On Thursday, 19 February 2026, the Zborovňa Conference was held for STEM teachers from Eastern Slovakia. Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJŠ) was one of the main partners of the event, which highlighted the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The conference took place at UVP Technicom in Košice and was organized by IT Valley Košice.
The conference opened with a welcome address by UPJŠ Vice-Rector for Interdisciplinary Education and Innovation, Assoc. Prof. PaedDr. Renáta Orosová, PhD. In her remarks, she described Zborovňa as a platform for open dialogue, sharing experiences, inspiration and examples of good practice in education.
“I believe today’s programme will bring new ideas, practical solutions and opportunities for cooperation among teachers, schools, universities and partners from professional practice,” said Vice-Rector Orosová. She also emphasized that UPJŠ, which has a long tradition of educating future teachers at its Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science, considers strengthening STEM education one of today’s key challenges. “Preparing high-quality teachers with strong subject knowledge and teaching skills is essential if innovation and modern approaches are to become part of everyday classroom practice,” she added.
UPJŠ also contributed to the preparation of the conference programme, designed for educators who want to further develop their teaching skills, introduce innovative methods into lessons and use the latest digital tools. The event offered workshops, panel discussions and expert talks, as well as opportunities for professional development and networking. Topics included practical applications of artificial intelligence in education, innovation strategies, research opportunities in Košice laboratories and cybersecurity.
Representatives of the Faculty of Science actively participated in the programme. During a workshop, the Vice-Dean for Education, Dr. Marián Kireš presented a modern learning environment for science education. Dr. Veronika Hubeňáková from the Institute of Mathematics and the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Project Support, contributed to a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in education.
