1982 – 1992

Milan Saniga – Ladislav Reinprecht

In 1983, the construction of the new VŠLD buildings of the main building, lecture halls, and auditorium was finished which created a good basis for the technical support of the pedagogical process, science and research. Act 26/1992 on changing the name of the University of Forestry and Wood Sciences and Technology in Zvolen to the Technical University of Zvolen was adopted by the SNR decision on December 17, 1991. This change of name was based on the need of the school, whose focus began to be broader, and already in this period, the prerequisites for the diversification of the university into other related fields were created. In 1991, by decision of the Academic Senate of the university, a third independent faculty was established - the Faculty of Ecology, which was supposed to cover the issue of nature and landscape protection professionally and scientifically. The first chairman of the academic senate of the Technical University was Prof. Ing. Štefan Šmelko, DrSc. In terms of future orientation, the development of the Arboretum

Borová hora also continued. Prof. Ing. Jozef Pagan, CSc., who served as director of the arboretum until 1990 participated in the practical implementation of this idea. In 1981, the Borová hora Arboretum was declared by the Ministry of Culture of the SR to be a protected study area aimed at preserving examples of the genetic richness of the wood species representation of Slovakia's forests, and the wide individual variability of individual tree species. In addition to solving the tasks arising from the concept of building collections, its activity during this period was focused on the use of the concentrated gene pool of woody plants in the pedagogical process, as well as in solving the scientific research tasks of Slovak universities and research institutes and on educating the professionals and the interested public. In the years 1990-1995, the director was Ing. Juraj Labanc. In 1992, Borová hora Arboretum had a total of 17 employees, of which 4 had university degrees. The state of the School Forest Enterprise of the university did not change significantly during this period.

As of January 1, 1975, due to the concentration of activity, the forests of Železná Breznica and Budča were merged into one unit, renaming it to the Forests of Budča, and the forest of Sliač and the forest of Sielnica were merged into the Forests of Sielnica. At the end of this period, thanks to the Department of Forestry, new demonstration plots began to be created in the Budča forest at the Kremenný potok (stream) location, which was aimed at the management of oak trees and oak and hornbeam stands based on the principles of the Pro Silva movement.

In the years 1982 – 1992, the academic officers of the college were:

Rectors

Prof. Ing. Adolf Priesol, DrSc. (1971 – 1990)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Vilém Štefka, CSc. (1990 – 1992)

Vice-rectors for Pedagogical Work

Prof. Ing. Ladislav Šebík, CSc. (1972 – 1990)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ján Osvald., CSc.(1990 – 1992)

Vice-rector for Science and Research

Prof. Ing. Štefan Šmelko, DrSc. (1982 – 1990)

Prof. Ing. Alexander Požgaj, DrSc. (1990 – 1991)

Prof. Ing. Stanislav Kurjatko, DrSc. (1991 – 1992)

Vice-rector for Development

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jozef Marko, CSc. (1982)

Prof. Ing. Ľubomír Jurík, CSc. (1982 – 1985)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ivan Kolenka, CSc. (1985 – 1990)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ladislav Paule, CSc. (1990 – 1992)

VŠLD in Zvolen employed 1044 workers in 1982, of which 183 were teachers, 83 were researchers, and 778 were in other positions. That year, the university had 19 professors, 43 associated professor,s and 121 assistant professors. 11 employees worked in the Borová hora Arboretum, 326 in ŠLP, 46 in the Institute of Applied Cybernetics and Computing, 80 in Development Workshops and Laboratories (VDL) and 73 in School Dormitories and Canteen (ŠDaJ). The university also employed 197 administrative and technical workers. The Slovak Forestry and Wood Sciences Library (SLDK) with 45 employees become the central library for forestry and the woodworking industry within Czechoslovakia’s scope.

In 1987, i.e., on the 35th anniversary of the existence of VŠLD in Zvolen, 1108 employees worked at the university, of which 187 were teachers, 87 were research workers, and 834 other employees of both faculties, the rector's office, and special facilities. The share of teachers with scientific degrees DrSc. and CSc. rose to 62%. The student-to-teacher ratio was 8.4:1.

During this period, students had accommodation in dormitory rooms available, and study halls and sports fields were available. They fulfilled the complex requirement for their self-study and active relaxation. However, due to the smaller number of beds in the dormitories, some students also found accommodation in private rentals in Zvolen and its outskirts. A definitive solution to the issue of students´ accommodation was ensured only with the construction of a modern student dormitory in Bariny in 1990-1993.

Scientific and research activities continued to be one of the basic functions of the VŠLD in Zvolen and the workload of its employees. It was mainly focused on the biological, technical, and economic problems of forestry and the timber industry in Slovakia.

In the field of forestry, the research was focused on the biological, technical and economic foundations of forestry in the mountain forests of the Carpathians. During the evaluated period, 155 research tasks of state departmental and faculty research were solved at the Faculty of Forestry. In the wood industry, the research focused on the complex and efficient processing of wood raw materials, based on the science of wood and wood composite materials, with a direct connection to the development of new sawmill, drying, construction-carpentry, impregnation, pressing, surface-decoration, chemical, biological and other technologies and methodologies. During this period, 141 tasks were solved. In this period, 183 to 192 teaching staff and 83 to 87 research staff were involved in basic and applied research at the Faculty of Forestry (LF) and Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology (DF). Research activities were coordinated by the Forestry Scientific Research Institute and the Wood Scientific Research Institute. In addition to being published in foreign and Czechoslovak journals, anthologies and books, the results of the research activity were also used in practice in cooperation with enterprises in forestry and the woodworking industry, primarily in the form of the development of new methodologies, work procedures and technologies, as well as the preparation of new and updating of older standards.

Faculty of Forestry

Development at the faculty during this period was marked by significant social, but also professional and pedagogical changes. After 1990, according to the university legislation of the time, academic senates were established at the faculties.

The first chairman of the Academic Senate of the LF until 1992 was Prof. Ing. Milan Križo, DrSc. In 1992, 10 professors, 25 associate professors, 35 assistant professors and assistants, 39 research workers, 29 technical and administrative workers, and 11 workers in manual occupations worked at the faculty. The following teachers on the Faculty were academic officers between 1982 and 1992:

Deans of the Faculty

Prof. Ing. Jozef Porubiak, CSc. (1982 – 1986)

Prof. Ing. Jozef Pagan, CSc. (1986 – 1990)

Prof. Ing. Štefan Žíhlavník, CSc. (1990 – 1992)

Vice-deans for Education

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Klement Hubač, CSc.(1982 – 1987)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Milan Saniga, CSc. (1987 – 1990)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jozef Réh, CSc. (1982 – 1985)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Milan Danko, CSc. (1985 – 1990)

Vice-deans for Pedogagical Work

Ing. Peter Randuška, CSc. (1990 – 1991)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Tibor Lukáč, CSc. (1991 – 1992 )

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Eva Križová, CSc. (1990 – 1992)

Vice-deans for Science and Research

Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc.(1982 – 1990)

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Milan Hladík, CSc. (1990 – 1992)

From the point of view of graduation during the ten-year period, the number of graduates of the Faculty in the field of study of forest engineering increased by 1321. Among others, the graduates were students from Hungary, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Panama, GDR, Colombia, Benin, Congo, Madagascar, Senegal, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam. During this period, the Faculty of Forestry underwent changes in the technical and professional content of the study program and the length of study.

