Security and safety science is a complex science that arises as an intersection of natural, social and technical sciences, it is a science that investigates the laws and mechanisms of protection of people, social groups, social and natural environment. Education in the field of safety is an effective prevention against the increase of crime, the occurrence of natural and environmental emergencies, the increase of fires, etc. Education and professional training of workers and managers at different levels of security and safety on whom high knowledge requirements and claims are made, is an important aspect in the process of solving problems in security situations. Within education at universities the situation in the given area can be improved by increasing security awareness of people coming from schools into practice, deepening their knowledge and skills related to safety, increasing qualifications and expertise of graduates, their preparation for dealing with risk, emergency and crisis phenomena in various areas of safety and security. At the Faculty of Safety Engineering of the University of Zilina (FSE UNIZA) students are taught in three study programs. These are security management, risk management and rescue services. Each study program offers additional specializations. The internal teaching quality system is continuously adapted to the new standards adopted in Slovakia as part of the new accreditation system. The newly adopted European standards should improve the quality of the educational process at Slovak universities. The article deals with the influence and importance of the new accreditation in the study field of security and safety science at the Faculty of Safety Engineering of the University of Žilina. Accreditation consists in assessing the reliability of the internal system for ensuring the quality of education at the university and in deciding whether it meets the requirements of the standards for study programs. The accreditation is issued based on an assessment of the level of educational programs, on important conditions for their implementation and other circumstances that provide a guarantee for ensuring the appropriate quality of education for participants of the pedagogical process at the educational institution. The conclusions in the article are supported by a survey among students at FSE UNIZA.

Keywords: Accreditation, internal quality system, ESG standards, safety and security, university education.