Paneurópska Vysoká Škola, Bratislava

The Pan-European University was established in 2004 as the fourth private higher education institution in the Slovak Republic and the first of its kind with specialisation in education in the field of Law. The teaching process commenced on the basis of the state approval, granted by the Government of the Slovak Republic (Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 725/2004) in the 2004/2005 academic year with the accredited academic programme in Law. Already in the phase of building up the facilities, information technology, technical equipment, and hiring staff, the key ambition was to form an outstanding educational and research institution. In 2010 the University has been renamed into the Pan-European University. The name is associated with one of the ideologies that played a critical role in the formation of European identity. Supporters of the idea of united European identity do not associate it exclusively with the European Union, but with a gropolitical and cultural space in its broader sense. The basic idea is the following: "Pan-Europe is the united Europe", "e pluribus unum" (unity in diversity). The ideology is considered to have its roots in the ancient Greek democracy, Roman law and a Judeo-Christian identity of Europe. Otto von Habsburg (1912-2011) and Milan Hodža (1878-1944) are just two internationally known historic personalities who have been famous for spreading the Pan-European ideals in both the European and the Slovak context.