The importance of training and certificates in the access of university graduates to the labour market

Abstract

In the era of growing competitiveness on the labour market, it has become common for students and graduates of higher education institutions to participate in various types of training courses and obtain various types of certificates, which are an additional asset when applying for employment. The interaction of a university with the environment requires constant monitoring of the expectations of labour market. Therefore, the main objective of the paper is to analyse of labour market requirements on additional certified competences of graduates during their studies. The paper attempts to answer the question: whether, and if so, to what extent the training received and the certificates obtained by the potential employee are important from the employer's point of view. The matters raised in it are a contribution to the discussion on the issue of needs and preferences of employers, including the most important aspects that guide them during the recruitment process. The study presents the results of surveys aimed at analysing the preferences of entrepreneurs and other entities in relation to the competences of graduates of universities. The survey method was chosen from among the empirical research methods used, which is characterized by a nomothetical approach, aimed at seeking generalized judgments, laws and rules for a certain class of situations or events. The survey covered not only entrepreneurs, but also representatives of other entities. Random sample selection was adopted for the conducted surveys. Setting the acceptable margin of statistical error at e=5.5%, for confidence level a=0.80 (Z=1.28), response distribution f=0.5 and population size Np=107.798. It has been calculated that the minimum research sample should consist of Nmin=136 employers. The draw was conducted on the basis of a list of all entities of the Swietokrzyskie Region in Poland. The collected quantitative data were analysed. The survey results indicated that employers pay attention to certificates, qualifications, courses and trainings obtained by university graduates. Additionally, graduates should demonstrate some professional experience, therefore student apprenticeships and practical profiles of education are also important. Respondents emphasized the problem of the deficit of the skills of applying knowledge in practice by university graduates, stating the ubiquitous excess of theory over practice.