UNIcert®

System UNIcert^® (university certificate) is an open educational system that is aimed at the target group of non-philological students providing them with general, complex and transparent system of language education and verification of acquired language proficiency.  

The UNIcert^® certificate is applicable in a broad, not only European context, and it has the potential to become a document for its holders that ensures the possibility to study abroad, participate in mobility programs, and at the same time enables them to better position themselves in the job market or maintain their employment.

Since 2006, the Center of Language (then the Department of Languages) at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra has been a member of the Institute for the Accreditation of Language Teaching at Central European Universities UNIcert^®LUCE, with the right to provide language teaching and exams in accredited language programs that take into account the specifics and priorities of students and graduates of non-philological fields of study. The Department of Languages was among the first institutions to accredit language programs and exams in the UNIcert^® system.

Participation in the UNIcert^® exams is voluntary for students and is preceded by thorough language preparation within accredited subjects in both internal and external study forms, focusing on Agricultural and Economic Sciences.

 

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UNIcert^® II (B2)

 The Center of Language has so far had the following language programs accredited in the UNIcert^® II system:

• English language of students of Agricultural and Economic Sciences
• French language of students of Agricultural and Economic Sciences
• German language of students of Agricultural and Economic Sciences
• Russian language of students of Agricultural and Economic Sciences
• Slovak language for foreigners - students of Agricultural and Economic Sciences.

Students and graduates of SPU in Nitra who have successfully completed the subject Foreign Language A, B, C, and D, or Foreign Language for Economists and Managers 1, 2, 3, 4 or the preparatory course, can take the UNIcert^® II exam (level B2 according to CEFR). In the teaching of these subjects, the preparation focuses to master general and specific communication situations and understanding in both academic and professional environments.

 

Scope and format of UNIcert^® II exam

The exam consists of two parts, written and oral.

1. Written exam lasts 120 minutes and consists of two parts:
2. Reading comprehension within the range of 500 words with adequate tasks.
3. A coherent written performance in foreign language within the range of minimum 180 words.

 

1. Oral exam in total of 30 minutes consists of the following parts:
2. An oral interaction based on read text (15 minutes).
3. An individual oral performance (15 minutes).

Contact person:

• English language: Petra Čančo
• German language: Ivana Grežová, PhD.
• Russian language: Mária Fördösová, PhD.

 

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UNIcert® III (C1)

The following language programmes have so far been accredited in the UNIcert® III system:

• English Language for Economists, Students of European Studies and Agricultural Sciences with a Focus on Economics
• German Language for Economists, Students of European Studies and Agricultural Sciences with a Focus on Economics
• Russian Language for Economists, Students of European Studies and Agricultural Sciences with a Focus on Economics

The UNIcert® III language exam (corresponds to level C1 according to the CEFR) is open to students and graduates of the SPU in Nitra who have successfully completed the following subjects: Language for Specific Purposes I (Language for Specific Purposes for Economic Sciences), Communication (Communication in Language for Economic Sciences) and Business Presentation (Language for Academic Purposes), or a preparatory course.  The teaching of the above mentioned subjects is dominated by preparation focused on written expression (writing a final paper) and oral expression (presentation and defence of the final paper). 

 

Scope and form of the UNIcert®III exam

The exam consists of two parts, written and oral.

The written exam lasts 210 minutes. It consists of three parts:

• listening comprehension,
• reading comprehension - working with an authentic professional text,
• an essay on a current professional topic.

The oral exam, which lasts 30 minutes, consists of the following parts:

• presentation of the final paper (15 minutes),
• discussion on the defense of the final paper (15 minutes).

The student must submit the project in written form. The complete paper should be 10 pages in length. The final paper must include the following sections: Front Page, Abstract and Keywords, Introduction, Body (1 chapter + subchapters), Conclusion, and References. Compliance with the scope is a condition for accepting the final paper.

 

Contact person:

English language:	Mgr. Katarína Klimentová, PhD.
German language:	Mgr. Stanislava Gálová, PhD.
Russian language:	Mgr. Mária Fördösová, PhD.