These changes resulted from the approach of political and governmental bodies to higher education. In 1977, the 10-semester (5-year) study in the field of forestry engineering ended, the last graduates of which graduated in 1982. From 1978, the 9-semester (4.5-year study) began, with the changes in the range of subjects and their practical exercises. The last graduates of this length of study completed their studies in 1984. Since 1980, the content of the study has changed again. Its length has changed to 8 semesters (4-year study), as well as the connection between the content and subjects and the length of teaching practices. This study module was valid until 1990. The last shortening of studies to 4 years left serious consequences in the continuity of subjects and the deepening of knowledge within the set length of study, such as teaching at the Faculty of Forestry, where theoretical teaching alternated with practical exercises, the majority of which were held in the forest. With this shortening of the study, it was not possible to ensure an adequate depth of knowledge from individual subjects and their organic connection, which would respect the course of the vegetation period of forest ecosystems. After the change in societal and political conditions in 1990, the study was changed to the original scope of 10 semesters (5 years). The study of forest engineering has always represented a polythematic set of knowledge from biological, forestry, technical, and economic subjects. This fact meant the return of the study field to the original length of 5 years with the aim of bringing the study to a qualitatively higher level that corresponds to the requirements of forestry practice. The basis of the curriculum was a group of compulsory subjects, which provided students with the basic basis of the forest engineering profile. The group of optional subjects had the goal of deepening the student’s knowledge in the direction in which he would like to be employed and, in this direction, to work out a diploma thesis. In the academic year 1991–92, a dual major study began at the Faculty of Forestry. This year, the field of study of Applied Ecology was created. The first two years of both study fields had a common theoretical basis of subjects, the last three years were specialized. In addition to the mentioned fields of study, the interdisciplinary study “Construction of Forestry and Woodworking Machines and Equipment“ was created at the Faculty of Forestry together with the Faculty of Woodworking and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TU Košice. Pursuant to Act No. 172/90 Coll. on Higher Education in 1990, the scientific training was reorganized (in the past it was a scientific post-graduate course associated with obtaining the scientific degree of CSc. and a postgraduate study with the obtained scientific degree of PhD was established. In this form of scientific training, the Faculty of Forestry received accreditation to conduct postgraduate studies in the following fields:

Forestry Phytology guarantor Prof. Ing. Ladislav Paule, CSc.

Forest Cultivation guarantor Prof. Ing. Štefan Korpeľ, DrSc.

Forest Ecology guarantor Prof. Ing. Rudolf Šály, DrSc.

Economic Management of Forests guarantor Prof. Ing. Štefan Šmelko, DrSc.

Landscape Engineering guarantor Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, DrSc.

Plant Protection guarantor Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc. Forestry Zoology guarantor Prof. Ing. Jozef Sládek, CSc.

Agricultural Technology and Mechanization and Forestry Production guarantor Assoc. Prof. Ing. Tibor Lukáč, CSc.

Business Theory and Management Agricultural and Food Complex, Forestry and Woodworking Industry guarantor Prof. Ing. Ivan Kolenka, DrSc.

To train students as part of postgraduate studies, the Faculty of Forestry created a joint training facility with scientific organizations based in Zvolen, namely the Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Forestry Research Institute, while the Faculty of Forestry remained the main training facility. In the academic year 1991–92, 9 students started studying in the postgraduate semester study in full-time and 3 students in part-time form.

During this period, scientific research activities were oriented toward the long-term research program “Biological, technical and economic foundations of forestry in the mountain forests of the Carpathians“.

For the years 1982 – 1992, 131 research tasks were solved within the category of state research, 13 departmental research tasks and 12 faculty tasks. Within the evaluated period, 25 candidates of sciences dissertations and doctoral theses were defended, and four habilitation theses. At the end of this period, the Faculty was involved in 3 scientific programs, within which they solved 10 scientific projects in the field of forestry.

Departments at the Faculty of Forestry

Department of Natural Environment

In 1991, the original Department of Forest Environment was divided into the Department of Phytology (headed by Prof. Ing. M. Križo, DrSc.) and the Department of Natural Environment (headed by Prof. Ing. R. Šály, DrSc.). The basis of the subjects taught by the department is oriented on knowledge of rocks and geological structure of the land and Slovakia, forest bioclimate and soil science. From 1982 to 1986, the head of the original department was Prof. Ing. R. Šály, DrSc., from 1987 to 1990 Prof. Ing. M. Križo, DrSc. The teachers of the department ensured the teaching of subjects not only for the Faculty of Forestry but also for the newly establishedFaculty of Ecology. These were the following compulsory subjects:

– Forestry Geology

(Assoc. Prof. RNDr. M. Ciesarik, CSc.),

– Geology and Geomorphology

(Assoc. Prof. RNDr. M. Ciesarik, CSc.),

– Forest Bioclimatology

(Ing. L. Tužinský, CSc.),

– Meteorology and Climatology

(Ing. L. Tužinský, CSc.),

– Pedology (Prof. Ing. R. Šály, DrSc.),

– Hydrology (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Valtíny, DrSc.). The scientific research activity of the department was relatively broad. In the evaluated period, the staff of the department solved serious theoretical problems focused on the genesis and classification of soils, soil mineralogy and micromorphology, precipitation and temperature regime. Research activity in the field of soil conditions of forest soils in connection with spruce monocultures and transformations of these stands was significant. The significant activity of the workers was also focused on research and selection of soil for forest nurseries and established nursery centers (Hladomer, Podčičva and Šajdíkove Humence). In the last period, there were research activities on the impact of acid precipitation on soils, the formation and ecological effects of horizontal precipitation. The members of the department cooperated with forestry and other research institutions that use knowledge from pedology, engineering geology and bioclimatology. The department continued its longterm cooperation with the Faculty of Forestry in Tharandt (Germany), where the cooperation was focused on research into the nutrition of forest trees. The collaboration with AR in Poznan is similarly long-term, which was focused on research into the impact of spruce monocultures and their impact on the physical and chemical properties of their soils.

Department of Silviculture

The department contributed significantly to the graduate’s professional profile with its research and pedagogical focus.

The head of the department until 1991 was Prof. Ing. Štefan Korpeľ, DrSc. From 1992 Assoc. Prof. Ing. Milan Saniga, CSc. became the head of the department. During this period, the teachers of the department taught the following subjects:

Compulsory subjects

– Dendrology (Prof. Ing. J. Pagan, CSc.),

– Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees (Prof. Ing. L. Paule, CSc.),

– Genetics and Genetic Resources (Prof. Ing. L. Paule, CSc.),

– Establishing a Forest (Assoc. Prof. Ing. L. Šmelková, CSc.),

– Forest Cultivation (Prof. Ing. Š. Korpeľ, DrSc.),

– Cultivation of Purpose-built forests (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Réh, CSc.), Optional subjects

– Breeding of Forest Trees (Prof. Ing. L. Paule, CSc.),

– Biotechnology (Prof. Ing. L. Paule, CSc.),

– Decorative Dendrology

(Prof. Ing. J. Pagan, CSc.).

During this period, the department organized 2 postgraduate study courses for forestry practitioners, which were attended by 75 participants. During this period, the department was a training centre for scientific education in the fields of forestry phytology and forest cultivation. The members of the department (Prof. Korpeľ, Assoc. Prof. Réh, Prof. Paule, Assoc. Prof. Saniga) participated in the creation of the textbooks on Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees, Forest Cultivation and Biotechnology of Purpose-Built Forests. Prof. Pagan was the co-author of the Atlas of Forest Trees. During this period, the department organized the 3rd IUFRO symposium on beech and the 5th IUFRO symposium on fir. Another symposium in 1989 was organized together with AR Kraków and AR Poznaň on the topic of spruce forest research (NPR Pilsko, NPR Babia hora). An international symposium on the management of spruce stands was organized in 1990 in collaboration with the Faculty of Forestry in Mitišti, MLTI Moscow. During this period, the department had significant cooperation with the universities of Bordeaux, Montpelier, Lvov and Tharandt. The members of the department significantly participated in the activities of international organizations, mainly IUFRO (Prof. Paule, Assoc. Prof. Réh) and in the European committee Pro Silva (Prof. Korpeľ).

