the units of the public HEI. Their activities and competences are regulated by the Higher Education Act (Zákon o vysokých školách).

Where a higher education institution is divided into faculties, the faculties exercise self-governing powers to the extent determined by the internal regulations of the higher education institution.

Requirements for appointment

The rector is the statutory body of the public higher education institution, manages it, acts on its behalf and represents it externally. 

The Rector is appointed and dismissed by the President of the Slovak Republic  on the proposal of the Academic Senate of the public higher education institution. The proposal of the Academic Senate of a public higher education institution is submitted to the president of the Slovak Republic by the Minister of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.

Each member of the academic community has the right to nominate no more than one candidate for the post of Rector. A candidate may also stand as a candidate for the post of Rector on their own. Only a member of the academic community of the respective higher education institution who is qualified as a university teacher may be a candidate. Nominations for the post of Rector are submitted non-anonymously, in writing. 

For private higher education institutions, the rector is selected by the owner; for state higher education institutions, the selection of the rector is the responsibility of the relevant ministry.

The vice-rector (prorektor) represents the Rector within the scope determined by the Rector. Vice-rectors are appointed and dismissed by the Rector after the approval of the Academic Senate. The term of office of vice-rectors is four years.

A public higher education institution may be subdivided into faculties, other teaching, research, development, artistic, economic-administrative and information workplaces (university library) and special-purpose facilities (HEI dormitories 

Public higher education institution managing staff include the bursar and the individual heads of the units of the public HEI. The posts of managing staff of a public higher education institution are filled through a selection procedure. The principles of the selection procedure for the posts of managing staff of a public higher education institution are determined by an internal regulation of the public higher education institution.

The Bursar (kvestor) is responsible for the economic and administrative operation of the public higher education institution and acts on its behalf to the extent determined by the Rector. The Bursar is directly subordinate to the Rector.

The dean (dekan) is the representative of the faculty, manages it, represents it and acts in the affairs of the faculty. The dean is appointed and dismissed by the Rector on the proposal of the Academic Senate of the Faculty. The term of office of the dean is four years. The same person may hold the office of dean at one faculty for a maximum of three consecutive terms.

The dean is represented by the vice-deans (prodekan) within the scope determined by the dean. Vice-deans are appointed and dismissed by the Dean after approval by the Academic Senate of the Faculty. The term of office of vice-deans is four years.

The managing staff of the faculty are the secretary of the faculty and individual heads of teaching, research, development or artistic, economic-administrative and information departments and special-purpose facilities of the faculty. The posts of managing staff of the faculty are filled through a selection procedure. The method of the selection procedure for the posts of managing staff of the faculty is defined by the working regulations of the faculty or by the working regulations of the public higher education institution, if the faculty is governed by them.

The secretary of the faculty ensures the economic and administrative operation of the faculty. They are directly subordinate to the dean.

Conditions of service

The working conditions of the managing staff of the higher education institution and its units are governed by the Labour Code and the internal regulations of the higher education institution. 

The length of the weekly working time is determined in accordance with the provisions of section 85 of the Labour Code (§ 85  Zákonníka práce )and, in the case of academic staff, the Higher Education Act (zákon o vysokých školách) and in accordance with the collective agreement. The working time is regulated in the internal regulations of the higher education institution, taking into account the needs related to the higher education institution management.

The rector and the dean are elected to office from among the HEI teachers and are entitled to 8 weeks' leave. For more information, see chapter Conditions of service for academic staff working in higher education.

The salary conditions of the rector are set by the governing board of the higher education institution. 

The rector determines the salary of the deans of the faculties that are part of the public higher education institution.