DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE TOURISM SECTOR IN SLOVAKIA

A significant role in opening new cognitive trajectories play the universities with their study programs aimed at tourism. Only an effective university education system with a focus on tourism, which is flexible in relation to market requirements can contribute to training of experts who will contribute positively to the development of the tourism market in Slovakia. The aim of the paper is on the background of theoretical basis to identify the importance of higher education at Slovak universities with study programs related to tourism and tourism. This paper is a baseline analysis of the formation of tertiary education of internal and external form at I. and II. study degree in the tourism sector in Slovakia in terms of number of absolvents. The analysis shows that higher education is provided only public universities, which have the status of universities. In 2015, 1 080 graduates completed tourism study fields on I. and II. study levels. There were three time more full-time graduates than external graduates. Although the new accreditation shaped quality and quantity of forms and types of study, there is no increase in the number of college students.