On Thursday, October 22, 2026, representatives from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands – Prof. Dr. S.A. Menno Reijneveld, Prof. Dr. A.V. Adelita Ranchor, and Assoc. Prof. M.J. Maya Schroevers, visited Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. The guests were welcomed by Dr. h. c., Prof. Mgr. Slávka Tomaščíková, PhD., Vice Rector for International Relations, and Dr. h. c., Prof. MUDr. Pavol Jarčuška, PhD., Vice Rector for Strategic Development and Investments, at the Rectorate of UPJŠ in Košice. Also invited to the meeting were Prof. Mgr. Andrea Madarasová Gecková, PhD., Head of the Institute of Health Psychology and Research Methodology at the UPJŠ Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Mgr. Zuzana Dankulincová, PhD., the Deputy for Educational Activities, and Assoc. Prof. Mgr. Daniela Fiľakovská, PhD. Based on the long-standing collaboration between our university and the University of Groningen, new opportunities for international collaboration within the framework of a double PhD program were presented. “Both universities have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at facilitating international collaboration at the doctoral level through a double PhD program,” stated Prof. Madarasová Gecková.
The University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the Netherlands, with an outstanding international reputation and a strong focus on research in public health and the social sciences. The delegation, consisting of Professor Menna Reijneveld, Adelita Ranchor, and Associate Professor May Schroevers is based at the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), where they have been engaged in cutting-edge research in the fields of health sciences, health services, psychology, and behavioral sciences. They have a long-standing and successful scientific and research collaboration with the Institute of Health Psychology and Research Methodology at the Faculty of Medicine at UPJŠ.