Department of Forest Protection and Hunting

The newly structured department in the new structure was established on September 1, 1991, when the part of landscape design was separated and transferred to the Faculty of Ecology. Until 1987, the head of the department was Prof. Ing. Miloslav Stolina, DrSc., who later went to the newly established Forestry Faculty in Prague, where he participated in the creation of the Department of Forest Protection. The head of the Department from September 1, 1987 to 1992 was Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc. In the new pedagogical structure, the departmental teachers taught the following subjects within the Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Ecology:

Compulsory subjects

– Forestry Zoology (Prof. Ing. J. Sládek, CSc.),

– Zoology (Prof. Ing. J. Sládek, CSc.),

– Forestry Entomology (Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Gogol, CSc.),

– Hunting (Assoc. Prof. Ing. P. Garaj, CSc.),

– Forest Protection and Phytopathology (Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc.), Optional subjects

– Special Hunting Economy and Breeding of Fur Animals (Assoc. Prof. Ing. P. Garaj, CSc.),

– New Methods in Forest Protection (Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc.),

– Causes of Forest Death (Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc.),

– Beekeeping (Prof. Ing. Jozef Kodrík, CSc.),

– Applied Mycology (Ing. K. Vaník, CSc.),

– Fishing (Prof. Ing. J. Sládek, CSc.).

Scientific research activity during this period was focused on the issue of activation of biotic and abiotic agents, population dynamics of insect pests in changing ecological conditions, and research on morphom,etry and ecology of carnivorous bird species for effective protection.

During this period, the department produced

3 book publications (Prof. Sládek), 2 scientific monographs focused on the research of bark beetles and butterflies on fir and oak trees (Assoc. Prof. Gogol), book publications on food research and topical ecology of ants (Ing. Randuška) and 3 monographs focused on research into the regional trophy quality of deer in Slovakia (Assoc. Prof. Garaj). Systematic research was carried out on the issue of the use of oyster mushrooms, which resulted in a monograph (Prof. Kodrík, Ing. Vaník). An international collective of authors led by Prof. Stolina published the national university textbook Forest Protection.

Department of Forestry and Mechanization

The head of the Department was Prof. Dr. Ing. Eugen Rónay, DrSc. until 1989. In 1990, Assoc. Prof. Ing. Tibor Lukáč, CSc. became the head of the department. In this period, the subject of wood transport was added to this department. After changing the length of the forestry study program to 10 semesters, the department provided the following subjects for theFaculty of Forestry in the pedagogical process: Compulsory subjects

– Ergonomics (Prof. Dr. Ing. E. Rónay, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Konrád, CSc.),

– Forestry Mechanization Equipment (Prof. Ing. R. Jandel, Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Mikleš, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Danko, CSc.),

– Logging (Prof. Dr. Ing. E. Rónay, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Konrád, CSc.),

– Forest Transport (Prof. Dr. Ing. E. Rónay, DrSc, Assoc. Prof. Ing. T. Lukáč, CSc), Optional subjects

– Complex Use of Biomass (Ing. J. Demko),

– Forest Concentration in the Mountains (Assoc. Prof. Ing. T. Lukáč, CSc.),

– Modelling of Technological Processes (Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Konrád, CSc.),

– Automated Parts of Forest Technology (Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Mikleš, CSc.),

– Mechanization Means for Forestry Works (Ing. J. Marko),

– Applied Protection and Safety at Work (Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Konrád, CSc.),

– Ecology in Logging and Forest Protection (Assoc. Prof. Ing. T. Lukáč, CSc.),

– Sorting and Valorisation of Wood

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Konrád, CSc.),

– Cableways in Forestry

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. T. Lukáč, CSc.).

After 1990, an interdisciplinary study was established between the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of TU Košice and the Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology at VŠLD. In this form of the study, the staff of the department provided the following subjects:

– Mining and Transport Technologies

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. T. Lukáč, CSc.),

– Drives and Transmissions

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Danko, CSc.),

– Theory of Means of Transport

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Mikleš, CSc.),

– Theory and Construction of Forest Machines

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Mikleš, CSc.).

The employees of the department contributed to the preparation of the national textbooks in Forest Logging and Forest Transportation. The research activity of the department during this period was focused on the solution of the research program “Mining and Transport Technologies, their Technical Solution and Evaluation of Biomass Differentiated according to Forest Category and Economic Methods“. The significant results achieved by the department in this period were the design of a rope thinning device designed to transport a volume up to 0.5 m3, the design and production of a functional model of a thickness sensor and a gauge for an assortments length, the development of methodological procedures and the design of measuring procedures for determining the decisive technical-technological parameters of forest for wheeled tractors and the development of an optimization program for cutting beech logs as part of the control system of handling lines RS 3.3.

Department of Forestry Constructions and Meliorations

The head of the department until 1983 was Prof. Ing. Štefan Makovník. From 1983 to 1990, he was the head of the department Assoc. Prof. Ing. et Ing. František Kompan, CSc. From 1990 to 1992, the head of the department was Ing. P. Dvorščák, CSc. As a result of the change in the length and partial content of the Forest Engineering study programme, the department provided teaching of the following subjects:

Compulsory subjects

– Technical Mechanics (Assoc. Prof. Ing. et. Ing. F. Kompan, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. A. Fabiánová, CSc.),

– Forestry Constructions and Landscaping of Streams (Assoc. Prof. Ing. A. Fabiánová, CSc.),

– Forest Roads (Ing. P. Dvorščák, CSc.).

Optional subjects:

– Forestry Constructions and Forestry Melioration in Relation to the Protection and Creation of the Landscape (Ing. P. Dvorščák, CSc.),

– Automation of Project Work (Ing. P. Dvorščák, CSc.),

– Objects of Forest Roads and Forestry Improvements (Ing. P. Dvorščák, CSc.),

– Repair and Maintenance of Forestry Structures and Forestry Melioration Works (Ing. P. Dvorščák, CSc.),

– Protection and Use of Small Watercourses in Forestry (Ing. M. Jakubis, CSc.),

– Construction of Specialised Forestry Buildings (Assoc. Prof. Ing. A. Fabiánová, CSc.). The scientific research activity of the department during this period was mainly focused on research into the design of the construction of forest roads and the issue of the technical solution of how to dam torrential streams in the forest. Substantial research of the department was focused on the ecological aspects of construction activities in forests. In the last period, the research direction of the Department began to focus on the issue of landscape-ecological aspects of forestry structures and solutions how to address tourist activities’ effects on the use of the landscape environment of mountain areas. The staff of the department (Prof. Makovník, Prof. Jurík and Assoc. Prof. Kompan) took part in the publication of the national textbooks Ground Structures in Forests, Forest roads, and Technological Mechanics.

Department of Forest Management and Geodesy

The head of the department was Prof. Ing. Klement Hubač, CSc. until 1988. Assoc. Prof. Ing. Štefan Žíhlavník, CSc., in the years of1988 – 1990, and Prof. Ing. Štefan Šmelko, DrSc. since 1990 held the position of the heads of the Department.The department provided the following structure of subjects for the Faculty of Forestry:

Compulsory subjects

– Statistical Methods in Forestry (Prof. Ing. Š. Šmelko, DrSc.),

– Geodesy and Photogrammetry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Š. Žíhlavník, CSc.)

– Dendrometry (until 1987 Prof. Ing. K. Hubač, CSc., from 1988 Prof. Ing. Š. Šmelko, DrSc.),

– Science of Production (until 1990 Prof. Ing. L. Šebík, CSc., from 1990 Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Hladík, CSc.),

– Management of Forests (Prof. Ing. A. Priesol, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Hladík, CSc.), Optional subjects

– Remote Sensing of the Earth in Forestry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Š. Žíhlavník, CSc.),

– Monitoring of Forest Condition and Production (Prof. Ing. Š. Šmelko, DrSc.),

– Automated Information Systems in Forest Management (Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Šuška, CSc.),

– Economic Management of Forests Damaged by Emissions (Prof. Ing. A. Priesol, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Hladík, CSc.),

– Functionally Integrated Forestry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Hladík, CSc.),

– Regulation of Logging and Forecasting of Wood Production (Prof. Ing. A. Priesol, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Hladík, CSc.),

– Land Management in Forestry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Š. Žíhlavník, CSc.),

