Slovakian honour for lecturer

Teaching at a Slovakian university has led to an honorary degree for a lecturer in the University of Teesside’s Business School.

Andrew Harrison, Subject Group Leader, in Teesside Business School (TBS), is also Visiting Lecturer in Economics at the Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia.

For around the past 15 years he has been visiting Slovakia each year to teach and take part in international conferences.

Now in recognition of his work he has been awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa, an honorary doctorate, from the Technical University of Kosice.

Andrew recently travelled with his family to receive his honorary degree at a ceremony in Slovakia.

He said: ‘TBS first became involved with the University in Slovakia in 1991 as part of a consultancy project in Eastern Europe. I first went over in 1993 and my links have continued since then.

‘I went over to teach in their new Economics faculty in 1993 for five weeks and was invited back the following two years, for around a month each time. I went back in 1997 and since then have been returning each year.’

Each visit sees Andrew teaching a complete module as part of an Economics degree. His module is an option for students in their second to fifth years, with a new module being offered each year.

He is also involved in chairing conference sessions organised by the Technical University of Kosice and the European Regional Science Association. Staff and students from Slovakia are involved in exchange programmes with Teesside.

He said: ‘Economics and business generally are areas which they have been developing since the end of communism. I’m involved in helping them to develop topics in international economics that they would not otherwise be able to offer.

‘It’s been a fantastic experience and I have been able to use a lot of examples of what is happening in Central and Eastern Europe in my teaching, research and textbook writing.’

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