Prof. Ing. Peter Mésároš, PhD. was inaugurated as Rector of Technical University in Košice on 15th November 2023. Inauguration of the rector and the appointment of the university management members, who had already been in their duties on 17th August 2023, was held at the premises of Aula Maxima of TUKE. The University insignia were awarded to prof. Mésároš who received them from the Chairman of the Academic Senate of TUKE.

The Rector of the Technical University in Košice, prof. Ing. Peter Mésároš, PhD., solemnly swore the rector’s oath during the inauguration act. Professor Peter Mésároš was elected as a candidate for rector by secret ballot by the Academic Senate of the Technical University of Košice and the Administrative Board of the Technical University of Košice on 15th May 2023. The President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Čaputová, officially appointed Peter Mésároš as the Rector of one of the leading Slovak research universities on 16th August 2023 with the duration of his appointment until 15th August 2027.

“I promise on my honour and conscience that I shall defend the freedom of scientific research, artistic creation and education as Rector of the Technical University of Košice. I shall protect academic freedom and all academic rights in accordance with the ideals of democracy and humanism. I promise that I shall always take care of the development and reputation of the Technical University of Košice, as well as the development of higher education in the Slovak Republic,” Rector Mésároš said during the inauguration.

The inauguration ceremony, which took place in Aula Maxima TUKE, was opened by Dr. h. c. prof. Ing. Miroslav Kelemen, DrSc., who subsequently invited the Chairman of AS TUKE, prof. Ing. Roman Cimbala, PhD., to introduce the inauguration ceremony. Shortly after taking the oath, Peter Mésároš appointed the Vice­‑Rectors of the University to their positions and presented them with the Vice­‑Rector’s insignia. The new Vice­‑Rectors are:

• Prof. Ing. Juraj Gazda, PhD., Vice­‑Rector for Innovation and Technology Transfer,
• rof. Ing. Ivo Petráš, DrSc., Vice­‑Rector for Science, Research and Doctoral Studies,
• Dr. h. c. prof. Ing. Miroslav Kelemen, DrSc., Vice­‑Rector for Education,
• prof. Ing. Ján Piteľ, PhD., Vice­‑Rector for Foreign Relations and Mobility,
• Ing. Rastislav Ručinský, PhD., Vice­‑Rector for Development and External Relations.

During his speech, the Rector of the Technical University expressed his gratitude for the expressed confidence of the academic community in the election of the rector and he expressed the intentions of the management of the Technical University in Košice for further development of the University in his inaugural speech. “As our former predecessors did, we and every other university and faculty management must improve the conditions for study, work, professional growth, personal development and self­‑realisation. Even by small steps, and even more slowly than we would like or could. We should look at all problems as challenges, we should change criticism into discussion of solutions, let us change rivalry into healthy and fair competition and cooperation. Not only in the university, but also in the society,” said Rector Mésároš at the end of his speech.

Speeches at the occasion of the inauguration of the Rector Prof. Ing. Petr Mésároš, PhD. were given by:

• State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, Mgr. Róbert Zsembera,
• Vice President of the Slovak Rectors’ Conference and Rector of the University of Economics in Bratislava, prof. Ing. Ferdinand Daňo, PhD.,
• Deputy Mayor of Košice, Mgr. Lucia Gurbáľová,
• CEO of AT&T, President of the American Chamber of Commerce and member of Administrative board of Technical University of Košice, Ing. Gabriel Galgóci,
• President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, prof. RNDr. Pavol Šajgalík, DrSc.,
• representative of the University of Miskolc, prof. Dr. Péter Szűcs.

The inauguration was also attended by members of the academic community, representatives of the University’s partner institutions and prominent public officials. The ceremony was held in the spirit of introducing new visions, goals and plans that the new rector will implement during his term of office. The programme ended with a performance of Collegium Technicum, the choir of the Technical University of Košice.

Prof. Ing. Peter Mésároš, PhD. successfully completed the inauguration procedure in the field of civil engineering in 2022. From 2015 to 2019, he was the Vice­‑Dean for Development and Foreign Affairs of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Technical University of Košice. From 2019 to 2023, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Technical University of Košice and the statutory representative of the Institute of Expertise in Civil Engineering at the University. Peter Mésároš is an expert registered in the list of experts, interpreters and translators of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic in the field of Economics and Management, sector of Controlling. He is a member of several scientific boards of faculties and universities, a member of international editorial boards of scientific journals. He has successfully led and managed several national and international projects. His publishing activity is also extensive. He is a member of the Presidium of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs of Slovakia, a member of the SOC­‑1 Commission for Vocational Education within the European Construction Industry Federation.