– Methodology of Scientific Research Work (Prof. Ing. Š. Šmelko, DrSc.). The department served as a training and responsible workplace for scientific education in the field of economic management of forests. Significant results were achieved by the department in the research of new geodetic and photogrammetric methods for forest mapping, new representative methods of forest inventory, in methods of regulation of production in economic management of forests and in the creation of information systems in the field for the Slovak Republic. The department achieved significant results in solving research tasks with foreign partners (Ljubljana, Kaunas, Poznań, Kraków and Pinar del Rio). Academicians actively worked in the IUFRO organization (Prof. Šmelko, Prof. Priesol). They significantly participated in the creation of national university textbooks for statistical methods in forestry, dendrometry, the science of production and economic management of forests (Prof. Šmelko, Prof. Hubač, Prof. Priesol, Prof. Šebík). As an award for scientific activity, Prof. Šmelko was elected a full member of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of the Czechoslovak Republic and was awarded the Prize for Forest Biometrics at the University of Munich. Prof. Priesol became an academician of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Agricultural Academy in Poznań awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Department of Economics and Forestry Management

In the pedagogical process, the number of subjects of the department increased in connection with the new model of the study of forest engineering. The head of the department in 1982 – 1986 was Prof. Ing. Ivan Kolenka, DrSc., from 1986 to 1990 Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ferdinand Macko, CSc., after 1990 the head of the department was again Prof. Ing. Ivan Kolenka, PhD. The Department professionally provided the following subjects in the pedagogical process:

Compulsory subjects

– Economics of Forestry

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. Bohumil Špirka, CSc.),

– Forestry Management

(Prof. Ing. I. Kolenka, DrSc.),

– Socio-Economic Information

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. A. Lukáč, CSc.),

– Psychology and Sociology

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. F. Macko, CSc., Mgr. Čuřík),

– The Basics of the National Economy

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Smrtník, CSc.),

– Information Management Systems of a Forestry Enterprise (Ing. Ľ. Nemčoková, CSc.), Optional subjects

– Psychology of Business Technology (Mgr. Čuřík),

– Personnel Management

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. F. Macko, CSc.),

– Financial Management and Financing of an Enterprise (Prof. Ing. I. Kolenka, DrSc.),

– Basics of Private Business

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Smrtník, CSc.),

– Mathematical Modelling of Economic Processes (Prof. Ing. I. Kolenka, DrSc.),

– Macroeconomics and Microeconomics (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Smrtník, CSc.),

– Selected Countries from the National and Business Economy

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Smrtník, CSc.).

The scientific research activity of the department was focused on solving the effects of the economic system on the dynamics and reproduction of the forest fund and the impact of the changed production capabilities of the forest on the economy of a company and the forestry sector.

• Students‘ Hall of Residence (1977)

Mathematical models were used to solve the supply of wood to ensure the needs of wood products. Models of changed ecological conditions were used for the analysis and forecast of the impact on the economic indicators of forestry and its position in the conditions of the market economy. Among the most significant results achieved by the department within the framework of scientific research activities, it is necessary to emphasize:

– solving the problem of mathematical models for the needs of forecasting, strategic and operational planning in forestry,

– solving theoretical and practical problems of automated management systems in forestry. The staff of the department (Assoc. Prof. Lukáč and Prof. Porubiak) were authors involved in the publication of national university textbooks “Socio-Economic Information, Forestry Economics“.

Department of Phytology

The Department of Phytology was established on 1st September 1991 by dividing the Department of Forest Environment into the Department of Natural Environment and the Department of Phytology. The head of the department from this period on was Prof. Ing. Milan Križo, DrSc. In the field of education, the department provided subjects that form the theoretical basis of forestry studies. The teachers of the department provided teaching of the following subjects within the Faculty of Forestry:

Compulsory subjects

– Plant Physiology (Ing. J. Kmeť, CSc.),

– Specialised Forest Botany

(Prof. Ing. M. Križo, DrSc.),

– General Ecology

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Križová, CSc.),

– Phytocenology and Forestry Typology

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Križová, CSc.), Optional subject

– Medicinal Plants (Prof. Ing. M. Križo, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Križová, CSc.).

Since the beginning of its new focus and operation, the department focused mainly on research areas:

– pathophysiology of forest trees, embryology of forest trees,

– morphogenesis, taxonomy, and autecology of taxa of protected and threatened forest herbs,

– floristics of selected phytogeographic units,

– primary production of forest ecosystems,

– synecology of forest ecosystems.

Department of Physical Education

Until 1984, the head of the department was Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Ján Michalec, CSc., from 1984 to 1992 PhDr. Ján Golian, CSc held the position of the head. The teachers of the department provided teaching of physical education for students of the Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology.

In the field of scientific research, they solved the following tasks:

– research on the physical fitness of students in the first years of VŠLD,

– the relationship between physical performance and students’ academic performance,

– evaluation of the selection of talented youth for water slalom in Slovakia in terms of their physical development and movement performance,

– physical performance of university youth in Slovakia,

– the physical fitness of the sporting youth of the Zvolen district,

– the relationship between general and sports performance of older adolescents in soccer,

– the effectiveness of the content and workload of the youth training process in water slalom,

– research on physical development and physical performance of university students in Slovakia. The results of the scientific research activities of the teachers of the department were beneficial for the theory of physical education and for physical education practice in the field of physical education at universities.

The Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology

Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology since autumn of 1984 permanently provided the majority of teaching in the newly built VŠLD building on Masaryková street, which provided a representative auditorium as well as modern classrooms, auditoriums, and laboratories. This way, DF students from Czechoslovakia and abroad could obtain better education in the fields of mechanical and chemical processing of wood, furniture, wooden structures, woodworking machines, woodworking economics, and management, and others. In an older building on Ľudovíta Štúra Street, i.e. in the fourth pavilion of the students´ dormitory - block D, only some special departments remained in operation.

In the period from 1982 to 1991, the Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology consisted of several departments, including the Department of Wood Science and Wood Mechanical Technology, the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, the Department of Furniture and Wooden Products, the Department of Woodworking Machines and Automation, the Department of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Economics and Management of Timber Industry, the Department of Mathematics and Physics, the Department of Languages, and the Department of World Forestry and Timber of which, ten departments were created in 1990:

– Department of Wood Science,

– Department of Mechanical Wood Technology,

– Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Wood,

– Department of Furniture and Wood Products,

– Department of Production Machinery and Equipment,

– Department of Business Administration,

– Department of Physics and Applied Mechanics,

– Department of Mathematics and Descriptive Geometry,

– Department of Computing and Automation,

– Department of Languages. Gradual changes in the structure of DF departments were influenced by both external and internal influences. Woodworking, like other industries, was in constant dynamic development in analogy with other living and thriving organisms and societies. In the academic year 1987/1988, the interdisciplinary study of Industrial Furniture Design (PDN) was created in cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture SVŠT in Bratislava. The main mission of the constituting departments of DF with a direct focus on woodworking, as well as departments helping the development of woodworking and at the same time deepening the general understanding of students, was to ensure the complex educational process at the modern level, to develop cooperation with practice and to engage in scientific-research activities based on a highly professional and the available equipment potential of all VŠLD workplaces in Zvolen, but also other workplaces actively cooperating with our the Faculty.

DF traditionally had active cooperation with foreign universities, faculties and scientific institutions - University of Šoproň, Akademia

Rolnicza Poznaň, SGGW Warsaw, FHS Rosenheim, TU Dresden, University of Hamburg and many others.

During the mentioned period, Prof. Ing. František Krútel, CSc. in the years 1981 –1990 and Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Marián Babiak, CSc. in 1990-1991 held the position of the Dean of DF. Functions of Vice-deans at DF since 1982 to 1991 were held by: Assoc. Prof. Ing. Dionýz Horský, CSc., Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Milan Marchok, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ján Bučko, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Longauer, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jiří Kníže, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. Stanislav Kurjatko, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. Juraj Mahút, CSc., Ing. Anna Šúriková, CSc., and Ing. Ján Zelený, CSc., respectively.

Ing. Ján Zelený, CSc., and Ing. Milan Banský, CSc. were the chairmen of the Academic Senate of DF, established in 1990, until 1991.

Scientific research activities at the faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology continued to be coordinated by the Scientific Research Institute at the DF, whose directors in the given period were Assoc. Prof. Ing. Július Klein until 1987, then Prof. Ing. Ján Bučko, DrSc. until 1991 and Assoc. Prof. Ing. Anna Šúriková, CSc. from 1991 on.

In the period 1982-1991, students in the master and doctoral degrees could choose education in several fields at DF. These were continuously updated as part of the new accreditations of the Faculty, but the basic fields of study at DF permanently included:

– master studies (Ing.) with study fields of wood engineering, wood processing, and enterprise management,

– doctoral studies (CSc.) with scientific fields of wood processing technology, structure and properties of wood, structures, and processes of production of timber products, and industry economy and crosssectional economy.

Departments at the Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology in 1990

Department of Wood Science (KND)

The scientific and educational content of KND was primarily focused on the anatomical and morphological structure of the wood of trees growing in Europe, the tropics, and other parts of the world, including growth anomalies and wood defects. Structural analyses of individual types of wood were examined in close connection with learning about their physical and mechanical properties, as well as the current trade policy with tropical wood species.

The department’s scientific and educational activity effectively interconnected new knowledge from biological, physical, mathematical, chemical, and technical sciences. Scientific works devoted to the issue of “thermodynamics and mechanics of the wood-water system“ and the issue of “interaction of mechanical and sorption stresses in wood under its static and permanent load“ received a high response abroad. Since 1980, the department organized dozens of seminars entitled “Interaction of wood with various forms of energy“, within which DF gradually established multilateral international contacts. The department continuously cooperated with domestic and foreign institutions of a similar focus - in Czechoslovakia with ŠDVÚ in Bratislava, VVÚD in Prague, VÚPC in Bratislava and the Chemical Institute of the SAS in Bratislava, and abroad, especially with the University of Sopron and the Agricultural Academy in Poznań. It also participated in the solution of international projects, which was supported by the membership of its employees in the international nongovernmental organizations IAWS, SWST, and IUFRO. In addition to basic research, KND members were involved in cooperation with practice and performed consulting activities for wood and pulp and paper companies, such as Bučina Zvolen, Bukóza Vranov, TON Bystřice pod Hostýnem and Celpap Banská Bystrica, Slovak pulp and paper mills in Ružomberok.

Between 1981 and 1990, KND employees temporarily realized their expertise within the Department of Wood Science and Wood Mechanical Technology. Its leader until 1987 was Prof. Ing. Jozef Palovič, DrSc., and subsequently,

Prof. Ing. Dionýz Horský, DrSc. until 1990. In 1990, an independent KND was created again and its leaders were Ing. Igor Čunderlík, CSc., until 1991 and subsequently Prof. Ing. Alexander Požgaj, DrSc. from 1991.

KND employees provided teaching of several subjects for DF and LF students. These were compulsory subjects:

– Texture and Structure of Wood (Prof. Ing. Dušan Chovanec, DrSc.)

– Physical Properties of Wood (Prof. Ing. Stanislav Kurjatko, DrSc.),

– Mechanical Properties of Wood (Prof. Ing. Alexander Požgaj, DrSc.),

– Utility Properties of Wood (Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Marian Babiak, CSc., and Ing. Ján Dubovský, CSc.), as well as optional subjects:

– Microscopic Analysis of Wood (Ing. Igor Čunderlík, CSc.),

– Basics of Wood Production (Prof. Ing. Dušan Chovanec, DrSc.),

– Woody Plants of the Tropics and Subtropics (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Mikuláš Šupín, CSc.),

– World Sources of Wood Raw Material (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Mikuláš Šupín, CSc.),

– Foreign Wood Trade (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Mikuláš Šupín, CSc.).

Department of Mechanical Wood Technology (KMTD)

The department focused its scientific, expert, and educational activities on several areas of basic wood processing in terms of their principles and technologies: sawmill processing of coniferous and deciduous wood raw materials with an emphasis on the quantitative-qualitative relationships between the raw material and the product; on the optimal selection of cutting lines, yield and subsequent sorting and storage of sawmill assortments; natural and artificial low-temperature and high-temperature drying of wood including hydrothermal treatment of wood by steaming and boiling for purposes of its bending, pressing and veneer production; physical, structural modification and chemical protection of new and historic wood using non-pressure and vacuum-pressure impregnation technologies based on general and experimental knowledge about their natural resistance to wood decay fungi, fire, and other biological and abiotic factors. The department regularly organized international scientific conferences, e.g. “Vacuum drying of wood“ under the guarantee of Assoc. Prof. Trebula and “Reconstruction and conservation of historical wood“ under the auspices of Assoc. Prof. Reinprecht. The traditional teaching of technologies and process management in a descriptive form was gradually replaced by their analysis and modelling in close cooperation with VDL and ÚAKaVT.

Prof. Ing. Dr. h. c. Jozef Palovič, DrSc., was the head of KMTD until 1985. He retired in 1985 and was replaced in this function by Prof. Ing. Dionýz Horský, DrSc.

In 1991, KMTD guaranteed the teaching of three compulsory subjects at DF:

– Technological Processes of Sawmill Production (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Juraj Detvaj, CSc.),

– Wood Drying and Hydrothermal Treatment Technologies

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. Pavel Trebula, CSc., and Assoc. Prof. Ing. Martin Trnka, CSc.),

– Wood Protection (Prof. Ing. Dionýz Horský, DrSc.) and seven optional subjects:

– Modelling of Technological Processes of Basic Wood Processing (Ing. Ivan Klement),

– Design of Technological Equipment for Basic Wood Processing (Ing. Anna Šúriková, CSc.),

– Structural and Ecological Protection of Wood (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Anton Osvald, CSc.),

– Protection of Wood against Fire (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Anton Osvald, CSc.),

– Wood Degradation Processes (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ladislav Reinprecht, CSc.),

– Reconstruction of Wooden Buildings (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ladislav Reinprecht, CSc.),

– Physiology of Wood-rotting Fungi and Woodrotting Insects (Ing. Eva Jeloková).

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Wood (KCHaCHTD)

The activity of KCHaCHTD, operating at DF in the mentioned period of 1982-1991 before it was temporarily attached to the Faculty of Ecology, was focused on teaching several theoretical chemistry subjects for DF and LF and the subjects dealing with wood chemistry and chemical wood processing for DF. In the scientific research activities, the Department focused on basic research on the issues of the chemical structure of wood and wood hydrolysis, and on practical research in the areas of processing biowaste into animal feed, cleaning and disposal of wastewater using carbohydrates, as well as the production of 2-furaldehyde.

The heads of KCHaCHTD, which was created in 1981 by the merger of the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemical Wood Technology, was Prof. Ing. Imrich Melcer, DrSc. until 1991 and then Mgr. Ján Šindler, CSc. In 1991, the Department taught the following subjects at VŠLD:

– Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (Ing. J. Blaho, CSc., RNDr. F. Kačík, CSc.),

– General and Analytical Chemistry (Mgr. J. Šindler, CSc., Ing. J. Blaho, CSc.),

– Wood Chemistry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. R. Solár, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Vozár, CSc.),

– Biochemistry (RNDr. F. Kačík, CSc.),

– Chemical Processing of Wood (Prof. Ing. J. Bučko, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Pajtík, CSc.).

Department of Furniture and Wood Products (KNaDV)

KNaDV was also the basic unit of the Faculty of Wood Sciences during this period, both in the field of teaching and in the field of research. It consisted of 4 sections. The Section of LargeScale Materials developed technologies in the field of the use of wood and other lignocellulosic raw materials, as well as adhesives, coatings, and other auxiliary substances in the production of veneers, plywood, chipboard, and other agglomerated materials – and subsequently passed on the latest knowledge to students in practical exercises in VDL. The Section of Wooden Building Structures in the research dealt mainly with the creation of effective load-bearing systems and wood-based structural elements, as well as the identification of mechanical properties of non-traditional structural connections, using the new and traditional knowledge mainly for the subject of Wooden Buildings and also in design activities. The Furniture Design and Constructions Section was devoted both to studio creation for furniture and to typology within the construction of tables, seating, cabinets, upholstered and other types of furniture, musical instruments, and sports and other utensils based on wood and plastics in connection with design activities. The Section of Technology for Furniture and Wooden Products solved the design and process issues of furniture production as a whole, that is, its parts consisting of mass timber, wood composites, coatings and other types of finishes, adhesives, and various types of fasteners, fillers, upholstery, glass, plastics, as well as other materials. Such a structure of the Department and the professional focus of the Sections made it possible to pass on to students a broadspectrum knowledge about the creation, characteristics and design of various wooden products. It properly prepared them for practice in order to be able to effectively meet the requirements of different groups of people in society for the complex improvement of their housing, cultural and sports needs.

The head of KNaDV was Assoc. Prof.Emanuel Šulán until 1987 and since 1987 it was held by Assoc. Prof. Ing. Ján Zemiar, CSc.

KNaDV provided DF with teaching in a significant number of woodworkingspecialized subjects. In 1991, there were 20 subjects:

– Technology of Production of Furniture and Wood Products (Prof. Ľ. Nemec, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Zemiar, CSc.),

– Plastics, Adhesives, Coatings (Assoc. Prof. M. Sedliačik, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Liptáková, CSc.),

– Technology of Production of Large-Scale Materials (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Perlác CSc.),

– Construction and Typology of Wood Products (Ing. M. Šarkaň, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. Š. Schneider, CSc.),

– Wooden Buildings (Ing. I. Hrčka, CSc.),

– Applied Constructions (Ing. J. Veselovský, CSc.),

– Furniture Sizing (Assoc. Prof. P. Joščák, CSc.),

– Decorative Finishings of Furniture (Prof. Ľ. Nemec, DrSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Liptáková, CSc.),

– Forecasting of Furniture Production and Sales (Prof. Ľ. Nemec, DrSc.),

– Historical Development of Furniture (Ing. J. Veselovský, CSc.)

– Construction of Interior Elements (Ing. J. Veselovský, CSc.),

– Creation and Technology of Production of Upholstered Furniture (Ing. V. Navrátil, CSc.),

– Residential and Public Interior (Ľ. Poštulková, CSc.),

– Architectural Creation, Composition and Design (Ľ. Poštulková, CSc.),

– Computer Graphics in the Creation and Preparation of Furniture (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Š. Schneider, CSc.),

– Design of Structural Detail (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Š. Schneider, CSc.),

– Aesthetics of Architecture and Design (Arch. J. Chrobák),

– Spatial Creation (Arch. J. Chrobák),

– Materials and their Use in Furniture Creation (Arch. J. Chrobák, Ing. arch. Ľ. Poštulková, CSc.),

– Furniture of Public Interiors (Ing. arch. J. Chrobák).

Department of Production Machinery and Equipment (KVSaZ)

In the period 1982 – 1991, the research and teaching process of KVSaZ was mainly focused on the following areas: woodworking and woodbased materials, construction and technologies of production and operation of wood-cutting tools, theory and construction of woodworking machines, control and operational reliability of machines. In addition, it researched and passed on to students the latest knowledge in other areas of mechanical engineering, transport, automation, and electrical engineering conducted in laboratories, and operational conditions.

The head of KVSaZ was Prof. Martin Sivák until 1983 and after that time it was held by Assoc. Prof. Ing. Milan Lang, CSc.

The Department of VSaZ provided teaching of subjects focused mainly on machines, tools, production systems, transport equipment and measuring systems. In 1991, it guaranteed 15 subjects:

– Technical Drawing (Ing. J. Sekereš, CSc.),

– Basics of Mechanical Engineering (Ing. J. Sekereš, CSc.),

– Electrical Engineering and Electronics (Assoc. Prof. Ing. I. Makovíny, CSc., Ing. P. Danko),

– Machine Parts and Mechanisms (P. Koska, CSc.),

– Theory and Technique of Wood Processing (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Lisičan, CSc., Ing. B. Zemiarová, CSc., Ing. M. Siklienka, CSc.),

– Handling of Transport and Transport Equipment (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Oswald, CSc.),

– Tools, Devices and Equipment (Ľ. Javorek),

– Hydraulic and Pneumatic Elements and Circuits (M. Banský, CSc.),

– Bending Processes

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Hecl, CSc.),

– Reliability of Machines (Ing. J. Sekereš, CSc.),

– Creation of Production Systems (Ing. J. Green, CSc.),

– Theory and Construction of Handling Equipment (Ing. J. Green, CSc.),

– Construction of Mechanisms of Production Machines and Equipment (Ing. M. Banský, CSc.),

– Woodworking Machinery and Equipment (M. Siklienka, CSc., Ing.

– Measurement Technology and Inspection of Equipment

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. I. Makovíny, CSc.).

Department of Enterprise Management (KPH)

In the period 1982 – 1991, KPH carried out research and teaching in the field of economics and management of the wood processing industry at DF with an emphasis on the business economy. In its research, it solved issues related to adaptable systems of intra-corporate management of woodworking enterprises, in connection with issues of modelling, optimization, and development of informatization. It also cooperated with foreign universities LTA St. Petersburg, AR Poznan, and ŠF Zagreb. The department guaranteed two fields of study “Entrepreneurial Management“ and “Economics and Management of the Woodworking Industry“ with an emphasis on providing students with knowledge about the enterprise, its function, goals, and structure, as well as about management and decision-making processes in the enterprise. In the extension part, it taught students about the production, financial, marketing, and personnel management of enterprises with a focus on woodworking enterprises.

The heads of the department at that time were Prof. Pavel Petrík until 1984, Assoc. Prof. Emília Drugdová, CSc. until 1990 and subsequently Ivan Sklenka, CSc.

Within the framework of DF, the Department of Enterprise Economics provided the teaching of the following subjects:

– Organization and Management of Production (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Rašner, CSc.),

– Internal Management of an Enterprise I. (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Rašner, CSc.),

– Internal Management of an Enterprise II (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Kníže, CSc.),

– Marketing (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Matejka, CSc.),

– Enterprise Planning Strategy (Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Matejka, CSc.),

– Preparation of Production (Assoc. Prof.J. Rašner, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Kníže, CSc.),

– Enterprise Economy (I. Volčko, J. Drábek, CSc., A. Šatanová, CSc.),

– Quality Management (A. Šatanová, CSc.),

– Application of Database Systems in Enterprises (Ing. Š. Repko).

Department of Physics and Applied Mechanics (KFaAM)

KFaAM was created in 1990 by merging the Department of Physics (divided from the Department of Mathematics and Physics) and the Department of Applied Mechanics (divided from the Department of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering).

In its research, it addressed several issues, especially in the following areas: physical and acoustic properties of wood and other materials in terms of practical applications; sound and thermal insulation properties of agglomerated materials; various phenomena from the process of cutting wood affecting the cutting ability of tools; non-destructive diagnostics of materials; new efficient energy sources and their use in industry. It equipped the students of the VŠLD mainly with traditional and the latest knowledge in physics, mechanics, hydraulics, thermomechanics, and acoustics.

The head of the original Department of Mathematics and Physics in the period 1982 –1990 was Prof. RNDr. Milan Marčok, DrSc. and the head of the newly created KFaAM was Prof. Milan Marčok, DrSc since 1990 and then Emil Rajčan, DrSc.The department guaranteed the teaching of subjects:

– Physics I. (Prof. E. Rajčan, DrSc.),

– Physics II (Prof. RNDr. M. Marčok, DrSc.),

– Technical Mechanics

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Lang, CSc.),

– Elasticity and Strength

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Lang, CSc.),

– Hydraulics and Air Conditioning

(J. Schwarz, CSc.),

– Thermal Mechanics and Energy Equipment

(Ing. O. Lupták, CSc.),

– Finite Element Method (F. Bodnár, CSc.),

– Anisotropic Elasticity

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Lang, CSc.),

– Applied Mechanics

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Lang, CSc.),

– Acoustics (Prof. E. Rajčan, DrSc., Prof. RNDr. M. Marčok, DrSc.),

– Experimental Methods in Material Physics

(Prof. E. Rajčan, DrSc., Prof. RNDr. M. Marčok, DrSc.),

– Selected Parts of Modern Physics

(Prof. E. Rajčan, DrSc., Prof. RNDr. M. Marčok, DrSc.).

Department of Mathematics and Descriptive Geometry (KMaDG)

KMaDG provided DF and LF students with basic knowledge of mathematical sciences and descriptive and artistic geometry, which they subsequently used in several technical and science subjects taught by the university departments. Its basic research focused on the areas of mathematical analysis, differential geometry, higher-order traditional mechanics on differentiable varieties, as well as multifunctions and path-derivatives.

It worked closely with several departments at the University, e.g. at the LF in the areas of dynamic programming and application of Mark´s chains, or at DF, for example, in the areas of linear programming with analysis of flatness and division of wood composites, mathematical description of water diffusion in wood, modelling of vacuum wood drying processes and voltage formation during wood drying, as well as prediction of mechanical properties of furniture.

In the period 1982 – 1990, that is, before the establishment of the KMaDG, Prof. RNDr. Milan Marčok, DrSc., was the head of the joint Department of Mathematics and Physics, and subsequently from 1990, after the separation of the Department of Physics, Assoc. Prof. RNDr.

Anton Dekrét, CSc. became the head of the newly formed KMaDG.

The department provided teaching of subjects:

– Mathematics I.

(Assoc. Prof. RNDr. A. Decree, CSc.),

– Mathematics II (Assoc. Prof. RNDr. T. Klein, CSc.),

– Applied Mathematics (Assoc. Prof. RNDr. F. Husárik, CSc.),

– Descriptive Geometry (RNDr. H. Palajová),

– Artistic Geometry (RNDr. H. Palajová),

– Technical Drawing and Descriptive Geometry (RNDr. E. Senko),

– Basics of Mathematics (RNDr. E. Senko),

– Revision of Mathematics Course

Department of Computer Technology and Automation (KVTaA)

From the history point of view, it was a young department at the DF, created in 1990, which consisted of the Department of Computer Technology and Informatics and the Department of Automation Technology and Cybernetics. Its teaching and research activities focused on the areas of informatics, computer and microcomputer technology, computer graphics, theoretical and technical cybernetics, automation of management of wood technological processes and forestry, and creation of robotic workplaces with flexible production nodes and robots.

During that period. the head of KVTaS was Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Zajac, CSc.

The department provided teaching of subjects:

– Robotization in the Wood iIdustry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. E. Zajac. CSc.),

– Programmatic Means of Drawing and Construction (A. Krakowský, CSc., Ing.

– Database Systems (Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Števulová, CSc., Ing. T. Csongrády, CSc.),

– Use of Personal Computers (Ing. A. Krakowsky),

– Programming Languages (T. Csongrády, CSc., Ľ. Šipoš, CSc.),

– Programming Techniques in PASCAL (Ľ. Šipoš, CSc.),

– Extension for AutoCAD (Ľ. Šipoš, CSc.),

– Programmatic Means of Spatial Modelling (T. Csongrády, CSc., Ing.

– Statistical Processing and Methods of Operational Analysis (J. Hoschek, CSc.),

– Expert Systems and Computer Networks (Ing. T. Csongrády, CSc.).

Department of Languages (KJ)

During this period, the Department of Languages was organizationally attached to the DF but operated at the whole University. The head of the department was PhDr. Miriam Šepetková in the period 1982 – 1988 and subsequently, PhDr. M. Jasenská since 1988. In 1991, there were 7 teachers who provided teaching of foreign languages – English (PhDr. D. Pauleová, PhDr. O. Lejsalová, CSc., PhDr. M. Šepetková), German (PhDr. D. Dvořáková, PhDr. A. Klaudová), French (PhDr. M. Jasenská), Spanish (PhDr. E. Dzurendová) and Russian (PhDr. M. Jasenská), or Slovak language teaching for foreign students (PhDr. E. Dzurendová). The department also provided language courses for teachers, scientists, and students at the school in their preparation for stays abroad, they taught specialised languages in doctoral fields of study, and its members translated scientific papers for VŠLD academics, mainly into English and German, and carried out interpreting activities at conferences and seminars organized by the VŠLD. The teachers from the Department prepared a lexicographical 7-language translation dictionary with woodworking terminology (Slovak – Czech –English – German – French – Spanish – Russian), which was recognised at home and abroad.

Faculty of Ecology

The Faculty of Ecology was established by decision of the Academic Senate of that-time University of Forestry and Wood Sciences and Technology on 14 June 1991 with effect from 1 October of the same year. At the beginning, it acquired premises in the building of the laboratories in VDL. Its establishment was the logical result of the efforts of ecologically, landscape, and environmentally focused experts to create a new, third faculty.During this period, the faculty was focused on the education of specialists in the field of general ecology, landscape ecology, and the natural environment, which resulted in the protection of nature and landscape in the widest spectrum. At the beginning, the study, as well as the research, had a polythematic character with a balanced proportion of natural sciences, and technical and social disciplines.

This need arose from the global trend of raising environmental awareness of the population and the related need to build and develop specialized ecological education. The Faculty of Ecology became the first and only integrated higher education institution in Slovakia, which began to provide complete higher education for students dealing with the composition, structure, arrangement, and interrelationships in different types of ecosystems and related protection of the environment, the care of ecosystems, landscape creation, as well as technical, political, legislative, social, and philosophical aspects of the environmental protection.

At the beginning of the establishment of the faculty, considering the professional and scientific structure of potential workers, the focus of its research was mainly on the increasing green economy in the country.

The basic tasks of the faculty in the field of education were:

– education of professionals with wide crosssectional knowledge in the field of ecology and the environment for secondary and higher positions in state administration,

– training of specialists – engineers for various sectors of the economy aimed at identifying ecological problems and proposing their appropriate solutions,

– education of researchers in postgraduate studies (specialists) for teamwork in solving systemic tasks,

– deepening qualifications and retraining courses for university graduates in the form of lifelong learning.

The scientific research profile of the Faculty was based on the necessity of linking pedagogical and scientific research activities. In its beginnings, the faculty focused on issues of physiology and ecophysiology, population, and production ecology of selected ecosystems, bioindication, use of natural resources, pedoecology, hydroecology, agroecology, forest ecology, human ecology, ecology of urbanized and industrial environment, special nature protection and ecological education.

In the field of the human environment, it was mainly research on the quality and methods of monitoring the environment, air purity, water, and waste management. In addition to the above, research focused on the ecological quality of materials, ecotoxicology, and radioecology. These intentions at the beginning of the establishment of the faculty were determined by the gradual creation of scientific research and professional capacities. An essential component was cooperation with existing programs at the existing University, the Institute of Forest Ecology SAS in Zvolen, the Institute of Landscape Ecology SAS, and the Forestry Research Institute in Zvolen. An important research project in the early days of the Faculty’s existence was the research of the Poľana Biosphere Reserve.

To maintain the appropriate organizational structure of the Faculty at VŠLD, basic pedagogical-scientific workplaces – departments – were built within the faculty. The faculty had 6 departments:

– Department of General Ecology,

– faculty from the Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology and Forestry.

At the beginning, when the Faculty was founded, the Department of General Ecology was created, the length of the study of which was 8 or 10 semesters, respectively. After the 5th semester, the study was divided into two forms: a. 4-year (operational) master´s studies aimed at employing graduates in companies and state administration, b. 5-year master’s study aimed at employing graduates in the field of science, research, and education.

Professional orientation of students was ensured by controlled selection from the system of optional subjects. In the beginning, the proposal for the share of natural science, technical and technological, and social subjects was in the ratio of 40:40:20.

The academic officials of the Faculty during this period were:

– Assoc. Prof. Ing. Vladimir Konrád, CSc., – Dean,

– RNDr. František Kačík, CSc., – Vice-dean for pedagogical activities.

–

Department of Applied Ecology,

Department of Environmental Quality,

–

Department of Landscape Ecology,

–

Department of Social Sciences,

–

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies.

The first three departments were created as new, the other three were incorporated into the

The secretary of the Faculty was Ing. Helena Gibasová. During this period, the Faculty employed 2 professors, 5 associate professors (while 2 other associate professors worked at the Faculty as external employees), and 14 assistant professors. In the field of scientific research, in the beginning, the faculty was the coordinator of 1 scientific research program, which included 4 scientific projects aimed at solving landscapeecological relations with special attention to the function of forest ecosystems.

It was a scientific program related to the rational management and use of the territory of the Poľana biosphere reserve from landscape- ecological and forestry-ecological aspects. The program entitled Landscape-ecological relations with special attention to the functions of ecosystems was hosted by Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, PhD.

The program was divided into 4 projects:

– Optimization of uses of landscape with regard to its stability, protection of representative ecosystems and their gene pool in conditions of anthropic intervention (led by Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, DrSc),

– Landscape-ecological aspects of forestry constructions (led by Ing. Pavol Dvorščák, CSc.),

– Potential, geological carrying capacity and optimization of the use of the landscape environment of mountain areas (led by Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, DrSc),

– Philosophical aspects of researching the relationship between man and the natural environment (leader, PhDr. Peter Krchnák, CSc.).

Departments of the Faculty of Ecology Department of Landscape Ecology

The head of the Department was Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, PhD. At the beginning, the department profiled itself as broad-spectrum and polythematic. The information provided to students in the structure of individual subjects was mainly oriented towards the natural landscape. The teachers of the department provided subjects not only at the Faculty of Ecology, but also at the Faculty of Forestry. Compulsory subjects were:

– Landscape Protection and Creation

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Bortel, CSc.),

– Forestry Melioration

(Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, DrSc.),

– Special Nature Protection

(Prof. Ing. Jozef Sládek, CSc.),

– Deterioration and Recultivation of the Landscape (Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Bortel CSc.),

– Protection, Creation and Melioration of the Landscape (Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, DrSc.),

– Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milan Ružička, CSc.),

– Melioration and Recultivation

(Prof. Ing. Rudolf Midriak, DrSc.),

– Basics of Phytogeography and Zoogeography (Ing. Aladár Randík, DrSc.).

The teaching content of the Department included theoretical issues of the landscape, ecology of the landscape, protection, and creation of the landscape. The department was responsible already this time for post-graduate studies in the field of study “land engineering“. In the field of scientific research, the department became the coordinator of the scientific research program

“Landscape Ecological Relations with Special Regard to The Function of Forest Ecosystems“, which was aimed at solving landscape and ecological relations with special attention to the function of forest ecosystems. A significant achievement in this period was a possibility to solve to another scientific project “Rational Management and Use of the Territory of the Poľana Biosphere Reserve from Landscape, Ecological and Forestry Aspects“. During this period, the department also started to organize the postgraduate course “Protection and Creation of the Landscape“, which enabled forestry, nature conservation and state administration workers to supplement and deepen their knowledge of this issue.

Department of General Ecology

The head of the Department was RNDr. Alexander Dudich. The department was established at the faculty as a new one. Its structure and content focus were concentrated on the teaching of the subjects of the theoretical basis of ecological studies. Some of the subjects were oriented towards a narrower specialization of the students’ studies. When the faculty was established, the teachers provided the following compulsory subjects:

– General Ecology (RNDr. Alexander Dudich),

– Physiology of Plants and Animals (Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Jamrich and Assoc. Prof. RNDr. J. Veselovský, DrSc.).

The scientific activity of the Department was focused on the development of ecological disciplines, mainly general, population and production ecology of freshwater and soil organisms, and issues of physiology and ecophysiology of plants. The research activity was mainly focused on questions of the pathophysiology of immission-affected forest trees, which was a very trendy topic at that time. The staff of the Department were also interested in the study of chorology and the distribution of small mammals as a reservoir of diseases transmissible to humans, the study of the possibility of using aquatic organisms for bioindication of water quality, and the taxonomy and ecology of selected species of macrozoobenthos.

Department of Applied Ecology

The head of the department was Ing. Vladimír Čaboun, CSc. The Department was one of the newly created departments of the Faculty. During this period, the teachers of the Department provided the following compulsory subjects:

– Forest Ecology (Ing. Vladimír Čaboun, CSc.),

– Agroecology (Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Petřvalský, DrSc.),

– Human Ecology (Prof. MUDr. L. Rozsíval, DrSc.),

– Ecology of the Urbanized and Industrial Environment (Ing. arch. Milan Marenčák),

– Radioecology (Ing. P. Salzer).

The pedagogical activity was oriented towards the issues of applied ecology of forest and agricultural ecosystems, urbanized and industrial landscape, and human ecology. The subjects used the knowledge that students acquired in the basic compulsory subjects in the first two years of study. In the beginning, scientific research activity was mainly oriented towards research in applied ecology with a focus on optimizing the solution of selected areas.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies

The head of the department was Mgr. Ján Šindler, CSc. This department was previously a part of the Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology. In 1991, it was attached to the Faculty of Ecology. During this period, the staff of the department provided the following compulsory subjects:

– Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (Ing. J. Blaho, CSc., RNDr. F. Kačík, CSc.),

– General and Analytical Chemistry (Mgr. J. Šindler, CSc., Ing. J. Blaho, CSc.),

– Wood Chemistry (Assoc. Prof. Ing. R. Solár, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing. M. Vozár, CSc.),

– Biochemistry (RNDr. F. Kačík, CSc.),

– Chemical Processing of Wood

(Prof. Ing. J. Bučko, CSc., Assoc. Prof. Ing.

J. Pajtík, CSc.).

The main mission of the Department was to create a theoretical basis for the teaching of technical subjects that were focused on the influence of chemical and physical factors on living organisms forming ecosystems. The scientific research activity of the Department in its beginnings was focused on the issue of pollution of the working and living environment by gaseous exhalations, solid emissions, and wastewater.

Department of Environmental Quality

The head of the department was Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jozef Pajtík, CSc. The department was focused on teaching the creation and protection of the human environment. The detailed focus of the subjects, which were taught by the department’s staff, were issues of environmental monitoring and analysis with a focus on chemical aspects, environmental and analytical chemistry and environmental bioindication. The contents of the subjects also included questions about the impact and evaluation of production technologies on the environment. The department provided the following subjects:

– Environmental Monitoring (Assoc. Prof. Ing.

E. Bublinec, CSc.),

– Production Technologies and the Environment

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Pajtík, CSc.),

– Occupational Environments and Design

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. V. Konrád, CSc.),

– Air, Water and Waste Treatment

(Assoc. Prof. Ing. J. Piatrik, CSc.),

– Hygiene and Ecotoxicology,

– Ecological Quality of Materials,

– Materials Science.

As part of the teaching, students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the technique of taking samples, examining emissions and immissions, the basics of water, air, sludge and waste analysis. They were also familiarized with hygiene inspection standards, basic principles of water, air and waste treatment processes and technologies. At its beginning, the scientific research activity of the department was mainly focused on the ecologization of production processes and ecological disposal of waste.

Department of Social Sciences

The head of the department was PhDr. Peter Krchnák, CSc. The focus of the Department at the beginning was determined by the nature and content of subjects that were not taught in the past. They were created as new compulsory and optional subjects. These were the following compulsory subjects:

– Philosophy (PhDr. Peter Krchnák, CSc.),

– Political Science and Recent History (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavol Zdycha, CSc.),

– History of Forestry (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavol Zdycha, CSc.) – the subject was also taught at the Faculty of Forestry. The department also provided optional subjects:

– Selected Topics from Philosophy (PhDr. Peter Krchnák, CSc.),

– Selected Topics from Political Science (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavol Zdycha, CSc.). In the field of scientific research, the department’s employees were relatively flexible in participating in new projects dealing with:

– The development of ownership relations in forestry in Slovakia, their impact on the market and planning,

– Motivating the dynamics of study skills of TUZVO students by the personality of the teacher.

– The state and possibilities of greening people’s consciousness in changing ecological conditions.

A significant result of the activities of the Department, which was established in 1990, should be considered the relatively quick incorporation of the subjects into the Faculty’s curricula, as well as the development of the History of Forestry textbooks.